Murray State Hoops

Getting Back to Where They Belong

(St. Louis, MO) – Murray State being near the top of the Ohio Valley Conference race seems like a birthright to Racers’ fans. Head coach Matt McMahon has built a roster that looks like the Racers will be getting back to where they belong.

During our 30-minute conversation we discussed McMahon’s returning players, key newcomers and some recent changes in the OVC. As McMahon begins his seventh season his outstanding record (123-64) and his four first-place finishes tell you he knows how to get the Racers back to where they belong.

Last season’s covid-impaired season left the Racers with a 13-13 record (10-10 in the OVC). Under McMahon the Racers have never been worse than .500 in league play.

Recruiting To Get Back to Where they Belong

There are no ‘true freshmen’ on this year’s roster. There are nine players that due to extra eligibility given by the NCAA are listed as freshmen or sophomores. McMahon knew his team needed to get older and more experienced.

He prefers the more traditional approach to recruiting, but this year he dove deep into the transfer portal. Trae Hannibal (South Carolina), Carter Collins (Davidson), Jordan Skipper-Brown (Eastern Illinois) and D.J. Burns (Southern) are Division 1 transfers. Elijah Farr joins MSU from Olney Central College (junior college).

 

 

All of those transfers figure to receive extensive playing time. Skipper-Brown’s experience in the OVC will be invaluable. McMahon says the left-handed Collins is an outstanding shooter and Skipper-Brown is a dynamic athlete and a physical frontcourt presence.

 

 

Collins averaged 10.9 points per game while making 39% from deep. Skipper-Brown averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Panthers. Hannibal was a six-point per game performer at South Carolina and two years ago Burns averaged 9.3 points at Southern.

Veterans and the Staff

McMahon was recently rated the 75^th best Division 1 coach and brings back his entire staff and some additional help. His team also returns two, All-OVC performers in Tevin Brown and K.J. Williams.

Both players are two-time all-league honorees and are on historic runs in Murray, Kentucky. Brown’s 1,343 points, 303 assists and 248 three-pointers put him in position to finish his Racer career as one of the best to ever wear the uniform.

Williams has a great shot at becoming just the tenth Racer to score at least 1,000 points and grab more than 700 rebounds. Williams outscored Brown last season 15.6 to 14.7 points per game.

McMahon says Brown’s production is important, but so is his leadership role. He is proud of his two, long-term anchors and is grateful for their loyalty and commitment.

 

 

The 43-year-old coach often brags about Murray’s coaching staff. Tim Kaine has been with McMahon during his entire head coaching time at MSU. Casey Long is in his fifth year and Ronrico White has been promoted from Director of Player Development to Assistant Coach.

Former Racer great Marcus Brown has joined the staff as ‘Assistant to the Head Coach’. After playing professionally in Europe, Brown became the head coach at his alma mater and joined Murray’s staff this summer. Mike Chapman is the team’s Video Coordinator.

McMahon says he has tried to build the coaching staff with ‘great people’.

 

 

What Lies Ahead

The 2021-22 schedule has some great challenges and some great opportunities. There will be three Saturday home games, but also very difficult road tasks at Memphis and at Auburn. Those Saturday games will be juicey.

Bellarmine visits on November 13, while Middle Tennessee comes to the CFSB Center on December 4 and Chattanooga comes calling on December 18. OVC play begins on Thursday, December 30 with a home tilt with Southeast Missouri.

Ohio Valley Conference observers aren’t accustomed to seeing Murray State playing to a mortal, .500 record. Murray State fans are as engaged and rabid as they come, they are energetic about seeing the Racers back near the top of the league.

McMahon and his remade roster are determined to get back to where they belong.

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