Busting Brackets
Fansided

Murray State basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Racers

By Harry Schroeder

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Head coach Matt McMahon of the Murray State Racers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
The Murray State Basketball cheer squad will travel to Memphis and Auburn (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Murray State Basketball cheer squad will travel to Memphis and Auburn (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Big challenges in the nonconference schedule

McMahon is happy about some Saturday night home games this season, but his road trips will not be easy. After two home games against Cumberland and Bellarmine, MSU’s first road game is at Illinois State. Six days later the Racers head to Florida for the Naples Invitational.

Murray State is 19th in the Busting Brackets mid-major top 25 and the Racers open the invitationals with East Tennessee State (128 KenPom.com) and then play either Missouri State (17th in our Mid-Major poll) or Long Beach State. Other teams in Naples include Kent State, James Madison, Wright State, and George Washington.

Two post-Thanksgiving home games bring Campbellsville and Middle Tennessee State to the CFSB Center.  Then the Racers travel to Memphis (31) for a game with the nationally-ranked Tigers. Penny Hardaway’s team is loaded with high-level recruits.

MSU fans will stick around for some Grizzlies’ games with Morant facing the Los Angeles Lakers before returning to Murray, Kentucky for a breather against Tennessee Wesleyan.

Murray’s final two non-conference games will not be easy. Chattanooga visits the CFSB Center on December 18. The Mocs are a Southern Conference favorite and won 18 games last season. Their 156 Kenpom and 137 N.E.T. tell you this will be a key game for the Racers to win.

McMahon’s team’s final non-conference game is at Auburn. Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are coming off a 13-14 season last year but are positioned for a rebound season. Pearl has earned 600 career wins and is a two-time Southeastern Conference coach of the year.