Behind Enemy Lines: Murray State
No. 5 seed West Virginia will travel to San Diego to take on the No. 12 seed Murray State to open the NCAA Tournament. So, as a way to bring more depth to our coverage of the Mountaineers, WVSports.com caught up with Will Aubrey of TheRacerInsider.com to get the lowdown on the Racers and what to expect in the match up.
So without further adieu, it's time to head behind enemy lines for a look at Murray State from the people that follow the team.
1. What are the strengths of this Murray State team? I know they've won 13 games in a row, but what does this team do well on both ends of the floor? How would you describe the style of play? Man-to-man or zone team?
Murray State shoots a lot of three-pointers and they are willing to shoot them from NBA range if they get an open shot. They want to play fast and emphasize defensive rebounding as a way to facilitate that. They usually play man-to-man defense, but will play zone at times. Head coach Matt McMahon is willing to play junk defenses in extreme situations.
2. Who are the players to watch? What do they do well?
The players to watch for are Jonathan Stark, Terrell Miller, and Ja Morant. Stark is a high volume shooter. He can take the ball to the basket. He has a step-back mid-range shot that is very effective and is a high percentage three-point shooter. And he does not hesitate to shoot it from NBA range or further, even early in the shot clock. Miller is a big burly guy that's an excellent three-point shooter and a good rebounder. He can score in the paint but taller defenders give him a lot of trouble because he isn't a great leaper. Morant is a triple-double waiting to happen. He gets to the rim with ease and creates shots for his teammates. He is a great rebounder for a guard.
3. What is the competition like in the Ohio Valley Conference? I can obviously look at box scores but in your opinion how did this team hold up against out of conference opponents?
The competition at the top of the OVC is pretty tough. The bottom half of the league is stronger than it once was, but it's still pretty weak. The Racers played well against out of conference opponents with the exception of St. Louis. I think they just had a bad game against SLU. Athletic big men give them trouble.
4. How do you think this team is built to handle the press? Also what is this team like when it comes to defending the post?
I think they are built to handle the press well and score in transition. They will not hesitate to take open threes against the press. Post defense is not one of their strengths.
5. How do you see this game playing out and a prediction?
I think it will be a fast paced game with runs by both teams. Make it 83-81 in favor of Murray State.
