MVC Tip Off Event Previews 2023-24 Season

The Murray State Racers were part of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tip-off day at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, where State Farm Arch Madness is played every March.

With the Racers heading into their second season as members of The Valley, Coach Steve Prohm brought four of his upperclassmen student-athletes including Quincy Anderson, Brian Moore, Jr., Rob Perry and JaCobi Wood. The MVC Tip-off event brings together the 12 teams of the league for a day of media access and recordings. The Racers participated in a morning elementary reading day and in the afternoon, were part of several sessions with the media outlets that cover the MVC.

Here is a look at the news coming out of the MVC Tip-off in St. Louis.

MVC Preseason Polls Released
A year ago, the Racers were predicted for an eighth-place finish, but did better with a spot in seventh place after an 11-9 league record. A year later, the Racers are the No. 7 selection in a vote of the MVC coaches and Sports Communications staff. Drake has was chosen No. 1 in the preseason, with UNI, Bradley, Indiana State and Belmont in the top-5. Missouri State is No. 6, followed by the Racers, Illinois State, Southern Illinois and UIC in the top-10. Evansville and Valparaiso round out the poll.

MSU's Rob Perry Named All-MVC Preseason
Murray State senior Rob Perry is part of the All-MVC Preseason Team with a spot on the second team. In his first season with the Racers, the senior from Orlando, Fla., was ninth in MVC scoring at 14.3 points per game and fifth in in minutes played per game at 35.1. Drake's Tucker DeVries was named the MVC Preseason Player of the Year. Joining DeVries on the first team are Bowen Born (UNI), Donovan Clay (MOST), Malevy Leons (BRD) and Cade Tyson (BEL).

Fun For All Thursday at the Bank
Racer Mania Fan Fest, presented by The Murray Bank, signals the start of the 2023-24 basketball season with a new look in the annual gathering to meet the Murray State men's and women's teams on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the CFSB Center in Murray. The CFSB Center doors to the free event open at 6 p.m. and the program runs through 7:30 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to have direct interaction with MSU student-athletes and coaches like never before with a meet-and-greet while getting this year's schedule posters autographed. Young Racer fans will enjoy Kona Ice, balloon art, face painting, coloring, pumpkin painting, a photo shoot with team mascot Dunker and numerous basketball-related activities. On Friday, Oct. 20, fans can come back to the CFSB Center to watch the men's basketball team at an open practice. Doors will open at 3 p.m.

No Place Like Home in The Bank
The Racers embark on their second season in The Valley (Nov. 29) at home in the CFSB Center against Bradley. Five January home games include a pair of Sunday afternoon tilts against Northern Iowa (Jan. 14) and Indiana State (Jan. 21). When it comes to the thrill of big rivalry games, it doesn't get better than Murray State against Belmont and Southern Illinois. The Salukis visit Murray (Jan. 27) on a Saturday and the Racers return the game to Carbondale (Feb. 21) on a Wednesday. Both of the Racers' clashes with Belmont happen on Wednesdays in February. The first meeting is in Nashville (Feb. 7), with the Bruins coming to Murray (Feb. 28). Coming down the final stretch of games in the MVC, the Racers have a pair of Saturday home games with Evansville (Feb. 10) and Valparaiso (Feb. 24). The Racers play their final regular season game (March 3) at Indiana State before heading to St. Louis and Arch Madness (March 7-10) as the MVC Tournament is held at the Enterprise Center for a 34th consecutive year.

The Racers 99^th season sees the team host six games in the CFSB Center before the end of the year, after they play in Racer Arena (Nov. 1) for the first time in 25 years in an exhibition game against Brescia. MSU's official season opener at the CFSB Center comes against Midway College on Nov. 6. MSU has two games at the Fort Myers Tipoff in Florida, during Thanksgiving week against UNCW and Appalachian State (Nov. 20 & 22). Intriguing road games await at Austin Peay (Dec. 9), Mississippi State (Dec. 13) and Little Rock (Dec. 18). The Racers also host Southeastern Louisiana (Dec. 16), SMU (Dec. 22) and Middle Tennessee (Dec. 30) in December.

Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).

Murray State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Quincy Anderson

Brian Moore, Jr.

Rob Perry

JaCobi Wood

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