Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Cancun success leads into non-conference slate for Men’s Basketball
11/29/2021 6:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Blue Raider men's basketball team had a whale of a time in Cancun over the Holiday week, coming back to the states with two wins as champions of the Mayan Division in the Cancun Challenge after destroying Mercer, 82-58, in the championship game on Tuesday.
Middle Tennessee put together likely its best offensive performance over a DI opponent thus far this season against the Bears, shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three. Meanwhile, the full court press defense that this year's squad has made their identity early this season frustrated Mercer, who only shot 31.5 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Six different Blue Raiders finished the game in double digits scoring, the first that has happened since February 18, 2017 at Marshall. The Mayan Division win was also the program's first regular season tournament win since the 2016 Challenge in Music City.
"Watching [this team], they're not just a bunch of guys wearing the same jersey," McDevitt said. "They say the right things to each other. They approach every day the right way. They really like being around each other."
After a dominating win over NAIA Bryan College over the weekend, the Blue Raiders sit at 6-1 and are getting ready for two games against Ohio Valley Conference schools. MT is set to play their first game of the season against UT Martin at home on Wednesday, before heading on the road for a tough test at perennial NCAA tournament contender Murray State on Saturday.
Women's Basketball sets defensive records early in season
Lady Raider basketball is also off to a strong start in 2021, splitting their games at the Daytona Beach Invitational over the weekend, capped off by a 62-52 win over Illinois on Saturday.
Courtney Whitson earned her fourth career double-double against the Illini, scoring 17 points and hauling in 10 rebounds during the win.
Most impressive about this year's team, however, has been the Lady Raiders defense. Illinois was the first team they faced all season to score more than 50 points in regulation. MT held their first four opponents under 50 points outright, while Marquette only reached that milestone in overtime during the Lady Raiders' 59-55 loss on Friday.
The Lady Raiders set a program record after their 65-47 win at Tennessee Tech last Monday before the trip to Florida, holding four straight opponents under 50 points, the first time that has ever happened in program history.
Middle Tennessee enters the week ranked 20th in the country in scoring defense, holding opponents to 49.8 points per game.
"These young ladies have bought in on the defensive end and they take great pride in team defense. It's fun to watch," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said after the team's win over Tennessee Tech. "I'm really pleased with our execution on the defensive end, but the encouraging thing is we can still get better. We are still not where we need to be by a longshot."
Volleyball earns postseason bid to NIVC
For the first time since 2011, Middle Tennessee Volleyball will be making an appearance in the postseason after accepting a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship on Sunday after the selection of the NCAA Tournament.
MT will face former Sun Belt Rival Troy in the opening round at Troy, battling the Trojans at 6:30 pm central time on Friday, December 3. The winner of that match will face the winner of UNC Greensboro and North Florida to advance into the quarterfinals of the 31-team field.
The Blue Raiders enter with an at-large bid for their first ever appearance in the NIVC. Initially run from 1989-95, the NIVC was recently restarted by Triple Crown Sports. After a hiatus in the 2020-21 school year, this is the fourth edition of the NIVC, with previous champions including Georgia Tech (2019), Iowa State (2018) and Ole Miss (2017).
"With the explosive growth of volleyball, and how the maturing club scene has allowed dozens of D-I programs to raise the bar of excellence in recruiting, it only makes sense to add to the postseason options in the college game," said NIVC director Jared Rudiger said in the release announcing this year's field. "Teams will chase an NIVC title as a reward for experienced rosters, or to provide a true learning experience for young players when it comes to the demands of the postseason."
On the Cutting Room Floor…The Zaylin Wood Touchdown
Sometimes, when you're writing post game stories in particular, you get a lot of great quotes in interviews that don't make it into your final story. In the excitement of Middle Tennessee Football's win at FAU this weekend, and the quick turnaround with the team getting invited to the Bahamas Bowl, I didn't get a chance to share how the greatest play in 'Heavy' D history went down.
So now, loyal readers of the Blue Raider notebook: the Zaylin Wood touchdown, from the perspective of Mike DiLiello and Wood himself.
"He kind of had a wheel route to the back corner," DiLiello said. "As I was getting hit, there was no one over the top of him. It really wasn't designed to go to him, it was designed to go to Ferg in the flat. But (Ferg) kind of got hemmed up, I was getting hit, so I gave the big guy a chance."
"Through the practices, we had worked on it. I never thought I was going to get the ball," Wood said. "It was really designed for Ferg. But Mike had got some pressure on him, so he just threw it up. I was locked in on the ball. I wasn't even worried about who was around me, my eyes were just locked in on the ball, like it was a million dollars coming at me."
The ball, of course, was perfectly placed just where Wood could get it. And it gave MT the lead for good in Boca Raton.
"Maybe he should start playing some tight end for us," DiLiello demurred "I don't know."
Bahamas Bowl Tickets on Sale Now
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are going bowling and for the third time in their last five bowl trips it will have a tropical feel.
Middle Tennessee was officially extended an invitation on Sunday for Rick Stockstill's Blue Raiders to represent Conference USA in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 17, 2021. It will mark the ninth bowl game of the FBS (I-A) era for Middle Tennessee and the 13th bowl game in school history.
The game against Toledo from the MAC will kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) from the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The game will air nationally on ESPN and be broadcast on Bowl Season Radio. Both teams will be competing for The Prime Minister's Trophy, awarded to the winner of the contest.
Fans can purchase tickets through the Middle Tennessee ticket office by calling 615-898-5261 or logging onto GoBlueRaiders.com. (coming soon) Tickets are $50 each and with each one purchased, you will receive a complimentary 2021 Bahamas Bowl Bound shirt. The ticket office is open Monday thru Friday from 8 AM until 4:30 PM.
The Blue Raiders will return to practice on Dec. 4th and will leave for the bowl game on Dec. 13.
Middle Tennessee put together likely its best offensive performance over a DI opponent thus far this season against the Bears, shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three. Meanwhile, the full court press defense that this year's squad has made their identity early this season frustrated Mercer, who only shot 31.5 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc.
"A postcard that my cousin sent from Cancun, Mexico." - @lukecombs
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) November 24, 2021
2021 Cancun Challenge Mayan Div. Champions 🏆#BlueRaiders | @CancunChallenge pic.twitter.com/mg6SxtRZpH
Six different Blue Raiders finished the game in double digits scoring, the first that has happened since February 18, 2017 at Marshall. The Mayan Division win was also the program's first regular season tournament win since the 2016 Challenge in Music City.
"Watching [this team], they're not just a bunch of guys wearing the same jersey," McDevitt said. "They say the right things to each other. They approach every day the right way. They really like being around each other."
After a dominating win over NAIA Bryan College over the weekend, the Blue Raiders sit at 6-1 and are getting ready for two games against Ohio Valley Conference schools. MT is set to play their first game of the season against UT Martin at home on Wednesday, before heading on the road for a tough test at perennial NCAA tournament contender Murray State on Saturday.
Trying to bottle this feeling. #BlueRaiders | #StickTogether pic.twitter.com/xy6pNzzEIi
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) November 24, 2021
Women's Basketball sets defensive records early in season
Lady Raider basketball is also off to a strong start in 2021, splitting their games at the Daytona Beach Invitational over the weekend, capped off by a 62-52 win over Illinois on Saturday.
Courtney Whitson earned her fourth career double-double against the Illini, scoring 17 points and hauling in 10 rebounds during the win.
Most impressive about this year's team, however, has been the Lady Raiders defense. Illinois was the first team they faced all season to score more than 50 points in regulation. MT held their first four opponents under 50 points outright, while Marquette only reached that milestone in overtime during the Lady Raiders' 59-55 loss on Friday.
The Lady Raiders set a program record after their 65-47 win at Tennessee Tech last Monday before the trip to Florida, holding four straight opponents under 50 points, the first time that has ever happened in program history.
Middle Tennessee enters the week ranked 20th in the country in scoring defense, holding opponents to 49.8 points per game.
"These young ladies have bought in on the defensive end and they take great pride in team defense. It's fun to watch," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said after the team's win over Tennessee Tech. "I'm really pleased with our execution on the defensive end, but the encouraging thing is we can still get better. We are still not where we need to be by a longshot."
✅✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/3TWUSJWyVj
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 23, 2021
Volleyball earns postseason bid to NIVC
For the first time since 2011, Middle Tennessee Volleyball will be making an appearance in the postseason after accepting a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship on Sunday after the selection of the NCAA Tournament.
MT will face former Sun Belt Rival Troy in the opening round at Troy, battling the Trojans at 6:30 pm central time on Friday, December 3. The winner of that match will face the winner of UNC Greensboro and North Florida to advance into the quarterfinals of the 31-team field.
The Blue Raiders enter with an at-large bid for their first ever appearance in the NIVC. Initially run from 1989-95, the NIVC was recently restarted by Triple Crown Sports. After a hiatus in the 2020-21 school year, this is the fourth edition of the NIVC, with previous champions including Georgia Tech (2019), Iowa State (2018) and Ole Miss (2017).
"With the explosive growth of volleyball, and how the maturing club scene has allowed dozens of D-I programs to raise the bar of excellence in recruiting, it only makes sense to add to the postseason options in the college game," said NIVC director Jared Rudiger said in the release announcing this year's field. "Teams will chase an NIVC title as a reward for experienced rosters, or to provide a true learning experience for young players when it comes to the demands of the postseason."
𝙄𝙏'𝙎 𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙄𝘼𝙇!⚡️
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) November 29, 2021
Your Blue Raiders were selected to play in the #NIVC for the first time ever! The first round matchup will be at Troy on Friday, December 3rd at 6:30 p.m. CT!#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/acVYMx7ie6
On the Cutting Room Floor…The Zaylin Wood Touchdown
Sometimes, when you're writing post game stories in particular, you get a lot of great quotes in interviews that don't make it into your final story. In the excitement of Middle Tennessee Football's win at FAU this weekend, and the quick turnaround with the team getting invited to the Bahamas Bowl, I didn't get a chance to share how the greatest play in 'Heavy' D history went down.
So now, loyal readers of the Blue Raider notebook: the Zaylin Wood touchdown, from the perspective of Mike DiLiello and Wood himself.
"He kind of had a wheel route to the back corner," DiLiello said. "As I was getting hit, there was no one over the top of him. It really wasn't designed to go to him, it was designed to go to Ferg in the flat. But (Ferg) kind of got hemmed up, I was getting hit, so I gave the big guy a chance."
"Through the practices, we had worked on it. I never thought I was going to get the ball," Wood said. "It was really designed for Ferg. But Mike had got some pressure on him, so he just threw it up. I was locked in on the ball. I wasn't even worried about who was around me, my eyes were just locked in on the ball, like it was a million dollars coming at me."
The ball, of course, was perfectly placed just where Wood could get it. And it gave MT the lead for good in Boca Raton.
Play of the year? Play of the year. pic.twitter.com/6NRGuibuvw
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) November 28, 2021
"Maybe he should start playing some tight end for us," DiLiello demurred "I don't know."
Bahamas Bowl Tickets on Sale Now
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are going bowling and for the third time in their last five bowl trips it will have a tropical feel.
Middle Tennessee was officially extended an invitation on Sunday for Rick Stockstill's Blue Raiders to represent Conference USA in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 17, 2021. It will mark the ninth bowl game of the FBS (I-A) era for Middle Tennessee and the 13th bowl game in school history.
The game against Toledo from the MAC will kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) from the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The game will air nationally on ESPN and be broadcast on Bowl Season Radio. Both teams will be competing for The Prime Minister's Trophy, awarded to the winner of the contest.
Fans can purchase tickets through the Middle Tennessee ticket office by calling 615-898-5261 or logging onto GoBlueRaiders.com. (coming soon) Tickets are $50 each and with each one purchased, you will receive a complimentary 2021 Bahamas Bowl Bound shirt. The ticket office is open Monday thru Friday from 8 AM until 4:30 PM.
The Blue Raiders will return to practice on Dec. 4th and will leave for the bowl game on Dec. 13.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballMTSU Men's Basketball Press Conference 12/21/25
Sunday, December 21
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Kennesaw State 12/17/25
Thursday, December 18
MTSU Women's Basketball vs. Auburn Postgame Press Conference on 12/16/25
Wednesday, December 17
MT Women's Basketball | Together: Episode Three | It's gotta mean something to you
Tuesday, December 16
