CUSA MBB Week #18 - Final Week of the Regular Season

All games times are CST

Tuesday – March 5th

Middle Tennessee vs. Liberty – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)

Thursday – March 7th

Louisiana Tech vs. Sam Houston – 8:00 PM (CBS Sports)
UTEP vs. Florida International – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

Saturday – March 9th

Liberty vs. Western Kentucky – 12:00 PM (ESPN+)
Sam Houston vs. Jacksonville State – 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee – 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Florida International – 3:00 PM (ESPN+)

Week #17 Awards

Player of the Week: Florida International's Javaunte Hawkins
Freshman of the Week: UTEP's David Terrell Jr.

CUSA Top 20 Attendance for the season thus far...

Conference matchups in BOLD

1. New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State....... 11278
2. UTEP vs. New Mexico State........................... 10511
3. New Mexico State vs. Sam Houston.............. 10392
4. UTEP vs. UC Santa Barbara................................ 7121
5. New Mexico State vs. Western New Mexico........... 5908
6. Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech............ 5658
7. New Mexico State vs. Northern Colorado.............. 5656
8. Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee......... 5527
9. New Mexico State vs. Western Kentucky........ 5243
10. New Mexico State vs. UTEP........................... 5216
11. New Mexico State vs. New Mexico...................... 5182
12. Western Kentucky vs. New Mexico State....... 5102
13. Western Kentucky vs. Liberty....................... 5057
14. Middle Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky....... 5038
15. UTEP vs. Liberty............................................ 5028
16. UTEP vs. Sam Houston.................................. 5010
17. UTEP vs. Austin Peay........................................ 4871
18. New Mexico State vs. Louisiana Tech............ 4724
19. UTEP vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi.................... 4671
20. New Mexico State vs. Liberty........................ 4650

I’ll be driving over from Huntsville on Thursday afternoon. Glad the game is on national tv. If it’s anything like the first round, it’ll be fun.

Liberty/MTSU on Tuesday is kind of a key game as well, although probably not in the way schedulemakers had anticipated. Winner has a shot at .500.

MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

MT wins 69-61

(03-05-2024 08:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

MT wins 69-61

When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

(03-05-2024 09:10 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

MT wins 69-61

When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

Several weeks ago, I thought this team might get to 10 wins barely. Now with 13 wins.

Dammit.

(03-05-2024 09:21 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:10 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

MT wins 69-61

When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

Several weeks ago, I thought this team might get to 10 wins barely. Now with 13 wins.

Dammit.

McDevitt might save his job for at least one more year. He is slated to return Weston, Porter, and Coleman-Jones. That's a good nucleus to build around for next season.

(03-05-2024 09:34 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:21 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:10 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

MT wins 69-61

When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

Several weeks ago, I thought this team might get to 10 wins barely. Now with 13 wins.

Dammit.

McDevitt might save his job for at least one more year. He is slated to return Weston, Porter, and Coleman-Jones. That's a good nucleus to build around for next season.

And we lost our #2 big man for the season, as well.

Supposedly have a good freshman redshirting this year. Surprised we didn't play him, but could be because he has a very good brother (they can play together for an extra year if we are lucky enough to snag him).

Thing is, we had a helluva team coming back this season -- Lenard went G league, one guy went to Texas A&M, and another is starting for UT-Chatt.

McDevitt cannot have more huge misses (like he did this past year) on the recruiting trail if he comes back next season. Our guys are making too much NIL for us to be in the 300's NET.

(03-05-2024 09:43 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:34 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:21 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:10 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 08:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  MT wins 69-61

When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

Several weeks ago, I thought this team might get to 10 wins barely. Now with 13 wins.

Dammit.

McDevitt might save his job for at least one more year. He is slated to return Weston, Porter, and Coleman-Jones. That's a good nucleus to build around for next season.

And we lost our #2 big man for the season, as well.

Supposedly have a good freshman redshirting this year. Surprised we didn't play him, but could be because he has a very good brother (they can play together for an extra year if we are lucky enough to snag him).

Thing is, we had a helluva team coming back this season -- Lenard went G league, one guy went to Texas A&M, and another is starting for UT-Chatt.

McDevitt cannot have more huge misses (like he did this past year) on the recruiting trail if he comes back next season. Our guys are making too much NIL for us to be in the 300's NET.

Yup, at the start of this season, I really thought Middle Tennessee would be at the top of the standing right now. On paper they looked pretty stout. I will say, I think most CUSA programs should be even stronger next season and the field should still open.

(03-05-2024 10:15 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:43 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:34 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:21 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(03-05-2024 09:10 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  When you rely on the 3 point shot as much as we do and you’re not hitting them, this is the result. But with that being said, congratulations to the Blue Raiders.

Several weeks ago, I thought this team might get to 10 wins barely. Now with 13 wins.

Dammit.

McDevitt might save his job for at least one more year. He is slated to return Weston, Porter, and Coleman-Jones. That's a good nucleus to build around for next season.

And we lost our #2 big man for the season, as well.

Supposedly have a good freshman redshirting this year. Surprised we didn't play him, but could be because he has a very good brother (they can play together for an extra year if we are lucky enough to snag him).

Thing is, we had a helluva team coming back this season -- Lenard went G league, one guy went to Texas A&M, and another is starting for UT-Chatt.

McDevitt cannot have more huge misses (like he did this past year) on the recruiting trail if he comes back next season. Our guys are making too much NIL for us to be in the 300's NET.

Yup, at the start of this season, I really thought Middle Tennessee would be at the top of the standing right now. On paper they looked pretty stout. I will say, I think most CUSA programs should be even stronger next season and the field should still open.

Agreed. Think how many teams essentially started from scratch -- you guys, WKU, new coach at Sam Houston......

(03-05-2024 08:34 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  MT leading Flames by 11--5:00 left.

Blue Raiders are really playing better lately.

Real proud of the fight the guys are showing. Definitely getting better. Lost by 35 at Liberty.

The loss of our star point guard was tough on the team, obviously.

Has Western locked up the 3-seed ?

(03-06-2024 12:50 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Has Western locked up the 3-seed ?

Not sure of the tie breaker but if MTSU wins at La Tech on Saturday while WKU loses at Liberty then we have a tie between MTSU and WKU for 3rd.

(03-06-2024 01:03 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(03-06-2024 12:50 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Has Western locked up the 3-seed ?

Not sure of the tie breaker but if MTSU wins at La Tech on Saturday while WKU loses at Liberty then we have a tie between MTSU and WKU for 3rd.

Probably wins vs. higher seeded teams, going down the list.

MT only beat one team twice, which is FIU, and MT was swept by Sam Houston.

I think WKU beat Jax twice.

I think for MT to get the 3 seed, 5 things must happen (not likely).

FIU wins @ UTEP (Thurs)
WKU loses @ Liberty (Sat)
MT wins @ Tech (Sat)
Jax loses @ Sam Houston (Sat)
FIU wins @ NMSU (Sat)

FIU would finish ahead of Jax. WKU lost once to Jax, while MT swept them.

One last Saturday in CUSA play for 2023-2024. A grueling regular season finally comes to an end (except for UTEP, Miners are done).

The standings as the tournament bracket starts to take shape…

1. SHSU (12-3)
2. LaTech (11-4)
3. WKU (8-7)
4. MTSU (7-8)
5. UTEP (7-9)
6. NMSU (6-9)
7. JSU (6-9)
8. LU (6-9)
9. FIU (5-10)

(03-07-2024 11:50 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  One last Saturday in CUSA play for 2023-2024. A grueling regular season finally comes to an end (except for UTEP, Miners are done).

The standings as the tournament bracket starts to take shape…

1. SHSU (12-3)
2. LaTech (11-4)
3. WKU (8-7)
4. MTSU (7-8)
5. UTEP (7-9)
6. NMSU (6-9)
7. JSU (6-9)
8. LU (6-9)
9. FIU (5-10)

Pretty sure WKU has the 3-seed locked up

(03-08-2024 09:31 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(03-07-2024 11:50 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  One last Saturday in CUSA play for 2023-2024. A grueling regular season finally comes to an end (except for UTEP, Miners are done).

The standings as the tournament bracket starts to take shape…

1. SHSU (12-3)
2. LaTech (11-4)
3. WKU (8-7)
4. MTSU (7-8)
5. UTEP (7-9)
6. NMSU (6-9)
7. JSU (6-9)
8. LU (6-9)
9. FIU (5-10)

Pretty sure WKU has the 3-seed locked up

Correct. I think if WKU and MTSU finish 8-8, WKU wins the tie-breaker from sweeping Jax State.

https://bball.notnothing.net/cusa.php?sport=mbb

Can test various outcomes here to see potential brackets.

Sam Houston State now in my bracketology.

https://carolinasportsthoughts.wordpress...etology-9/

If home teams win on Saturday then we will have a log jam of 4 teams at 7-9 tied for 4th place.

MTSU, NMSU, UTEP and Liberty.

So seeding for 4th thru 7th would be decided by tie breakers.

Liberty would be the 4th seed since they are the only 1 of the 4 with wins vs both SHSU and La Tech.

The 5th, 6th and 7th seeds may have to be settled by a coin toss.