Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
C-USA Tournament Notebook: It’s Great to Have a Bye
3/8/2023 7:44:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas — Good evening from Frisco, and from the Ford Center at The Star, where the play-in games to the 2023 Conference USA Basketball tournaments are well underway at press time.
It's been a busy day for many of my colleagues at schools or covering other schools around the conference, with almost every school in the conference having at least one of their two basketball teams play at the Star this afternoon.
Well, every school in the conference, save for one.
With MTSU earning a bye in the men's and women's tournaments, it's been another lowkey day for Middle Tennessee, filled with scouting time of the coaching staff, brief but effective practices and time for MTSU supporters to take in the sights and sounds of the conference tournament before MTSU takes the court.
Still, a lot has been going on while the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders get prepared for their games tomorrow. Here's a quick rundown of the games that matter to MTSU, what the teams have been up to on Wednesday and a rundown of the set up and the #CUSACurtain at the Star.
Charlotte defeats FIU to set women's basketball's first round matchup
The Lady Raiders had their quarterfinal matchup set early Wednesday afternoon, when No. 9 seed Charlotte got past No. 8 seed FIU 72-59 to advance in the first game of the 2023 C-USA Women's Basketball Tournament.
The 49ers were dominant in the second quarter, winning those 10 minutes 19-5 with plenty of hot shooting from the hands of Dazia Lawrence, who led all scorers with 27 points in the matchup. FIU was able to claw back into the game with a unique press, double-teaming both the first pass on the inbound as well as when the ball carrier when they crossed halfcourt. Chaotic, but they Panthers were able to outscore the 49ers in the second half this way. Albeit, just by two points.
As for Charlotte, that's the best I've seen them play this year in what's been a stunning return to earth after winning the Conference USA title a season ago. Their early season loss of Duke transfer Mikayla Boykin quickly threw the Niners out of wack and the team never really found a groove. Until their win on Wednesday, Charlotte had lost six straight and was just 2-8 in the months of February and March.
The Lady Raiders last played Charlotte on January 19, where MTSU won easily on the road, 65-41. MTSU was also dominant in their home game against Charlotte this year, taking the December 29 matchup 71-46. Slowing down Charlotte's two all-conference guards, Lawrence and Jada McMillian, will be key, along with post play, as I'm not sure the Niners have a counter to either Anastasiia Boldyreva or Kseniya Malashka that would be able to consistently slow either player down in the post.
Fun Fact of the Day
With Charlotte's win, both the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders will start their conference tournament against the same school. The last time that happened was the 2007-2008 season, when MTSU men's basketball and women's basketball both opened up their 2008 Sun Belt Conference Tournament against Troy, with both the Blue Raiders (65-59) and the Lady Raiders (74-51) emerging victorious.
The Sun Belt games, however, were contested on two different days (March 8 for the women and March 9 for the men).and in two different locations (Mobile, Ala. and Hot Springs, Ark., respectively).
(UPDATE: MTSU fan HillBilly Hinton reached out on Twitter this morning, letting us know that both the men and women played in Mobile, Ala. in 2008. The Sun Belt links from back in the day confirm, contradicting the MTSU Men's Basketball Record Book, where I pulled the information from last night. Thanks for the correction!)
In Other C-USA Action
Only one other play-in game occurred on the same side of the bracket as an MTSU team occurred today, meaning that in four of the games on Wednesday, MTSU would only see the winner in the conference finals. In the Men's 8/9 game, WKU came back to defeat UTEP 73-67. The Hilltoppers will face No. 1 seed FAU tomorrow night, with the winner of that game facing the winner of MTSU vs. Charlotte.
Practice Day Views
Both teams had productive practices at area courts today, with the men at a local Frisco-area high school and the women at a local rec facility. Check out the galleries below!
Gallery: (3-8-2023) @MT_MBB - C-USA Championship Practice
Gallery: (3-8-2023) @MT_WBB - C-USA Championship Practice
Set up at the Ford Center at The Star
Now, for everyone's favorite discussion of the Conference USA Tournament the past few years: The Ford Center at The Star.
There's a lot I find charming about the facility, admittedly. The double court setup creates a great buzz in the building. Having the men's and women's tournaments at the same site makes attending as a fan of a school a ton of fun as well, particularly when, as is the case for MTSU, both of a school's teams have a shot at winning the whole thing.
But I also understand and agree with many of the critiques. The giant curtain in between the two courts, in addition to the distance the hoop on the other side of the court from the back wall, makes for some absolutely bizarre sightlines for shooters. The schedule doesn't allow for any sort of shootarounds for teams with byes, often meaning that the better seeded team is playing someone that has gotten used to shooting already. The two courts being side by side leads to occasional confusion over whistles and horns on each court when games happen simultaneously (though there's fewer occasions of this instance this season with fewer teams in the field. Both games I watched closely were the only ones in their time slot, for instance).
There is one change the Conference has made to the court this year that gets a thumbs up from me, and that's replacing the pop-up stands on the opposing sideline from the team benches with just media row with a curtain behind it. It helps with the sightline issues in the corners especially and makes things feel much more like a basketball game on the court itself.
There is a trade-off, however: the camera broadcasting the sideline angle for ESPN is simultaneously much closer to the court and much lower up than it was a season ago. That makes the action harder to follow on the TV broadcast, both because the camera is required to move more often and the fact it has trouble catching that action in the corner at times. So when you tune in to ESPN+ at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday to watch MTSU, be prepared.
If you are tuning in to watch (or listening to Chip Walters, Kyle Turnham and Dick Palmer on the Blue Raider Radio Network), I hope you can keep your ears open for the PA Announcer at the Star, who has one of the most unique PA calls for making a type of shot I've ever heard. When a player, say Camryn Weston, for example, goes to the line and makes both free throws, fans in the arena are treated to the call "Camryn Weston, WITH THE DEUCE!"
I'll say this for it: it quickly conveys the information. But it always gives me pause every game I watch. Let me know if you can hear it on the broadcast tomorrow!
In Closing
Wanted to highlight the work of our creative services staff here at MTSU, who nailed the hype videos for the team ahead of their games tomorrow.
Check out the work of Easton Smith (MBB) and Jordan Frazier (WBB) below! And Let's Go Blue!
It's been a busy day for many of my colleagues at schools or covering other schools around the conference, with almost every school in the conference having at least one of their two basketball teams play at the Star this afternoon.
Well, every school in the conference, save for one.
Realization I had driving between @MT_MBB and @MT_WBB practice: MTSU is the only C-USA school not playing on Wednesday at the C-USA Tournament.
— Sam Doughton (@sjdoughton) March 8, 2023
Every other school has either their men's team or their women's team (or in the case of UTSA and FIU, both) playing an play-in game
With MTSU earning a bye in the men's and women's tournaments, it's been another lowkey day for Middle Tennessee, filled with scouting time of the coaching staff, brief but effective practices and time for MTSU supporters to take in the sights and sounds of the conference tournament before MTSU takes the court.
Still, a lot has been going on while the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders get prepared for their games tomorrow. Here's a quick rundown of the games that matter to MTSU, what the teams have been up to on Wednesday and a rundown of the set up and the #CUSACurtain at the Star.
Charlotte defeats FIU to set women's basketball's first round matchup
The Lady Raiders had their quarterfinal matchup set early Wednesday afternoon, when No. 9 seed Charlotte got past No. 8 seed FIU 72-59 to advance in the first game of the 2023 C-USA Women's Basketball Tournament.
The 49ers were dominant in the second quarter, winning those 10 minutes 19-5 with plenty of hot shooting from the hands of Dazia Lawrence, who led all scorers with 27 points in the matchup. FIU was able to claw back into the game with a unique press, double-teaming both the first pass on the inbound as well as when the ball carrier when they crossed halfcourt. Chaotic, but they Panthers were able to outscore the 49ers in the second half this way. Albeit, just by two points.
As for Charlotte, that's the best I've seen them play this year in what's been a stunning return to earth after winning the Conference USA title a season ago. Their early season loss of Duke transfer Mikayla Boykin quickly threw the Niners out of wack and the team never really found a groove. Until their win on Wednesday, Charlotte had lost six straight and was just 2-8 in the months of February and March.
The Lady Raiders last played Charlotte on January 19, where MTSU won easily on the road, 65-41. MTSU was also dominant in their home game against Charlotte this year, taking the December 29 matchup 71-46. Slowing down Charlotte's two all-conference guards, Lawrence and Jada McMillian, will be key, along with post play, as I'm not sure the Niners have a counter to either Anastasiia Boldyreva or Kseniya Malashka that would be able to consistently slow either player down in the post.
Fun Fact of the Day
With Charlotte's win, both the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders will start their conference tournament against the same school. The last time that happened was the 2007-2008 season, when MTSU men's basketball and women's basketball both opened up their 2008 Sun Belt Conference Tournament against Troy, with both the Blue Raiders (65-59) and the Lady Raiders (74-51) emerging victorious.
The Sun Belt games, however, were contested on two different days (March 8 for the women and March 9 for the men).
(UPDATE: MTSU fan HillBilly Hinton reached out on Twitter this morning, letting us know that both the men and women played in Mobile, Ala. in 2008. The Sun Belt links from back in the day confirm, contradicting the MTSU Men's Basketball Record Book, where I pulled the information from last night. Thanks for the correction!)
In Other C-USA Action
Only one other play-in game occurred on the same side of the bracket as an MTSU team occurred today, meaning that in four of the games on Wednesday, MTSU would only see the winner in the conference finals. In the Men's 8/9 game, WKU came back to defeat UTEP 73-67. The Hilltoppers will face No. 1 seed FAU tomorrow night, with the winner of that game facing the winner of MTSU vs. Charlotte.
Practice Day Views
Both teams had productive practices at area courts today, with the men at a local Frisco-area high school and the women at a local rec facility. Check out the galleries below!
One day closer.#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/303MFP5s5G
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) March 8, 2023
One last tune up before the tourney starts.#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/uodED4hOFc
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) March 8, 2023
Set up at the Ford Center at The Star
Now, for everyone's favorite discussion of the Conference USA Tournament the past few years: The Ford Center at The Star.
Morning media work room view of #HoopsAtTheStar, as I take in Charlotte and FIU women's basketball in the first game of the 2023 C-USA Tournament.
— Sam Doughton (@sjdoughton) March 8, 2023
The winner plays @MT_WBB tomorrow morning at 11 am CT pic.twitter.com/aSwNJYVIrX
There's a lot I find charming about the facility, admittedly. The double court setup creates a great buzz in the building. Having the men's and women's tournaments at the same site makes attending as a fan of a school a ton of fun as well, particularly when, as is the case for MTSU, both of a school's teams have a shot at winning the whole thing.
But I also understand and agree with many of the critiques. The giant curtain in between the two courts, in addition to the distance the hoop on the other side of the court from the back wall, makes for some absolutely bizarre sightlines for shooters. The schedule doesn't allow for any sort of shootarounds for teams with byes, often meaning that the better seeded team is playing someone that has gotten used to shooting already. The two courts being side by side leads to occasional confusion over whistles and horns on each court when games happen simultaneously (though there's fewer occasions of this instance this season with fewer teams in the field. Both games I watched closely were the only ones in their time slot, for instance).
There is one change the Conference has made to the court this year that gets a thumbs up from me, and that's replacing the pop-up stands on the opposing sideline from the team benches with just media row with a curtain behind it. It helps with the sightline issues in the corners especially and makes things feel much more like a basketball game on the court itself.
There is a trade-off, however: the camera broadcasting the sideline angle for ESPN is simultaneously much closer to the court and much lower up than it was a season ago. That makes the action harder to follow on the TV broadcast, both because the camera is required to move more often and the fact it has trouble catching that action in the corner at times. So when you tune in to ESPN+ at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday to watch MTSU, be prepared.
If you are tuning in to watch (or listening to Chip Walters, Kyle Turnham and Dick Palmer on the Blue Raider Radio Network), I hope you can keep your ears open for the PA Announcer at the Star, who has one of the most unique PA calls for making a type of shot I've ever heard. When a player, say Camryn Weston, for example, goes to the line and makes both free throws, fans in the arena are treated to the call "Camryn Weston, WITH THE DEUCE!"
I'll say this for it: it quickly conveys the information. But it always gives me pause every game I watch. Let me know if you can hear it on the broadcast tomorrow!
In Closing
Wanted to highlight the work of our creative services staff here at MTSU, who nailed the hype videos for the team ahead of their games tomorrow.
Check out the work of Easton Smith (MBB) and Jordan Frazier (WBB) below! And Let's Go Blue!
Tomorrow, it's for real.#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/SjXG2GQR0T
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) March 9, 2023
It's go-time in 24 hours. Time to get locked in.#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/UYeXWPzEXH
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) March 8, 2023
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballFormer Head MBB Coach Kermit Davis - 10th Anniversary of NCAA win over MSU
Tuesday, March 17
MT Women's Basketball | Together: Episode Twelve | Find a way
Saturday, March 14
MTSU Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference vs FIU on 3/05/26
Friday, March 06
MT Women's Basketball | Together: Episode Eleven | Visualize Yourself
Friday, March 06
