Busting Brackets
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Murray State Basketball: 2022-23 season preview for the Racers

By Harry Schroeder

Mar 17, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Murray State Racers guard DaQuan Smith (1) reacts after a basket against the San Francisco Dons in the second half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Murray State Racers guard DaQuan Smith (1) reacts after a basket against the San Francisco Dons in the second half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Saint Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford hosts Murray State on opening night. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Saint Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford hosts Murray State on opening night. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Schedule Overview

While moving into a new league there is nothing changing in the way Murray State basketball builds its schedule. Coach Steve Prohm has a non-conference schedule that will prepare his team for MVC play but will also open doors for postseason play. They will have to defeat some very difficult opponents but resume-building opportunities abound.

They open at Atlantic Ten power Saint Louis. The Billikens (23-12) were picked second in the A-Ten preseason poll and are a top 100 team in every poll or rating system. SLU returns virtually everyone from last year’s NIT team and bring 2021 Preseason Player of the Year, Javonte Perkins back after a year of rehabbing his knee. Saint Louis will be a nationally ranked team before this season ends.

Murray travels to South Carolina to face an outstanding field at the Myrtle Beach Invitational. The Racers’ opening-round opponent Texas A & M (27-13) returns four starters and sits in most people’s top 25 right now.

Two games follow the contest with the Aggies. Second-round possible opponents are Colorado (21-12) and Massachusetts (15-17). Murray’s final game at Myrtle will be against any of Loyola, Tulsa, Boise State, or Charlotte. Of those four teams, only Tulsa had a losing record last season while Loyola and Boise State were 20-game winners and were NCAA Tournament teams.

Chattanooga at home and Bellarmine and Middle Tennessee on the road give MSU three more opportunities to impress the computers and the selection committees. Ancient rival and former Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay visits the CFSB Curb Center on December 16.

If roles are being defined and players are connecting in a productive way, this is a schedule that can create postseason Racer opportunities.