MTSU Basketball: 5 reasons Blue Raiders will be the Cinderella of the 2017 NCAA Tournament

By Taylor Sturm | Mar 14, 2017

Mar 11, 2017; Birmingham, AL, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders react after winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship against Marshall Thundering Herd at Legacy Arena. Blue Raiders defeated the Herd 82-73. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 11, 2017; Birmingham, AL, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders guard Aldonis Foote (45) controls the ball from Marshall Thundering Herd guard C.J. Burks (14) during the first half of the Conference USA Tournament at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Confidence

One of the more underrated aspects of a successful NCAA Tournament team is the “hot streak” factor. Both the Shabazz Napier and Kemba Walker led UConn teams proved the advantages of an end-of-the-season run that leads to a deep NCAA Tournament run, and MTSU looks like they are one of the hottest teams in the country.

MTSU dominated conference play, dominated the conference tournament, and upset a No. 2 seed in Michigan State last season with several of the same players. This team knows it can win – and opponents should be very, very afraid.

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