Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Racers Crack National Top-25 – First Since 2015
2/7/2022 2:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
At 22-2 overall and 12-0 in the OVC, the Murray State Racers jumped into the Associated Press and USA Today Top-25 rankings
The Murray State Racers broke into the Associated Press men's basketball top-25 today at No. 23 for their first AP ranking since March 2015. The same goes for the USA Today Coaches Poll where the Racers debuted No. 24.
The Racers are having a splendid 2021-22 campaign with a 22-2 overall record and a 12-0 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. Entering a road game Thursday in Nashville against Tennessee State, the Racers have won 12-straight since a loss at now No. 1, Auburn (Dec. 22).
The Racers are joined in the national polls by Saint Mary's and Wake Forest who are also new this week. In the AP poll, MSU was ahead of No. 24 UConn and No. 25 Xavier. Auburn is the top pick in the AP rankings, while Gonzaga is first in the USA Today poll. Purdue, Arizona and Kentucky make up the rest of the top-5 in each poll.
Additionally, the Racers are No. 28 in the NCAA Net Rankings and No. 27 by KenPom.com. Among mid-major teams, CollegeInsider.com had the Racers No. 3 in the nation in last week's poll.
Murray State's resume includes the aforementioned clash with Auburn and wins over Bellarmine, Belmont, Chattanooga, Illinois State, James Madison, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Morehead State.
Murray State's history of national rankings includes the impressive season of 2014-15 with eventual NBA lottery pick, Cameron Payne, and Coach Steve Prohm leading the Racers to an OVC record 25-game winning streak. In the 2011-12 season, the Racers had a top-10 ranking with NBA Draft pick, Isaiah Canaan, leading Prohm's rookie season at MSU as the final undefeated team (23-0) in the nation. After first gaining a top-25 rank in 1950-51, 1951-52 and 1952-53 under Coach Harlan Hodges, the Racers have now been ranked in a total of eight different seasons. Coach Cal Luther's team from the 1970-71 season was ranked as was the 1997-98 team of Coach Mark Gottfried and the 2011-12 and 2014-15 teams under Prohm.
The Racers are part of four teams from the OVC that have been ranked at some point since the league was formed in 1948 including Austin Peay (last in 1974), Eastern Kentucky (last in 1953) and Western Kentucky (last in 1971).
Racer Basketball Legacy Fund
The new fundraising initiative invites Racer supporters to have a lasting impact on the Murray State men's and women's basketball programs. Those interested in learning more about how you can support the Racer Basketball Legacy Fund initiative may contact Director of Development-Athletics, Taylor Mudd at (270) 809-3517 or tmudd3@murraystate.edu for more information.
Racers Selected For Two Home Games On ESPNU
The Murray State men's basketball is hosting a pair of televised home games on ESPNU as announced by the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2021-22 season. The Racers will appear on ESPNU (Feb. 17) when they host the Austin Peay Governors at the CFSB Center in a 6 p.m. tip. The second game happens at home (Feb. 24) against the Belmont Bruins in a tip off of 8 p.m. Both of the TV games for the Racers come on Thursday nights. The OVC schedule has a total of nine total men's basketball televised games (six regular season contests and three OVC Tournament games) to be aired by one of the ESPN networks during the 2021-22 season. This includes three nights of coverage at the OVC Tournament (March 4-5) at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men's teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. Currently a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers will join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2022.
The Racers are having a splendid 2021-22 campaign with a 22-2 overall record and a 12-0 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. Entering a road game Thursday in Nashville against Tennessee State, the Racers have won 12-straight since a loss at now No. 1, Auburn (Dec. 22).
The Racers are joined in the national polls by Saint Mary's and Wake Forest who are also new this week. In the AP poll, MSU was ahead of No. 24 UConn and No. 25 Xavier. Auburn is the top pick in the AP rankings, while Gonzaga is first in the USA Today poll. Purdue, Arizona and Kentucky make up the rest of the top-5 in each poll.
Additionally, the Racers are No. 28 in the NCAA Net Rankings and No. 27 by KenPom.com. Among mid-major teams, CollegeInsider.com had the Racers No. 3 in the nation in last week's poll.
Murray State's resume includes the aforementioned clash with Auburn and wins over Bellarmine, Belmont, Chattanooga, Illinois State, James Madison, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Morehead State.
Murray State's history of national rankings includes the impressive season of 2014-15 with eventual NBA lottery pick, Cameron Payne, and Coach Steve Prohm leading the Racers to an OVC record 25-game winning streak. In the 2011-12 season, the Racers had a top-10 ranking with NBA Draft pick, Isaiah Canaan, leading Prohm's rookie season at MSU as the final undefeated team (23-0) in the nation. After first gaining a top-25 rank in 1950-51, 1951-52 and 1952-53 under Coach Harlan Hodges, the Racers have now been ranked in a total of eight different seasons. Coach Cal Luther's team from the 1970-71 season was ranked as was the 1997-98 team of Coach Mark Gottfried and the 2011-12 and 2014-15 teams under Prohm.
The Racers are part of four teams from the OVC that have been ranked at some point since the league was formed in 1948 including Austin Peay (last in 1974), Eastern Kentucky (last in 1953) and Western Kentucky (last in 1971).
Racer Basketball Legacy Fund
The new fundraising initiative invites Racer supporters to have a lasting impact on the Murray State men's and women's basketball programs. Those interested in learning more about how you can support the Racer Basketball Legacy Fund initiative may contact Director of Development-Athletics, Taylor Mudd at (270) 809-3517 or tmudd3@murraystate.edu for more information.
Racers Selected For Two Home Games On ESPNU
The Murray State men's basketball is hosting a pair of televised home games on ESPNU as announced by the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2021-22 season. The Racers will appear on ESPNU (Feb. 17) when they host the Austin Peay Governors at the CFSB Center in a 6 p.m. tip. The second game happens at home (Feb. 24) against the Belmont Bruins in a tip off of 8 p.m. Both of the TV games for the Racers come on Thursday nights. The OVC schedule has a total of nine total men's basketball televised games (six regular season contests and three OVC Tournament games) to be aired by one of the ESPN networks during the 2021-22 season. This includes three nights of coverage at the OVC Tournament (March 4-5) at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men's teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. Currently a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers will join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2022.
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