Murray State University Athletics
First Day of Practice - Racers Look Forward to 2010-11 Season
10/15/2010 8:08:38 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU 2010-11 Schedule
The Murray State men's basketball squad staged their first workouts of the season with an evening workout Friday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
The Racers' start comes after a record-breaking season in 2009-10 that saw them win 31 games including one in the NCAA Tournament over Vanderbilt.
“Yes it's a big day for us to have our first practice,” Head Coach Billy Kennedy said. “We're excited to have the team together and get after it.”
One area that will define the Racers is the typical attention to playing defense for all Kennedy teams. Last season, the Racers dominated the Ohio Valley Conference and were the best in the league in scoring defense, defensive field goal percentage, three-point percentage defense, blocked shots and steals.
“We're a defensive-minded team, so the first week of practice is usually real ugly and very physical,” Kennedy said. “We're working hard on setting our identity; we're a blue collar team.”
Leadership is an area that is in good shape. The Racers have three seniors on the club, B.J. Jenkins, Jeffery McClain and Isacc Miles, plus several other returning players that saw significant playing time last season.
“The leadership from this group if the best we've had here,” Kennedy said. “Last season's leadership was good and it's good now. They have demonstrated it on and off the court.”
As the Racers get into another season that will see them try for their 22nd OVC regular season championship and 15th trip to the NCAA Tournament, they have an eye on starting games.
MSU hosts Freed-Hardeman (Nov. 9) at the CFSB Center in an exhibition game, before opening the season at home (Nov. 15) against East Tennessee State. The Racers' first road game is at Mississippi (Nov. 17).
“We're trying to build on it and take it to another level and try to be better than that (last season),” senior Jeffery McClain said. “We want to improve because last year is last year.”
