MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee men’s basketball team is set to open conference play with a bout against the Kennesaw State Owls Wednesday in the Murphy Center. The contest tips off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+ and Blue Raider Network.
Series History
The Blue Raiders are undefeated in the all-time series versus Kennesaw State, winning all eight matchups played. At home, MTSU is 7-0, winning both games as first-time conference opponents last season.
Blue Raider Notes
- After opening league play on the road last season, the Blue Raiders will begin conference play at home this season, for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
- Nick McDevitt will look to win his second-straight conference opener when Kennesaw State comes to town Wednesday. MTSU is 2-5 in conference openers under McDevitt.
- The Blue Raiders were voted to finish fourth in the preseason Conference USA poll after tying for second a season ago.
- On the offensive end of the court, the Blue Raiders have consistently shared the wealth of the scoring, with four players averaging double-digit totals.
- Jahvin Carter leads the team with 12.6 points per game, scoring 10+ in seven contests, actively boasting a three-game streak. Torey Alston is just behind him, averaging 12.1 points per game, thanks to a couple of recent breakout games.
- Kamari Lands (11.7ppg) and Sean Smith (11.0ppg) are the others averaging double digits, with the guys scoring 10+ points in five and six games, respectively.
- Jahvin Carter, a sophomore, leads the team with a 2.73 assist-to-turnover ration (fourth in CUSA), with Smith just behind him at 2.50 (seventh in CUSA).
- MTSU’s three-point percentage defense continues to thrive, ranking 30th in the nation at just 28.6 percent.
- With 1.56 blocks per game this season, Chris Loofe sits 91st in the nation and second in Conference USA.
- The Blue Raiders rank second in the conference, turning the ball over just 10.6 times per contest.
- MTSU’s MJ Whitlock began his collegiate career at Kennesaw State during Antoine Pettway’s first season at the helm, redshirting his true freshman campaign before transferring to Cowley College.
Owl Notes
- Kennesaw State is 8-2 on the season, averaging 97.2 points per game, good for the second most in Division I.
- Senior guard Simeon Cottle was named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year this season and paces the Owls with 20.0 points per game, 36th in the nation.
- KSU sits first in the nation in total rebounds per game at 47.4 boards per game and sixth in rebound margin at 12.6.
- Kennesaw was voted to finish second in the conference, garnering one first-place vote, in the Preseason Poll after finishing fourth last season.
