At the beginning of last season, the Blue Raiders were picked as the team to beat in the Sun Belt Conference. Injuries to key players limited the men’s team as they ended their season 18-14 with a 88-79 loss to North Texas in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
This season, the Blue Raiders are poised to make a run for the Sun Belt Conference title and a berth into the NCAA Tournament with a mix of seasoned players and a few newcomers.
Desmond Yates is back for his senior season. He has been named to the all-Sun Belt First Team for the second year in a row and is the lone representative for the Blue Raiders on the preseason teams.
The bigger story may end up being the return of Theryn Hudson. The 6’10” center from La Vergne, TN was injured for the majority of last season, which forced Yates to change positions, limiting the Blue Raiders on offense and defense.
With Yates back his natural position and Hudson back in the lineup, the firepower the team lacked last year should return.
One name coaches think you will be hearing plenty of this year is James Washington. The junior point guard is a transfer from Indian Hills Community College where we averaged almost 8 points a game with 5 assists while helping his team finish 30-3 on the year.
Indian Hills was ranked No. 1 at one point last year.
Also transferring into the Blue Raider fold is junior Rod Emmanuel.
Coming from Santa Fe Community College, Emmanuel averaged 17 points per game while hitting 42% of his 3-pointers attempted.
Last year’s top newcomer was Montarrio Haddock and he is looking for another impact year for MT.
Fans of the Blue Raiders may remember that one of the bright spots of last year’s loss to North Texas in the conference tournament included a career-high performance from Haddock in which he came off the bench to score 26 points.
The Blue Raiders open their season at home against King College on Friday at 7 PM.
They will take on the University of Tennessee on Dec. 11 in Nashville at the Sommet Centre. MT will also be on national TV at least once this season.
They will be taking on Western Kentucky on Jan. 23 at noon on ESPN2.
MT men’s team gears up for wins
Published: Monday, November 9, 2009
Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009
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