Giddy Potts

The Blue Raider basketball season didn’t get off to the kind of start coach Kermit Davis was hoping to see, but the team quickly recovered to make January one of the finest months in recent memory for MTSU, going 7–2 during the month of January.

The Blue Raiders opened their C-USA schedule in Birmingham against UAB. Though they got off to a hot start, holding a 12-point lead at the half on 66 percent shooting, the second half was a much different story. MT was only able to connect on 20 percent of their attempts as the Blazers outscored them by 23 points. The Blue Raiders lost 78–67.

The Blue Raiders returned to Murphy Center for a two-game home stand where coach Davis hosted some familiar faces. UTEP head coach Tim Floyd gave coach Davis his first job in Division I basketball at Idaho, and UTSA head coach Brooks Thompson played for Davis for a season at Texas A&M.

“I really don’t like playing a pal in a conference game that means so much, so that’s not fun, but when you play them you know what you’re going to get,” Davis said of his familiar rival coaches.

The opening of the home stand also marked the return of Giddy Potts, who missed four games due to an academic issue. After losing three of the four games in which Potts was out, his return was just what the team needed.

“Giddy attracts a lot of attention even when he’s not making shots,” stated senior forward Darnell Harris. “He just makes the offense easier and we just feel more comfortable out there with him.”

Jaqawn Raymond

That comfort level was apparent, as MTSU went on a six-game win streak after Potts’ return. Although Giddy was a bit rusty in his first game back, he went on a tear through that stretch, averaging 18.6 points per game. Potts’ scoring output included 26 points against UTSA, which broke his previous career high of 21. That high did not stand for long, as Potts scored 29 against Charlotte and he nearly matched that with 27 against Rice.

The streaking Blue Raiders went cold in Huntington, W.V., however. Marshall was able to stifle the hot MT offense as the Blue Raiders connected on only 38 percent of their shots and struggled especially from beyond the arc, making only 3 of 16 three-point tries. The Herd claimed the victory by a 16-point margin, 82–66.

The Blue Raiders had to put that one behind them quickly, as they had to travel to Bowling Green to take on bitter rival WKU. Though MT once again struggled from the field (38 percent), they were able to hold WKU to just 37 percent shooting. The night belonged to Darnell Harris as he led all scorers with 22 points. Harris also made the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds remaining, a tip-in off of a Reggie Upshaw miss. With six seconds remaining, Harris made one of two free throws, giving the Blue Raiders a two-point lead which turned into a two-point win. Upshaw also delivered his seventh double-double of the season in the 66–64 victory.

MT enters February with a conference-leading RPI that ranks 77th nationally.

The Blue Raiders will play their final home games this month, so be sure to show your support. Opportunities include FAU on Feb. 4, FIU on Feb. 6, UAB on Feb. 21, WKU on Feb. 25 and a grudge match against Marshall on Feb. 27.