Murray State vs. Little Rock preview
MBB: The Racers will try to improve to 4-1 on the season
Murray State will host Little Rock tonight and try to win back-to-back games for the second time this season. Here’s what you need to know:
Little Rock (2-2 overall) at Murray State (3-1 overall) at 7:00pm at the CFSB Center
KenPom rankings: Murray State #116; Little Rock #214
BartTorvik rankings: Murray State #119; Little Rock #171
Series history: 2nd meeting (Little Rock won the first matchup, 80-66, in December of 2023)
You can watch the game on ESPN+
Kenny Roth and I will have the radio call, with the pregame show starting at 6:30pm CST. You can listen to the game here: https://player.amperwave.net/2845
Vegas line: Murray State -14.5
Murray State Scouting Report
The Racers have scored 90+ points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2018-19, Ja Morant’s sophomore year, as they prepare to welcome in the Trojans of Little Rock.
Senior forward Fred King, after missing the first game of the year with a knee injury, has been dominant on the offensive end since returning to the lineup. King is averaging 15.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while leading the country making 85.7% of his shots from the field.
Javon Jackson leads the Racers in scoring this season with 20.3 points per game. He’s gone north of 20 points in three of Murray State’s four games.
Through four games, the Racers are making 80.4% of their free throws. In records dating back to 1953-54, Murray State is on pace to have their best free throw shooting season ever. The 1994-95 edition of the Racers holds the current program record with 76.9%.
One number to watch tonight is how many times Little Rock gets a steal against the Racers. Murray State is giving up a steal on 12.4% of their possessions, essentially one out of every eight times the Racers have the ball. That’s among the 40 worst steal rates in the country.
Little Rock Scouting Report
After losing to Milwaukee and Marquette last week, Little Rock grabbed their first Division I win of the year Saturday with a 68-62 road win over Ball State.
After a season-opening game against Arkansas Baptist, the Trojans are playing their fourth-straight game away from home, and they’re in the middle of a stretch of 10 of 11 games on the road.
Little Rock’s best player, KK Robinson, is out for the year. The presumptive Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year was hurt before the season started. Without Robinson, Little Rock is now leaning on the trio of Cameron Wallace, Johnathan Lawson and Braxton Bayless to pick up the slack, as that trio is combining to average 37.4 points per game.
The Trojans are an interesting offensive team. They shoot an excellent 48.2% from the field and 47.5% from three-point range, even though they only take about 15 threes a game. For whatever reason, this team struggles at the free throw line, as they’re only making 54.2% from the charity stripe. Defensively, Murray State Head Coach Ryan Miller expects to see everything but the proverbial kitchen sink.
“You’re going to see multiple defenses again, 1-3-1 trapping,” Miller said. “You’re going to see a full court press, a diamond press. You’re going to see multiple traps in the half court. We’re going to have to handle their pressing and their trapping and their 1-3-1 zone offensively without turning the ball over. We need shots on goal. With their chaotic style, we need to offensive rebound, because there’s no box outs there, so we need to get on the glass and offensive rebound. Defensively, they run a lot of stuff. They run a lot of split actions. Our communication is going to have to be on point. They’ve got some long, rangy athletes too. We’re going to have to keep them off the glass and keep them away from the rim a little bit, and then guard the three-point line with Lawson out there.”
I’ll have a ‘Ride Home’ podcast posted later tonight.