Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
"Get him the ball" - Weston's 30-point night off the bench highlights benefits of lineup switch for MTSU Men's Basketball
12/18/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
A healthy Jlynn Counter at point guard has taken the load off Weston, unlocking both players' full potential
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Jlynn Counter knows how to read the gym as a point guard. And when Camryn Weston came off the bench in the second half, breaking a tie with a pure three-pointer and followed it up with another swish on a step-back three one possession later? The IUPUI transfer knew what he had to do.
"Get him the ball," Counter said. "I told him at the end, 'We needed about three more points to get you that 30-piece,' and I'm glad he did."
The final bucket of Weston's night, a jumper in the paint that perhaps wasn't the most sportsman of shots, given Weston drained it as the clock nearly expired in for a 75-64 win for Middle Tennessee over California Baptist, gave Weston 30 points, a career high for the veteran guard. In a second half where the Blue Raiders scored 50 points, Weston scored 28 of them and assisted on baskets with five points.
What was the difference for Weston, whose season-high was 14 points prior to Monday night as the redshirt senior worked his way back from an ACL tear suffered early last season? A halftime snack, the guard joked.
"I told Chip on the radio, I want to say the little fruit cup peaches that I had at halftime," Weston said. "I guess that boosted me."
It was a performance reminiscent of Weston's role when he first came to Murfreesboro in the 2021-22 season, coming off the bench as the third guard with Donovan Sims and Josh Jefferson. Like that CUSA East title winning squad, the 2024-25 Blue Raiders have the same embarrassment of riches at guard, with Counter and Weston joining Jestin Porter as the three guards worthy of getting a start, with a healthy Alec Oglesby and developing Tre Green pushing for time on the court too.
That leads Head Coach Nick McDevitt with lots of lineup options, particularly when players like Weston and Counter don't care who's starting night in and night out. Some of that is because of the minutes played being similar either way, around 25-30 for each player most nights if they're playing well.
"You want to be able to finish tight games with guys that can handle it, guys that can make free throws, guys that are big enough to rebound the ball," McDevitt said. "It's worked. Clearly, they're both pretty comfortable tonight."
But it also comes down to the personality of the guards, McDevitt said, and the unselfishness of them that's defined the 2025 Blue Raiders throughout non-conference play this season.
"There's some guys that would feel salty about a guy at your position that has a night like that," McDevitt said of Counter, who was coming off a 22-point game against Belmont in MTSU's previous matchup. "He's the opposite. Losing teams have those kind of guys. Winning teams have guys like him."
The switch to move Counter into the starting lineup was made at the Myrtle Beach Invitational, where Counter started the first two games in the Palmetto State. McDevitt said at one point early in the season, about four games in, Counter led the Blue Raiders in plus/minus on the court, but was only sixth in minutes. The increase in minutes McDevitt said Counter earned necessitated the swap.
When an injury in the second game in Myrtle Beach forced Counter to miss time, Weston moved back into the starting lineup for most of December, with Counter taking the starting job back on Monday. But McDevitt, and the two guards, know that they'll both have to play a lot for the Blue Raiders to meet their goals.
"At the end of the day, you look at the minutes," McDevitt said. "(Weston's) at 29 and (Counter's) at 30. It just gives you a chance to always have at least one of them out there and at times both."
For Weston, whose knee now feels "110 percent" after a night like Monday, the 30-point performance felt like preparation for a Conference USA gauntlet that was looming in the new year.
"Today prepped for me for the days to come, for me and my teammates as well," Weston said. "I feel like me performing like this and also getting my teammates involved when I have to, we can become a championship team."
"Get him the ball," Counter said. "I told him at the end, 'We needed about three more points to get you that 30-piece,' and I'm glad he did."
The final bucket of Weston's night, a jumper in the paint that perhaps wasn't the most sportsman of shots, given Weston drained it as the clock nearly expired in for a 75-64 win for Middle Tennessee over California Baptist, gave Weston 30 points, a career high for the veteran guard. In a second half where the Blue Raiders scored 50 points, Weston scored 28 of them and assisted on baskets with five points.
What was the difference for Weston, whose season-high was 14 points prior to Monday night as the redshirt senior worked his way back from an ACL tear suffered early last season? A halftime snack, the guard joked.
"I told Chip on the radio, I want to say the little fruit cup peaches that I had at halftime," Weston said. "I guess that boosted me."
It was a performance reminiscent of Weston's role when he first came to Murfreesboro in the 2021-22 season, coming off the bench as the third guard with Donovan Sims and Josh Jefferson. Like that CUSA East title winning squad, the 2024-25 Blue Raiders have the same embarrassment of riches at guard, with Counter and Weston joining Jestin Porter as the three guards worthy of getting a start, with a healthy Alec Oglesby and developing Tre Green pushing for time on the court too.
That leads Head Coach Nick McDevitt with lots of lineup options, particularly when players like Weston and Counter don't care who's starting night in and night out. Some of that is because of the minutes played being similar either way, around 25-30 for each player most nights if they're playing well.
"You want to be able to finish tight games with guys that can handle it, guys that can make free throws, guys that are big enough to rebound the ball," McDevitt said. "It's worked. Clearly, they're both pretty comfortable tonight."
But it also comes down to the personality of the guards, McDevitt said, and the unselfishness of them that's defined the 2025 Blue Raiders throughout non-conference play this season.
"There's some guys that would feel salty about a guy at your position that has a night like that," McDevitt said of Counter, who was coming off a 22-point game against Belmont in MTSU's previous matchup. "He's the opposite. Losing teams have those kind of guys. Winning teams have guys like him."
The switch to move Counter into the starting lineup was made at the Myrtle Beach Invitational, where Counter started the first two games in the Palmetto State. McDevitt said at one point early in the season, about four games in, Counter led the Blue Raiders in plus/minus on the court, but was only sixth in minutes. The increase in minutes McDevitt said Counter earned necessitated the swap.
When an injury in the second game in Myrtle Beach forced Counter to miss time, Weston moved back into the starting lineup for most of December, with Counter taking the starting job back on Monday. But McDevitt, and the two guards, know that they'll both have to play a lot for the Blue Raiders to meet their goals.
"At the end of the day, you look at the minutes," McDevitt said. "(Weston's) at 29 and (Counter's) at 30. It just gives you a chance to always have at least one of them out there and at times both."
For Weston, whose knee now feels "110 percent" after a night like Monday, the 30-point performance felt like preparation for a Conference USA gauntlet that was looming in the new year.
"Today prepped for me for the days to come, for me and my teammates as well," Weston said. "I feel like me performing like this and also getting my teammates involved when I have to, we can become a championship team."
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