– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
To paraphrase the great hip hop artist, LL Cool J, in describing the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders’ accomplishment this afternoon, “Don’t call it an upset!”
Middle Tennessee, champions of Conference USA, came into this Thursday’s NCAA Tournament first round game with the same exact demeanor as when they went into last year’s first NCAA Tournament game with Michigan State in St. Louis: play their brand of basketball and win the game. Unlike last year, when the Blue Raiders stunned the basketball world as a No. 15 seed and upset the Spartans, the Blue Raiders were a known quantity, the element of surprise gone from 2016. They got the Big Ten’s attention last March, and did so once again on Thursday.
Reggie Upshaw Jr. scored 19 points and hit a couple of big baskets late in thwarting a Minnesota second-half rally as the Blue Raiders made it two consecutive seasons with NCAA Tournament victories with a 81-72 win over the Gophers, proving many who believed this game was the chic 12-vs.-5 upset to pick to be right. At 30-4 coming in, Middle Tennessee was a 12 seed in name only, and they expected to win today’s game. Whether it actually should be considered an upset is pretty much up to you now.
“The only difference was last year we were a major underdog, and this year, everybody kind of had us either winning by two or losing by two,” said Upshaw. “Pretty much even matchup. But, you know, we still kept the same mindset coming into the game. We just played our game, you know, we would be able to walk away with a win.”
Middle Tennessee head coach Kermit Davis was a little more frank with his words about if an upset was engineered on the BMO Harris Bradley Center floor this afternoon.
“I don’t think so at all,” said Davis. “I don’t. We have a lot of respect for Minnesota. Our record speaks for itself and kind of what we’ve done all year long. And I think what just Reggie said, it’s about a pick ’em game, and it was a good team — but I know our players don’t think it was an upset by any means.”
Along with Upshaw’s play, the Blue Raiders’ key to success was slowing down All-Big Ten First Team selection Nate Mason, who ran into switching defenses, including a 1-3-1 zone that almost shut off any lanes for Mason to drive and create opportunities for his teammates. Mason scored only five points on 2-of-10 shooting. He also had four turnovers.
“I feel like the 13 (1-3-1) was probably the reason we won today,” said Upshaw. “It kind of threw their guards off, definitely threw off Mason. He’s used to just kind of coming down the court and creating mismatches off ball screens, so when we were able to go to our 13, back to our double fist, it threw him off. He wasn’t able to get in the paint and make plays for others.”
Along with Mason’s off night, Minnesota was hampered by the foul difficulties of forward Reggie Lynch, the nation’s second-leading shot blocker, who sat out the final 10 minutes of the first half with two fouls – the junction of the game the Blue Raiders started building their lead on their way to a six-point advantage (37-31) at the break. Lynch’s absence directly led to Middle Tennessee controlling the boards by 10 (22-11) going into intermission.
“We talked about defense and rebounding,” said Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino, the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year. “We didn’t really do either one. So, you know, Kermit does an awesome job. That doesn’t surprise me. They’re a really good team.”
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With most of the BMO Harris Bradley Center arena occupied by cardinal-clad supporters, it already felt like Iowa State was playing its first round game against Nevada in a northeastern facsimile of Hilton Coliseum. Just imagine what that felt like to the trio of Milwaukee natives on the Iowa State roster, as well as a fourth who also hails from the state of Wisconsin, playing NCAA Tournament games just miles from where they grew up.
The quartet of Wisconsinites combined for 47 of the team’s 84 points in helping the Cyclones to an 84-73 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack in a Midwest Region first round game. Starting forward Deonte Burton and reserves Donovan Jackson and Darrell Bowie all hail from Milwaukee, while starting guard Matt Thomas hails from Onalaska, in the western portion of the state. All put on performances worthy of a successful and memorable homecoming.
“It felt good,” said Bowie, who had eight points and five rebounds off the bench when asked what it was like to play in his hometown. “When you first come in, you’re going to have a few jitters and be a little nervous, but after the first few times down the court, I started to settle in and play my game.”
Burton scored 14 points and had eight rebounds, while Thomas hit three three-pointers on his way to 13 points and four rebounds. Jackson, off the bench, hit all four of his shots from the floor and from the free throw line for 12 points. They all stepped up in a game where Iowa State’s superstar, 2017 Big 12 Tournament MOP Monte Morris, led the team with 19 points but sat for a good chunk of the second half while saddled with foul trouble.
“It wasn’t hard,” said Morris, who also chipped in with eight rebounds and eight assists. “I mean, I knew the guys, Donovan, Deonte, and those guys were prepared all year. That’s why we play those games – for times like this. I was cool on the bench. We made big shots. Donovan hit a 2, Deonte got a baseline drive. I was fine on the bench. It was the Coach’s decision, not mine.”
It wasn’t necessarily a case of “no Morris, no problem,” but the Cyclones didn’t skip too many beats in such a pressure-packed game which could have been the last in the senior guard’s career.
“I’m not worried about whether I play or not,” said Morris. “I make sure my guy is on because we’re playing for the guy next to us. I’m all in.”
