With title in reach, Racers taking nothing for granted
WBB: Murray State trails Missouri State by one game with three games remaining
When you get close enough to the end of the regular season, it officially becomes Hypothetical Season. Looking at the standings, hypothetically, if this happens, then that could happen. All the possibilities can be dizzying.
After Murray State’s 78-67 win over Missouri State on Thursday night, the Racers improved to 13-4 in the Missouri Valley, one game behind the Lady Bears for the conference lead with three games remaining. Murray State’s scenario to clinch at least a share of their first Missouri Valley regular season title has one relatively clear path:
The Racers will need to beat 2-15 Southern Illinois AND 2-15 Evansville AND 2-15 Indiana State
Missouri State will need to lose to 12-5 Belmont OR 12-5 Illinois State OR 5-12 Bradley
Ultimately, there are countless scenarios that will unveil themselves in the next ten days to determine a conference champion. What is laid out above is, frankly, the simplest way, with the least amount of math, for the Racers to pick up at least a share of the Missouri Valley championship.
In year three in the Missouri Valley, being so close to grabbing that brass ring for the first time, every member of the Murray State program is appreciating how far this team has come in such a short time.
“I think it says a lot,” Murray State sophomore guard Halli Poock said. “Obviously, (winning a Missouri Valley title) is something that this program hasn't done. It just shows that the regular season is more than four months, so who can be the better team over four months, as opposed to the tournament? I think it just shows our resilience and how we've showed up as a team consistently for the last four months.”
“To put this program in a position to win a championship, I mean, 2008-2009 in the Ohio Valley Conference has been a long time ago,” Murray State Head Coach Rechelle Turner said. “There's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into this. There's been a lot of players that have come through to this point that have helped to build this program. It began with culture, and it began with chemistry, and it began with making sure that things were left better than when you got here — each and every player. It's not just about this team. It's an accumulation of all the players that have come through this program, all the coaches that we've had come through this program that have made a mark, because anybody that has been involved in this has helped us get to this point — but we're not done yet. We don't know what's going to happen. We can only control us. We have no idea what's going to happen, but I do strongly feel like only one team will go the NCAA Tournament from our conference, so it's about Evansville (and the conference tournament). We have two weeks to get better before Evansville.”
“I'm just honestly super proud,” Murray State senior forward Katelyn Young added. “I think it kind of (speaks) to what Coach Turner has done and the people she's brought in here. Everyone's fighting, constantly, and I'm just super proud of how we've fought over these last four months.”
Murray State has won four in a row, including emotional wins over Northern Iowa, Belmont and Missouri State — three of the best teams in the league. Now as the Racers turn their attention to their final three games of the regular season, they’ll face the three bottom teams in the conference. Southern Illinois, Evansville and Indiana State are a combined 1-40 in the Valley this year when not playing each other. While on paper, the Racers should overwhelm those three teams, Turner knows her squad can’t look past anyone at this time of the year.
“This basketball team has been very mature,” Turner said. “We've been able to shake off tough losses and come back, and we've been able to handle big, emotional wins and come back. There will be nothing taken for granted for Saturday (against SIU). There'll be nothing taken for granted next week. We will continue to work just as hard, or harder, than we've worked all year, because you cannot have a letdown this time of year. You need to be playing your best basketball going to Evansville.”
In the last three years, Murray State has seen their average attendance grow from 1,198 to 1,520 to 1,622 fans per game. The last two home games against Belmont and Missouri State were the first time since coming to the Missouri Valley Conference that the Racers have had back-to-back games with at least 2,100 fans. As Murray State continues to win, the support continues to grow, and that support has not gone unnoticed.
“These girls do not take it for granted,” Turner said. “They love Racer Nation, and Racer Nation loves them. It's just a sweet, emotional relationship that we have. I think one of the best decisions I've made since I took this job is allowing our players to stay out (on the court) after the game, win or lose. I think that's one of the best decisions I've ever made because it allowed our players to be personal to the fans, and it allowed our players to thank the fans and for them to get to know each other. Our players have relationships with people that have been coming to games for years but had no idea who they were, and so it's just been great. Anybody that watches us, get here early on Saturday, be here for these seniors. They've done so much for this program. You're not going to want to miss it, and I know how much they'll appreciate it.”
The Racers will host Southern Illinois at 2:00pm Saturday at the CFSB Center. If you’re going to the game, be sure to get there early as Senior Day festivities will begin a little after 1:30pm.