Mid-Major Radar: Murray State Has Ingredients To Be Effective in March

If you examine the Ohio Valley's top 15 scorers, you'd notice the conference's No. 1 team is not represented. That's right, the Murray State Racers don't have a single player averaging more than No. 15 Nick Murphy's 12.4 points per game.

However, coach Billy Kennedy and the Racers prove a team can win without a pure scorer and are 13-3 thanks to one of the most balanced attacks in the nation. Six Racers average more than nine points per contest.

Take a look at the country's top scoring teams. Murray State is currently at No. 38 with 79.3 points per game. Of the 37 teams ahead of the Racers, only Syracuse has as many scorers averaging better than nine points per contest.

Statistically, Murray State is incontrovertibly the OVC's superior team. The Racers lead their conference in scoring, scoring defense (61.8 ppg), field goal percentage (51.8 percent), field goal percentage against (39.1 percent), three-point percentage against (30.6 percent), blocked shots (5.7 bpg), and steals (11.4 spg). They are also second in rebounding behind Kenneth Faried and Morehead State.

While Murray State failed to pick up a "big" win in OOC—they fell by five at Cal, six at a strong Louisiana Tech squad, and 11 at Western Kentucky—they have absolutely steamrolled their conference competition.

The Racers have won three of their five conference matches by at least 20 points. Today, they downed Austin Peay by 16 points on ESPN2.

Think they'll run the table? An 18-0 conference record is not inconceivable.

Think they'll make noise in March? Also, not inconceivable.

Yes, Ivan Aska and Isaiah Canaan, the Racers' two leading scorers, are underclassmen. But, remember—the balanced attack. The four other Racers averaging over nine points are all juniors and seniors.

Among those upperclassmen are Issac Miles and B.J. Jenkins, Murray State's two guards. Experienced floor generals are essential to mid-major success in March.

Shooting 35.6 percent from deep, the Racers are a decent three-point shooting team. They certainly don't live and die by the three, but their shooting ability could keep them close with the big boys—they shot 8-of-21 from beyond the arc in their narrow loss at Cal.

If Murray State wants to advance in March, they'll need to improve their foul-shooting. The Racers are currently shooting 66.6 percent from the charity stripe. As Memphis and many other tournament teams have proved, it's difficult to win in the Big Dance with a bad rate from the line.

Photo from ovcsports.com

Breaking News: Dartmouth's Dunn Abruptly Resigns

Terry Dunn, the head coach of the Dartmouth men’s basketball team, has recently resigned from his position. His decision was made this afternoon when he announced to his players and the athletic department that he was leaving. According to Jeff Goodman, senior college basketball writer for FOXsports.com, there was a boycott among the players demanding that they would no longer play for Dunn.

Dunn was in his sixth year at the helm of the Big Green men’s basketball program, compiling a 47-103 record during his tenure. Twice he led Dartmouth to 7-7 records in the Ivy League, finishing as high as third in the conference standings.

The Big Green open their Ivy League schedule tomorrow afternoon at Harvard at 2 p.m. The three assistant coaches, Mark Graupe, Michael Brown and Tim Lane, will coach the team for the game. An interim head coach is expected to be announced next week.

Remarkably, this is the second head coach who has been forced to leave in the Ivy League alone this season. Penn fired Glen Miller last month after a winless start.

Siena, Northern Iowa Look to Take Control of Conferences This Weekend

With nearly a quarter of conference play in the dust, Siena and Northern Iowa each stand 4-0 in their respective conferences, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference.

Tomorrow, they will each have an opportunity to prove they are indeed the No. 1 in their leagues.

On the other hand, Niagara and Illinois State can upset the favorites and tighten the standings.



Niagara (10-6, 3-1 MAAC) at Siena (11-4, 4-0 MAAC) 1 PM

Siena's OOC performance lacked the "big" win. The Saints could not take advantage of contests at Temple, currently ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll, and Georgia Tech, No. 23 at the time.

However, the Saints are gelling, riding a five game winning streak into tomorrow's match. With the exception of an unexpected close game against Mount Saint Mary's, the Saints have steamrolled their competition during the streak, beating Rider, Saint Joe's, Saint Peter's, and Loyola-MD all by double-digits.

The Saints will encounter an inconsistent Niagara squad, which tends to struggle in close games. The Purple Eagles have fallen in five of their six losses by six or less points.

Siena boasts a 45.8 percent field goal percentage while Niagara's defense only allows its foes to convert 41.7 percent of their shots. Struggling from beyond the arc, Siena shouldn't perform better than their usual 29.3 percent from three against Niagara, who defends the perimeter well.

Siena allows opponents to hit 43.5 percent of their shots, so Niagara's guards should receive a decent amount of open looks.

Disregarding the percentages, though, there are two factors that should lead to a Siena victory: Niagara's lack of an inside presence and Siena's home-court advantage.

Entering the season, the Purple Eagles knew they would struggle against bigger competition. They have been out-rebounded by an average of 5.5 boards per game, worst in the MAAC.

With Ryan Rossiter and Alex Franklin in the front-court, the Saints are the MAAC's best rebounding team and out-rebound opponents by an average of 3.1 boards per game.

The Saints dominate at the Times Union Center, where they have won 28 straight contests dating back to February 2008. Niagara has not won on Siena's home floor since Fran McCaffery began roaming the sidelines.

Siena 79, Niagara 68



Northern Iowa (13-1, 4-0 MVC) at Illinois State (12-3, 3-1 MVC) 4 PM on ESPN2

Northern Iowa is the country's hottest mid-major. The Panthers have beaten Boston College, Iowa State, Iowa, Siena, Creighton, and Missouri State in their current 12 game winning streak.

On the other side is a team that has not answered the door when good competition rings the bell. Illinois State's best win is in conference against a talented Wichita State team, but the Redbirds have fallen to Niagara, Ohio, and Missouri State.

The resumes alone provide a convincing argument for the Panthers, but Illinois State is certainly capable of pulling off the upset.

Averaging 74.2 points per game, the Redbirds flaunt the Valley's highest scoring offense. They will be met by the conference's lowest scoring defense—the Panthers' opponents are averaging 57 points per game.

However, the Panthers' points allowed per game are somewhat deceiving. UNI does not play suffocating defense. Instead, they simply keep a moderate pace as opposed to Illinois State's up-tempo style.

Illinois State will get some good looks against Northern Iowa's defense. The Redbirds only shoot 32.9 percent from deep, but the Panthers are rather weak on the perimeter. If Illinois State gets hot from outside, No. 1 could find itself in trouble.

Osiris Eldridge's performance could possibly decide the outcome. If the Panthers shut down the Valley's top scorer, a win could come relatively easily. However, Eldridge might be able to dominate, in which case Illinois State will probably emerge victorious.

Statistics tend to brainwash the mind. Although Illinois State has the stats on its side, Northern Iowa has succeeded against reputable competition.

Northern Iowa 71, Illinois State 68

Northeastern Huskies On a Roll Entering the Thick of CAA Play

You had to know the Northeastern Huskies would not continue to amass losses. A 2-7 start was disappointing, surprising, confusing—whatever you want to call it—but the Huskies have figured things out.

Coach Bill Coen implements a starting lineup comprised of four seniors and one junior, and his team is finally playing like an experienced squad should.

Gone are the narrow losses of November and December. In are six consecutive double-digit victories—most recently, the Huskies acquired a five-point win at Virginia Commonwealth before returning to the Matthews Arena to rout George Mason by 25.

Seniors Matt Janning and Manny Adako have continued to perform at their typical levels, but Chaisson Allen's consistent offensive output and Nkem Ojougboh's dominant defensive presence have propelled the Huskies.

Throughout the streak, Allen has averaged 15.7 points and 3.3 treys per game. He poured in 20 points and drained six threes tonight against George Mason.

While Ojougboh has maintained his rebounding average of 8.3 per game, he has altered more shots during the streak, blocking 2.8 per contest.

As a team, the Huskies certainly don't suffocate opponents on defense, making Ojougboh's presence all the more valuable. Their 43 percent opponent field goal percentage ranks tenth in the CAA while their 37.3 percent opponent three-point percentage is the league's worst.

However, Northeastern wins by being more efficient than its foes, outscoring opponents by 0.29 points per shot in the last six games.

With the bulk of conference play remaining, the Huskies must develop a knack for winning games on the road, where they are 2-4. They have a must-win at Georgia State this Saturday before hosting Delaware and UNC-Wilmington.

Closing out January, Northeastern has a crucial three-game homestand. A tough VCU team will arrive at the Matthews Arena in search of revenge. Then, Drexel, who defeated the Huskies by two in early December, will travel to Boston on the 27th.

The anticipated showdown of the CAA's preseason No. 1 and No. 2 will occur on Jan. 30, when Old Dominion visits Northeastern. It will be the only regular season match between the two teams, and Northeastern should be relieved they will host the game—the Monarchs are currently 8-0 in their Constant Convocation Center.