NCAA Basketball: 25 best team rivalries heading into 2019-20 season
By Joey Loose
11. Belmont Bruins vs. Murray State Racers
In stark contrast to the other rivalries on the list, the rivalry between Belmont and Murray State is very much in its infancy. These teams had little history with each other before Belmont joining the OVC in 2012. Since that time, they have far and away been the best programs in the conference and their rivalry often takes center stage in OVC play.
Before 2012, these two teams had played just six times, though they now play regularly in the conference season. Murray State has grabbed a 9-8 all-time series lead, though Belmont has a 7-4 advantage since joining the OVC. In just seven years together, they’ve already met three times in the OVC Tournament title game, with each team winning a pair of titles.
Belmont fans still rejoice in their 2015 OVC title game win, where Evan Bradds and company outdueled Cameron Payne to an 88-87 comeback victory. This past season, Ja Morant suffered an injury and a hot-shooting game gave Belmont a shocking road win, only for Morant and the Racers to avenge the loss in the title game.
Their first postseason matchup may have been the most thrilling, as the Bruins’ Kerron Johnson hit shots to send the game to overtime and to send the Bruins to their first OVC crown in 2013.
Both of these schools found their way into the NCAA Tournament last season, a wild surprise for the OVC. Rick Byrd and Ja Morant are gone, leaving Belmont with a new coach in Casey Alexander and Murray State set to reload.
Despite these changes, expect these two programs to remain on top of the OVC for as long as they stay in the league. Every matchup is hard-fought and the rivalry between the fanbases only continues to grow.