2016–17 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team

2016–17 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball
C-USA regular season & tournament champions
Challenge in Music City champions
NCAA Tournament, Second Round
Conference Conference USA
2016–17 record 31–5 (17–1 C-USA)
Head coach Kermit Davis (15th season)
Assistant coach Greg Grensing
Assistant coach Win Case
Assistant coach Ronnie Hamilton
Home arena Murphy Center
2016–17 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Middle Tennessee171 .944  315  .861
Louisiana Tech144 .778  2310  .697
Old Dominion126 .667  1912  .613
UTEP126 .667  1517  .469
Rice117 .611  2312  .657
Marshall108 .556  2015  .571
UAB99 .500  1716  .515
Western Kentucky99 .500  1517  .469
UTSA810 .444  1419  .424
Charlotte711 .389  1317  .433
Florida Atlantic612 .333  1020  .333
Southern Miss612 .333  922  .290
FIU315 .167  724  .226
North Texas216 .111  822  .267
2017 C-USA Tournament winner

The 2016–17 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team represented Middle Tennessee State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blue Raiders, led by 15th-year head coach Kermit Davis, played their home games at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 31–5, 17–1 in C-USA play to win the regular season championship. In the C-USA Tournament, they defeated UTSA, UTEP, and Marshall to win the C-USA Tournament. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 12 seed in the South region, they defeated Minnesota in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Butler.

Previous season

The Blue Raiders finished the 2015–16 season 25–10, 13–5 in C-USA play to finish in second place. They defeated Charlotte, Marshall, and Old Dominion to win the C-USA Tournament. As a result, they earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As a No. 15 seed in the Tournament, they upset No. 2 seed and No. 2-ranked Michigan State in the First Round to become only the eighth No. 15 seed to win an NCAA Tournament game. In the Second Round they lost to eventual Final Four participant, Syracuse.

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Darnell Harris0F6'8"231SeniorMilwaukee, WIGraduated
Perrin Buford2G/F6'6"220SeniorDecatur, ALGraduated
Joshua Phillips3F6'8"230JuniorHendersonville, TNLeft the team due to personal reasons
Jacob Ivory5G5'9"168SophomoreJackson, MSLeft the team due to personal reasons
Jaquawn Raymond10G6'4"200RS SeniorStatesboro, GAGraduated

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Antwain Johnson2G6'1"185SophomoreMalone, FLJunior college transferred from Chipola College.
Calvin Davis10G6'1"190JuniorCharlotte, NCJunior college transferred from Cape Fear CC.

Recruiting class of 2016

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Davion Thomas
#51 PF
Columbus, GA Northside High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jan 11, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Tyrik Dixon
SG
Bentonville, AR Southwest Christian Academy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Apr 9, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.

    Preseason

    The Blue Raiders were picked to finish in second place in the preseason Conference USA poll.[1] Giddy Potts and Reggie Upshaw Jr. were selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team.[1]

    Roster

    2016–17 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Tyrik Dixon 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)183 lb (83 kg) FrSouthwest Christian Academy Bentonville, AR
    F 1 Brandon Walters 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)262 lb (119 kg) RS JrHoward
    Walters State CC
    Chattanooga, TN
    G 2 Antwain Johnson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)194 lb (88 kg) SoMalone Greenwood, FL
    F 4 Xavier Habersham 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)208 lb (94 kg) RS SrEast Laurens
    Hill College
    Dublin, GA
    G 11 Edward Simpson, Jr. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrSt. Martin Ocean Springs, MS
    G 14 Chase Miller (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)178 lb (81 kg) RS FrShelton Dallas, TX
    G 20 Giddy Potts 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)217 lb (98 kg) JrAthens Athens, AL
    F 22 JaCorey Williams 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SrCentral Park Christian
    Arkansas
    Birmingham, AL
    G 24 Quavius Copeland 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)178 lb (81 kg) JrSouthside
    Gulf Coast State College
    Greenville, SC
    F 25 Karl Gamble 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)228 lb (103 kg) SoA.C. Flora Columbia, SC
    F 30 Reggie Upshaw Jr. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)228 lb (103 kg) SrBaylor School Chattanooga, TN
    G 31 Stephen Strachan (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS JrThe Potter's House Christian Academy
    Moberly Area CC
    Nassau, Bahamas
    F 35 Davion Thomas 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)208 lb (94 kg) RS FrNorthside Columbus, GA
    G/F 45 Aldonis Foote 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)213 lb (97 kg) SrPeoria
    Trinity Valley CC
    Peoria, IL
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/03/2016*
    7:30 PM
    North Alabama W 96–65 
    Murphy Center (1,830)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Non-conference regular season
    11/11/2016*
    11:00 AM
    Milligan College W 102–64  1–0
    Murphy Center (6,020)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    11/15/2016*
    6:30 PM
    Murray State W 87–81  2–0
    Murphy Center (4,507)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    11/19/2016*
    6:30 PM
    Tennessee State L 63–74  2–1
    Murphy Center (4,830)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    11/22/2016*
    6:30 PM
    Toledo W 80–70  3–1
    Murphy Center (3,984)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    11/25/2016*
    7:30 PM
    vs. UNC Wilmington
    Challenge in Music City
    W 68–63  4–1
    Nashville Municipal Auditorium (1200)
    Nashville, TN
    11/26/2016*
    7:30 PM
    vs. Toledo
    Challenge in Music City
    W 73–70 OT 5–1
    Nashville Municipal Auditorium (850)
    Nashville, TN
    11/27/2016*
    5:30 PM
    vs. Evansville
    Challenge in Music City
    W 66–55  6–1
    Nashville Municipal Auditorium (500)
    Nashville, TN
    11/30/2016*
    7:00 PM
    at Ole Miss W 77–62  7–1
    The Pavilion at Ole Miss (1000)
    Oxford, MS
    12/03/2016*
    7:00 PM
    at South Alabama W 67-55  8–1
    Mitchell Center (2,612)
    Mobile, AL
    12/08/2016*
    6:30 PM, CBSSN
    Vanderbilt W 71–48  9–1
    Murphy Center (9,606)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    12/14/2016*
    7:00 PM
    at Belmont W 79–66  10–1
    Curb Event Center (2,469)
    Nashville, TN
    12/17/2016*
    6:00 PM, ASN
    at VCU L 77–80  10–2
    Siegel Center (7,637)
    Richmond, VA
    12/21/2016*
    6:30 PM
    Georgia State L 56–64  10–3
    Murphy Center (4,502)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Conference USA regular season
    01/01/2017
    3:00 PM, CI
    UAB W 60–49  11–3
    (1–0)
    Murphy Center (4,227)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    01/05/2017
    7:00 PM, beIN
    at Rice W 80–77  12–3
    (2–0)
    Tudor Fieldhouse (1,513)
    Houston, TX
    01/07/2017
    2:00 PM
    at North Texas W 79–68  13–3
    (3–0)
    The Super Pit (2,263)
    Denton, TX
    01/12/2017
    7:00 PM, beIN
    Marshall W 69–57  14–3
    (4–0)
    Murphy Center (4,598)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    01/14/2017
    7:00 PM, ASN
    WKU W 91–76  15–3
    (5–0)
    Murphy Center (6,806)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    01/19/2017
    6:00 PM
    at FIU W 65–52  16–3
    (6–0)
    FIU Arena (1,401)
    Miami, FL
    01/21/2017
    6:00 PM
    at Florida Atlantic W 86–57  17–3
    (7–0)
    FAU Arena (1,344)
    Boca Raton, FL
    01/26/2017
    6:30 PM, ESPN3
    Southern Miss W 72–56  18–3
    (8–0)
    Murphy Center (5,498)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    01/28/2017
    5:00 PM, ESPN3
    Louisiana Tech W 71–61  19–3
    (9–0)
    Murphy Center (7,805)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    02/02/2017
    7:00 PM
    at UTSA W 69–59  20–3
    (10–0)
    Convocation Center (1,080)
    San Antonio, TX
    02/04/2017
    8:00 PM, ASN
    at UTEP L 54–57  20–4
    (10–1)
    Don Haskins Center (6,803)
    El Paso, TX
    02/09/2017
    7:00 PM, beIN
    Old Dominion W 64–51  21–4
    (11–1)
    Murphy Center (6,209)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    02/11/2017
    5:00 PM, CI
    Charlotte W 70–55  22–4
    (12–1)
    Murphy Center (5,720)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    02/16/2017
    8:00 PM, CBSSN
    at WKU W 78–52  23–4
    (13–1)
    E. A. Diddle Arena (4,385)
    Bowling Green, KY
    02/18/2017
    5:00 PM, ASN
    at Marshall W 97–86  24–4
    (14–1)
    Cam Henderson Center (7,620)
    Huntington, WV
    02/26/2017
    12:00 PM, CBSSN
    at UAB W 66–64  25–4
    (15–1)
    Bartow Arena (3,371)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/02/2017
    6:30 PM, ESPN3
    FIU W 70–67  26–4
    (16–1)
    Murphy Center (5,510)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    03/04/2017
    5:00 PM, ESPN3
    Florida Atlantic W 93–59  27–4
    (17–1)
    Murphy Center (8,806)
    Murfreesboro, TN
    Conference USA Tournament
    03/09/2017
    11:30 AM, ASN
    (1) vs. (9) UTSA
    Quarterfinals
    W 86–70  28–4
    Legacy Arena (3,654)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/10/2017
    11:30 AM, CBSSN
    (1) vs. (4) UTEP
    Semifinals
    W 82–56  29–4
    Legacy Arena (3,299)
    Birmingham, AL
    03/11/2017
    7:30 PM, CBSSN
    (1) vs. (6) Marshall
    Championship
    W 83–72  30–4
    Legacy Arena (3,956)
    Birmingham, AL
    NCAA Tournament
    03/16/2017*
    3:00 PM, TNT
    (12 S) vs. (5 S) Minnesota
    First Round
    W 81–72  31–4
    BMO Harris Bradley Center (17,303)
    Milwaukee, WI
    03/18/2017*
    6:10 PM, TBS
    (12 S) vs. (4 S) No. 21 Butler
    Second Round
    L 65–74  31–5
    BMO Harris Bradley Center (18,045)
    Milwaukee, WI
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. S=South

    Source[2][3].
    All times are in Central Time.

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Final 
    AP NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV NR RV RV RV RV RV RV Not released 
    Coaches NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 25 RV

    *AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings

    References

    1. 1 2 "MBK: UAB Voted C-USA Preseason Favorite". Conference USA. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
    2. http://www.goblueraiders.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball
    3. v
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