MTSU the new Memphis?

[minergabe]

Seems like in a very short amount of time Middle Tenn (or just Middle like they like to say) has become the team to beat in CUSA. Memphis dominated the league in their time here and looks like Middle might do the same. Could they become UTEP's biggest rival in CUSA?

 

[miner661]

I don't foresee MTSU becoming as consistently dominant over the long-term, as was Memphis. They'll have some peak and valley years like most other schools in C-USA. LA Tech, ODU, WKU, and UTEP (hopefully) will rise up and be title contenders over the years. Heck, Rice is the possible (way too early) favorite heading into 2017-18. Plus, they may end up losing their head coach at some point soon, so there'll most likely be a swoon then.

 

[Space acer]

Here we go again. I could now see MTSU and ODU wanting to get out of CUSA and joining a bigger conference. Then we will get someone like Idaho or Idaho st. from a crappier conference to add....and UTEP? still stuck in CUSA

 

[utep2step]

MTSU the next Memphis?! They had one incredible year after an upset against MSU and look good going into the tournament but that's it.

Sweet cheezus, I'm all for respecting your opponents and rivals but Memphis?!

 

[El Paso Sports Fan]

Not yet. If MTSU keeps doing what they are doing for the next few years and wins games in the Big Dance then they have a case.

 

[JCorona]

Not even close to it.

MTSU has won three games in the NCAA tournament in their entire history. Memphis won three games or more in one tournament four years in a row. Memphis would reach top 5 nationally year in and out. MTSU struggles to make the top 25.

Sure it was a strong season for MTSU in CUSA but they beat 0 in conference teams in the top 100. Memphis dominated CUSA 2.0 a regular top 10 RPI conference not this current version that has a worse ranking than the WAC. There were usually 6-8 teams in the top 100. A couple more in the top 50.

Aside from the on court success greatly lacking the fan support is not there either for MTSU. A mid 5k attendance for MTSU compared to 16-18k for Memphis during their CUSA days. The ability Memphis had to go into any city and sell tickets is something MTSU cant duplicate either. You go down the Memphis schedule from their time in CUSA and will quickly notice that from New Orleans to Harrisburg to Tulsa to Houston to El Paso to Huntington and any other city, the Memphis game ended up being the most attended game for the home team.

They don't have the name brand and corporate backing to pull big money opponents into the Murphy Center.

That's the life of UTEP in CUSA 3.0. Instead of playing SMU we get UNT. Instead of UCF we get the Florida twins. Instead of Houston we play in a high school gym equivalent in San Antonio. Instead of Memphis we get Murfreesboro. About the only similarities they have is they both wear blue and they're from Tennessee.