Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Make Basketball Times "Fine 9" List
11/9/2017 11:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Basketball Times magazine has once again named the Murray State Racers among the top men's programs in NCAA D-I and also to their historic list they call the "Fine 9."
The "Fine 9" is a short list of schools that have qualified for the Basketball Times rankings (released every five years) since the project started 20 years ago in 1997. The list includes: Arizona, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Murray State, North Carolina, Syracuse and Xavier.
"It's such an honor to be ranked even once in Jack Styczynski's list of the nation's top programs," said Basketball Times publisher John Akers. "Only the bluest of blue bloods have qualified all five times we've conducted the project over the past two decades. Murray State stands out among them, as the only one of those nine schools that isn't from an ACC, an SEC, a Big 12 or one of the other elite conferences. That's a tribute to the school's commitment to basketball, the coaches and players who have come through the program and those fans who have been there for the Racers every step of the way.
The Racers are found in the 2017 rankings at No. 32, with Duke, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Gonzaga and Villanova making up the top-5. Other notables included fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Belmont (No. 7), Kentucky (No. 18), Memphis (No. 25) and Louisville (No. 26).
Since 1997, Basketball Times has revealed its list once every five years by using a set of criteria including 10-year winning percentage, former players in the NBA, NCAA graduation rates, and NCAA graduation rates report, and academic peer assessment score. The Basketball Times also polls a 10-person panel, including members of the United States Basketball Writers Association.
Current Murray State head coach, Matt McMahon, and the past Racer coaches since the 1990's are to be commended for the longevity of the Racers being in the Basketball Times list. Those include: Steve Newton (1985-91) (6 seasons, 116-65 .640), Scott Edgar (1991-95) (4 seasons 79-40 .663), Mark Gottfried (1995-98) (3 seasons 68-24 .739), Tevester Anderson (1998-03) (5 seasons 103-52 .664), Mick Cronin (2003-06) (3 seasons 69-24 .741), Billy Kennedy (2006-11) (5 seasons 107-53 .668), Steve Prohm (2011-15) (5 seasons 70-24 .744).
Since the Basketball Times rankings began in 1997, the Racers have a 445-193 (.697) overall record including a 260-84 (.755) mark in OVC play. Since 1997, the Racers have won eight OVC regular season championships and five OVC Tournament titles which led them to the same number of NCAA Tournament appearances.
Basketball Times
2017 Top Programs Rankings
1. Duke
2. Notre Dame
3. Wisconsin
4. Gonzaga
5. Villanova
6. Davidson
7. Belmont
8. Michigan State
9. Butler
10. Kansas
11. North Carolina
12. (tie) Purdue
Saint Mary's
14. Arizona
15. (tie) Florida
Xavier
17. Ohio State
18. Kentucky
19. BYU
20. Syracuse
21. Wichita State
22. UCLA
23. Pittsburgh
24. VCU
25. Memphis
26. Louisville
27. Vermont
28. Dayton
29. Baylor
30. Stephen F. Austin
31. Connecticut
32. Murray State
33. New Mexico
34. San Diego State
35. Akron
The "Fine 9" is a short list of schools that have qualified for the Basketball Times rankings (released every five years) since the project started 20 years ago in 1997. The list includes: Arizona, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Murray State, North Carolina, Syracuse and Xavier.
"It's such an honor to be ranked even once in Jack Styczynski's list of the nation's top programs," said Basketball Times publisher John Akers. "Only the bluest of blue bloods have qualified all five times we've conducted the project over the past two decades. Murray State stands out among them, as the only one of those nine schools that isn't from an ACC, an SEC, a Big 12 or one of the other elite conferences. That's a tribute to the school's commitment to basketball, the coaches and players who have come through the program and those fans who have been there for the Racers every step of the way.
The Racers are found in the 2017 rankings at No. 32, with Duke, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Gonzaga and Villanova making up the top-5. Other notables included fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Belmont (No. 7), Kentucky (No. 18), Memphis (No. 25) and Louisville (No. 26).
Since 1997, Basketball Times has revealed its list once every five years by using a set of criteria including 10-year winning percentage, former players in the NBA, NCAA graduation rates, and NCAA graduation rates report, and academic peer assessment score. The Basketball Times also polls a 10-person panel, including members of the United States Basketball Writers Association.
Current Murray State head coach, Matt McMahon, and the past Racer coaches since the 1990's are to be commended for the longevity of the Racers being in the Basketball Times list. Those include: Steve Newton (1985-91) (6 seasons, 116-65 .640), Scott Edgar (1991-95) (4 seasons 79-40 .663), Mark Gottfried (1995-98) (3 seasons 68-24 .739), Tevester Anderson (1998-03) (5 seasons 103-52 .664), Mick Cronin (2003-06) (3 seasons 69-24 .741), Billy Kennedy (2006-11) (5 seasons 107-53 .668), Steve Prohm (2011-15) (5 seasons 70-24 .744).
Since the Basketball Times rankings began in 1997, the Racers have a 445-193 (.697) overall record including a 260-84 (.755) mark in OVC play. Since 1997, the Racers have won eight OVC regular season championships and five OVC Tournament titles which led them to the same number of NCAA Tournament appearances.
Basketball Times
2017 Top Programs Rankings
1. Duke
2. Notre Dame
3. Wisconsin
4. Gonzaga
5. Villanova
6. Davidson
7. Belmont
8. Michigan State
9. Butler
10. Kansas
11. North Carolina
12. (tie) Purdue
Saint Mary's
14. Arizona
15. (tie) Florida
Xavier
17. Ohio State
18. Kentucky
19. BYU
20. Syracuse
21. Wichita State
22. UCLA
23. Pittsburgh
24. VCU
25. Memphis
26. Louisville
27. Vermont
28. Dayton
29. Baylor
30. Stephen F. Austin
31. Connecticut
32. Murray State
33. New Mexico
34. San Diego State
35. Akron
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