Men’s basketball team recently sent out two new offers this month…

Forward Max Pikaar — postgrad at Sunrise Christian Academy

Login to view embedded media
Guard Asim Jones — JUCO at College of Southern Idaho

Login to view embedded media

Tough news. I was informed earlier today that R-Fr outfielder Kenny McKinley suffered a major knee injury in practice earlier this week. Will have season-ending surgery in the coming days.

McKinley was projected as a reserve outfielder for the 2024 season.

Watching/listening to the Coach Rick Insell show tonight, in addition to the feature from last game's ESPN+ broadcast on them, I cannot tell you how proud I am of these two ladies and the coaches who have worked so hard for them and with them. They are incredible young women and a true honor to have on the team. Hearing Anastasiia talk about how she hasn't regretted coming here a single day and how it was absolutely the right choice to come here after everything she has been through made me so happy!

Thursday, Feb. 15

Jax State at LA Tech 6 p.m. ESPN+
FIU at Sam Houston 6:30 p.m. ESPN+
NM State at MT 6:30 p.m. ESPN+
UTEP at WKU 7 p.m. CBSSN


Saturday, Feb. 17

FIU at LA Tech 2 p.m. ESPN+
NM State at WKU 2 p.m. ESPN+
UTEP at MT 5 p.m. ESPN+
Liberty at Sam Houston 6:30 p.m. ESPN+

Former MT player Richie James gets a Super Bowl ring, however, I think I only saw him fumble a return.

Good game to watch.

This will be Part 2 of the battle between CUSA's 2 best women's programs. MT is playing its best combined offense & defense of the year while looking to build on its 8 game winning streak. FIU is looking to avenge its lone conference loss a 92-62 beat down by the Blue Raiders just 3 games ago.
The last 3 games Middle Tennessee has won by an average of 30 ppg over the Panthers. To maintain their Net Rankings progression MT needs to maintain its conference domination of its opponents where they are winning games by average of approximately 22 ppg. this season.
Something has to give this game. Will it be the Lady Raiders recent dominance of the Lady Panthers or FIU's will to compete against the hard charging Lady Raiders.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

Location: Miami, FL
Enrollment: 46,079
Arena: Ocean Bank Convovation Center (5,000)
Website: fiusports.com Twitter: @FIUHoops
Colors: Blue & Gold Nickname: Panthers
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Record at School: 77-79 (6th Season) Career: 77-79 (6th Season)
2022-23 Record: 14-18, 8-12 22-23 Finish: 8th CUSA 22-23 Postseason: CUSA First Round
Starters R/L: 3/2 Lettermen R/L: 9/5
Roster: Panthers


Classic Hits 93.3 - 95.1 - WGNS 101.9 FM/1450 AM/100.5FM

• LIVE STATS
• LISTEN LIVE
• WATCH LIVE
• FULL SCHEDULE
• ROSTER
• MATCHUP HISTORY

Feb. 9-11 #NorCal Kickoff Sacramento, Cal.

UC Davis Feb 9 (Fri) Davis, Calif. 11:30 AM CT
Saint Mary's Feb 9 (Fri) Davis, Calif. 4:30 PM CT

Cal Poly Feb 10 (Sat) Sacramento, Calif. 11:30 AM CT
Sacramento State Feb 10 (Sat) Sacramento, Calif. 2:00 PM CT

San Jose State Feb 11 (Sun) Davis, Calif. 11:30 AM CT

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Location: Lynchburg, VA
Enrollment: 15,000
Arena: Liberty Arena (4,000)
Website: libertyflames.com Twitter: @LibertyMBB
Colors: Red & Navy Blue Nickname: Flames
Head Coach: Ritchie McKay
Record at School: 226-113 (11th Season) Career Record: 367-242 (22nd Season)
2022-23 Record: 27-9, 15-3 22-23 Finish: 2nd ASUN 22-23 Postseason: NIT Second Round
Starters R/L: 3/2
Letterwinners R/L: 10/5
Roster: Flames


Classic Hits 93.3 - 95.1

• LIVE STATS
• LISTEN LIVE
• WATCH LIVE
• FULL SCHEDULE
• ROSTER
• MATCHUP HISTORY

I wrote a piece for Sidelines on this and thought I'd share it here. A couple of weeks ago, the new staff put Chris 'C.J.' Johnson, a former local player who worked his way into the rotation, on scholarship.

The future looks so bright. Ugh - PLEASE get us to a real conference.

Just some random students:

Embarrassing - Kennesaw State

MT comes into Thursday night's game on a 7 game winning streak. Liberty comes in playing its best ball of the year on a 4 game win streak itself. Middle Tennessee's defense will face one of its biggest challenges of the year containing 6' 6" Liberty center Bella Smuda. Smuda just led Liberty with 27 points all in the paint to an 87-68 win over UTEP at home. She also is an excellent shot blocker with 50 blocks in her sophomore campaign last year.
While Liberty is playing its best ball currently they are also 2-9 on the road including a 0-3 record in neutral site games.
Liberty is used to playing in front of a home crowd of 600-700 fans. MT should bring in another 3,500-4,000 into tonight's game. Will be interesting to see how the Flames react to one of the biggest crowds they are likely to play in front of all year.

Here

Let's keep a running chat on the season in here!

@braden_mc5 can answer whatever questions you may have!

Middle Tennessee begins a 3 game home swing against WKU this weekend, while WKU is in the midst of a 3 game road trip. The Lady Raiders come into Saturday's contest red hot & on a 6 game winning streak. MT & WKU shared the same opponent on their last road match up versus FIU, but the outcome was totally different for each team. The Lady Raiders played their best game of the year resulting in a 92-62 pasting of the Lady Panthers. It was a totally different ending for WKU. A defensive 1st half for both squads turned into a better 2nd half offensive effort for FIU as they went on to win against a struggling WKU squad 70-60.
Middle Tennessee has been sluggish at times coming off of a 1 week or more layoff. However, look for the ladies to shake off a little rust in what should be their best crowd since the Rutherford County Students day game.
With pleasant weather forecast into the low 60's this Saturday it would be great to see 5,000 or more in attendance for this weekends game.

Start

Lantz Peoples OT 6’5/325 Bell Buckle, TN
Other offers: TN Tech

What do you like most about the new staff?
“I love the energy that they give off and how they make you feel like family and that they truly care about you not only as a player but as a person. I love that coach Mason is a good faithful Christian man and sets a good example for men to follow. I like coach Mason’s blue collar mentality and that we are gonna get things done. Also how he says everyday is a job interview.”

Did the new facilities factor into your decision to commit to MTSU?
“The new facilities were just a bonus honestly I just loved the way MTSU has treated me and how honest they are throughout the whole recruiting process I’ve always wanted to be a Blue Raider and coach Mason coming in gave me the perfect opportunity.”

Who would you compare your style of play to in the NFL and why?
“I like to compare my style of play to Trent Williams because he is a straight up dog and is ruthless and relentless he has no mercy for his opponent but is a good man off the field.”

When will you be enrolling?
“I will be enrolling in fall 2024 but will be starting workouts during the summer with MTSU when I’m eligible to report.”

Have you talked or heard about the new NIL collective that just started RaidersRising?
“I haven’t heard anything yet about NIL that stuff will all come when the time is right.”

How did the recruiting process go?
“I’ve visited and have been recruited by several out of state D1 schools I decided I wanted to stay closer to home and narrowed my decision down to MTSU and Tennessee Tech. I chose MTSU because I love family aspect of MTSU and the vision they have for the program that they are going to accomplish. GoBlue!!”

Anything else you want the fans to know?
“I want the fans to that I’m coming in hungry and ready to fight to help turn this program around and that they should come pack the stadium out they won’t be disappointed.”

Wednesday – February 7th

Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky – 6PM (ESPN+)

Thursday – February 8th

Liberty vs. Middle Tennessee – 6PM (ESPN+)
Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston – 6PM (ESPN+)

Saturday – February 10th

Florida International vs. Middle Tennessee – 1PM (ESPN+)
Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky – 4PM (ESPN+)
Liberty vs. Louisiana Tech – 7PM (ESPNU)
UTEP vs. New Mexico State – 8PM (ESPN+)

Login to view embedded media
Was fortunate to have Jeff Breeden join the show to discuss their magical run in Tuscaloosa last year and their upcoming season. Picked to finish 3rd in CUSA and looks promising returning a majority of their production and refreshed coaching staff!

The specific answer to what many have been asking:

CNMs current contract expires in June of 2025. His buyout is currently 50% of base salary owed. That rate does not lower before the end of the contract. Base salary is still $575k.



The full story:

CNM signed a 5-year contract in 2018, so it expired in 2023. Terms of the buyout were full base salary owed if terminated in first three years, then half base salary owed if terminated in the final two years.

He signed what I want to call a mulligan extension in fall 2019. This extension essentially voided the first season and pushed all the terms of the contract forward a year. Everything is the same besides the range of his contract being 2019 to 2024.

This is important when wondering why he was not terminated in 2021. Even though they had just finished 5-18 and CNM was 24-62 in his three seasons in Murfreesboro, that mulligan extension pushed the buyout terms a year forward. Thus in Spring of 2021, CNM was still owed three years of full base salary and the 50% discount on the buyout would not kick in until summer of 2022.

Its worth considering how much was different back then: financial hardships from covid, athletic budgeting was still held hostage by CRS’s contract, they had no buyout revenue from nine schools leaving C-USA, etc… Also was hard to gauge how much of the 5-18 season resulted from the hindrances of covid. Not arguing that it was the right or wrong decision to retain him because I think the more important question is why he was given that 2019 mulligan extension in the first place.

Fast-forward to summer of 2022: CNM signs a one-year extension after a successful 26-11 season, thus pushing its termination date to June 2025. Buyout terms remained the same. No other contractual agreement has been documented since.


Good win Wednesday night, so maybe they can go on a major run and CNM can save himself. But the facts are this: Middle Tennessee has 8 total seasons in program history with 18 or more losses. Assuming this year will be number 9, CNM will account for 4 of those 9 seasons. And it must be said again: these results have all occurred DESPITE succeeding the greatest stretch in program history.

The buyout is affordable. The optics of retaining him after CM ranted a few months ago about how winning and championships matter would look very bad. I feel like the writing is on the wall, but a lot can change in two months, especially in this sport. We will see.