Episode 16

[00:00:08] You're listening to the Blue Raider Podcast. Your number one resource for all the latest news updates and game recaps from Middle Tennessee athletics Join us every Tuesday for a weekly interviews with players, coaches, and local media personalities alike

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[00:00:35] Lastly, I'd love to hear your feedback so don't forget to subscribe to go middle.com to discuss this week's episodes along with the latest news and updates around Middle Tennessee Welcome into the Blue Raider Podcast on your host, Jake Bolden and today is Tuesday March 26

[00:00:57] And we are fresh off of the lady Raiders run in the NCAA tournament and today's episode is going to be a little bit different than what we're used to It'll actually be the first episode of the podcast where I am solo host today

[00:01:11] So it'll be short and sweet relative to most recent recordings We're running around the 45-50 minute mark and really I've had a few issues at home this week We've had some pet issues as well as just work issue

[00:01:26] So I'm piecing together an episode today, and I think now is actually a good time to do so after the recent week in the lady Raiders had

[00:01:33] In baton ruse and that game that we all witnessed on Sunday, but I do think that there are some things and reactions to be said Over the weekend that there that we should be proud about when you look back on Friday's contest against Louisville

[00:01:47] Where you come back from an 18-point deficit and defeat Louisville for the second time in two years It's very promising to see stuff like that because you know as a program and empty issue that you've turned a corner

[00:01:59] And also you proved yourself right in the fact that 19 and no wasn't a fluke And I think a lot of people and overick insults said this and a few interviews and press conferences this weekend

[00:02:09] They're com for two is say isn't as much of a slouch as people give a credit for or discredit for I should say Comfort you would say when he 19 straight games is difficult regardless of the conference and you know You could certainly hold

[00:02:22] Different conferences to a different pedestal much like South Carolina's undefeated season relative to him She was a lot more to behold, but to go 19 and oh you have to be every team in your league twice and an arc scenario

[00:02:33] It'd be three three teams three times so there's a lot to be respected And I think that again these ladies should be proud of themselves and in regards to the game on Friday They just prove the world right as I was as I was saying this team

[00:02:46] They're able to pull themselves together. They're in the first quarter You think this is getting on a hand. We're having the same game as we had last year in Durham against Colorado

[00:02:56] Where the team just seems to be doing everything better than us and there's nothing that can necessarily go right But as it was preached all week the ladies were able to play their game play into issue

[00:03:05] Brand a basketball and pull out of a good win over a good Louisville team and again their top 25 team So it's not a it's not a slouch either and you could always make the argument the seating was incorrect or that the seating wasn't fair for either side

[00:03:19] I do think Louisville was properly seated at the 60. I do think and is it's shown that MTSU was far greater than an 11 seed but I made the comment when the brackets came out last week that the 11 seed is a is a better route to the sweet 16

[00:03:32] And we saw a great example of that this last Game on Sunday against LSU where you were winning that game With 18 and a half minutes left and you feel really good about it and then if you watch any of bit of that second half

[00:03:47] You know what transpired thereafter and a part of me would love to use this platform and my listeners and MTSU fans To agree with you because I know that we all think the exact same that the officiating is what

[00:04:00] Ruin any opportunity of a comeback and you could certainly make that argument and I know that people have spoken about this Adnauseum the last two three days

[00:04:10] There's just what's done is done so I don't think there's any amount of breath that I could waste here to just tell you straight up

[00:04:16] I agree I think the officiating was atrocious and I don't think that it did us any favors and you could always look at that score and say

[00:04:23] Well, it's you lost by 27 how big of a deal did the officiating make and I do think this is a certain circumstance where

[00:04:29] It definitely made a huge deal and granite data for to them opportunities to get the free-throw line to have more scoring opportunities in the lady raiders Did granite we didn't hit shots. He's 43 points But you kind of got to a point there

[00:04:41] Early in the fourth where you just kind of roll over and died because of the fact that you couldn't do anything on either end of the floor You certainly couldn't play defense and

[00:04:50] On the offensive and nothing came easy you didn't get a call on on that side of the floor I'm not sending LSU was failing necessarily as much as we were but granite You know to say that the foul discrepancy if you foul shot discrepancy of 37 to 9

[00:05:04] Certainly, you know raises an eyebrow and going into that game If you do this yet in a port of LSU that's what they do they give it the free-throw line So I knew I know going into that game the lady raiders key is to not foul and

[00:05:17] Already being a team that only plays the five players for practically 30 minutes a night and then you've got two Reserves in CFA and Julia that will get minutes

[00:05:26] But you know you go into that game this guy in reports got to be limit the fouls and for the most part You did pretty well on the first half you were able to balance the fouls out but there and the third it got out of hand

[00:05:37] We see all the raven not even make it to the fourth quarter and then we see to me a Scott go out early in the fourth and it was just for that point You know it's all downhill and I'm already talking more about the fouls

[00:05:48] And I would have liked to have talked about but there are some things I'd love to take away from that game and If you want me to draw back to the game itself

[00:05:55] The the eight 20 mark was kind of the turning point and if you can recall back at early in the third the lady raiders go up by nine Jada Jalen Gregory misses a three pointer on the right wing and then it

[00:06:09] Ella she gets the defensive rebound and then they hit a cherry picked outlet pass to Angel Reese on the front far in Kim O'Kee immediately calls a timeout cuts to lead to seven in my eyes that was the turning point of the game

[00:06:21] I know we're only less than two minutes into that second half But you have the opportunity there. It's a five point swing if Jalen hits that three It goes to 12 points instead It's a miss defensive rebound

[00:06:34] They get lucky because Andrew Reese is being lazy. They throw the ball down the floor and she gets a wide open layup It is what it is but if you look back at that moment

[00:06:43] We go on a I believe it's a three four minute scoring drought from that point on LSU ties it up on their run and then the rest is history You go on two four minutes scoring droughts in the second half accompanied with

[00:06:55] Files on just about every possession on defense It's just not a situation that won the lady readers are accustomed to and two when you play a team that's high power Like LSU is on the offensive in it's certainly just digs you a hole

[00:07:07] And you've got to find a way to dig yourself out and being on the road and that environment is just too tough to overcome so To the game itself to play a solid third or 22 minutes out the gate I was very impressed

[00:07:21] They got punched in the mouth early. They were trelling by nine They were able to regain the lead and have the lead at half time and you loved it here that the half time speech that was featured on ESPN where Rick and so it makes the comment that

[00:07:34] The people are gonna write books about this team and you certainly feel that emotion and to be honest I don't know that I gave us as much credit as they deserve and I'm a fan of the team

[00:07:43] And I thought going into that game with LSU that I don't know that we even had an opportunity to really win that game from the get go

[00:07:50] But once I see us make that early turn there we come back from nine down. We were take a lead at half time I'm with it. I'm with them People would write books about the team if they were able to pull off an upset like that and

[00:08:03] And I think Tom Hodges there also in that feature half time speech was about transition and defense And that's how you're gonna and rebounding I think is what he said it was transition and rebounding is what's going to change this game and I would agree

[00:08:13] We had a lot of one and done there in that second half that got out of hands and and again to draw back to the turning point

[00:08:19] It was a transition bucket that got them that cut that lead down the seven call a timeout and then the rest of history So I still think the lady Raiders put a good basketball game

[00:08:28] I think that they deserve a better ending than that. I always hate to see a good basketball team have their season in like that same with To Colorado matchup last year my biggest fear going into this and again I have no ties to the Women's basketball community

[00:08:42] I don't know anybody directly there, but you always have this fear that when you lose games like that it could always blow teams of par I do think that they have great chemistry on the lady Raiders do

[00:08:54] I don't know that I'm as concerned with them as I would be said the men's program as we've already seen Two names into the transfer portal in the last week and a half so

[00:09:02] I don't know what is to become the lady Raiders in soul Matt and Rick a like have done a great job of Keeping everyone here creating continuity and the women's game is certainly different than say football or Men's basketball

[00:09:16] These players tend to crave continuity. They like they obviously enjoy the playing time and the lot of that we would would return Has a lot of promise to it. Obviously you're gonna miss Savannah Wheeler Comprehensive say player of the year as things sit right now on March 26

[00:09:32] You still have Boulder Rava you still have Gregory you still have Scott You're not usually back I was super impressed with jadegranum

[00:09:43] And I can't say enough about you know the shoes that she had to fill in that game and and to be quite honest with you with her in the game She did an excellent job of shutting down angel Reese for the most part

[00:09:55] I need some auto got hers when she had when she had the opportunity, but I thought for the most part Having to

[00:10:01] Elevate her minutes due to foul trouble. I thought jadegranum was excellent and it makes me feel excited about what put could potentially happen with her next year I think the biggest thing about her is always been the fouls and she's not necessarily the scoring threat that is

[00:10:13] Anastasia just given the lack of height, but she still is a good body down low that can defend and when she's not Failing she is definitely a force and she can get after the rebound and so I look forward to

[00:10:26] What she has to offer especially with the way that her season ended this Sunday in Baton Rouge So all things considered you have a great talent to draw. So coming back you have Cifa

[00:10:36] You have Gracie Dodgers you we know what scoring abilities that she has and you would I would have to assume that her Plank time would up tick this coming season now you have Savannah Davis who's coming in as your freshman signing Two-time miss Tennessee basketball player

[00:10:52] From McKenzie high school and then you have Jay de Harrison who set out the year with a foot injury So you've got a lot of these scoring threats that are coming back that could make up for the production of Savannah Wheeler

[00:11:04] And then with Courtney Whitson leaving you you that's just a piece that I don't know You can be replicated She's a player that in my eyes is gonna have if not her jersey retired at the bare minimum

[00:11:15] She's gonna be in the blue radar hall of fame. She's such a special person special character For more reasons Then one I think the biggest thing that I will always remember about Courtney Whitson is the back that she could impact again

[00:11:27] Scoring zero points. That's just the kind of person she was Or I should say that's the kind of player that she was she could get 10 rebounds and not score a single point

[00:11:36] She would be the she would have more jump balls than anyone in the floor. She'd be diving on the floor She's just she's a she's a player that if you could replicate four times over and have a team full of them

[00:11:47] That you would want a lot of basketball games because if who Courtney Whitson is and Obviously she owns the record for most three pointers made and MTSU history and she always had the green green light

[00:11:58] And there are plenty of games where I could recall that I wish she wouldn't have shot it as much But there's been plenty of opportunities where gosh, even if she had missed five or six I would be comfortable with her pulling one up there from from

[00:12:10] Top of the key. She's just that kind of player So she's gonna be greatly missed. I hope that she's still around the program in some capacity again As we talk about continuity and having these players back

[00:12:20] I've always had this inkling that she was a big reason for a lot of these players returning She just seems to be a A friend and a teammate to all these girls. She's definitely a locker room person

[00:12:32] I'd have to imagine that again. She played some key role in the continuity of the roster from year over year But again, I'll recall or I'll I'll forecast up coming year You feel good about it Rick and Sils said that the hill we back

[00:12:50] This team will be back and they're definitely capable of it if they're able to Keep all these key pieces and I don't know that he has anything in plans in regards to the transfer portal or if we'll see any other foreign

[00:13:00] Signs like much like we did this last year. We brought him for Out of country signings so I don't know that we would expect that kind of overhaul every single year But you'd have to think you know with with the additions of Harrison and

[00:13:15] Davis and then potentially the inclusion of Dodgen's off the bench that anything could happen in regards to the the roster make up in the starting five I would have to imagine that we would see

[00:13:27] A greater depth to a roster than what we saw this year would just playing five and sometimes six and sometimes even seven players at a time Which is good. I think that was the one thing that a lot of

[00:13:38] Analysts were counting us out about this year was the fact that they didn't have any death, but If you saw the game just as recently as Sunday I think you saw our starting five out run LSU that were situations where we're getting out in transition and you see

[00:13:53] You know three or four LSU players just jogging back and again that's a testament to Their offseason training the conditioning of these ladies are in and it certainly took them places

[00:14:02] This year and I wouldn't imagine that you're gonna get those girls in shape to do it all over again next year All things considered Big long speech here to say that I'm proud of the ladies. I hate that it ended the way that it did

[00:14:15] I hope it doesn't break this team apart. I expect to see all of them back. I expect to see the laterator contingency back next year in Murphy Center to continue to be a top 25 supporter of a top 25 program I think we all saw that they deserved it

[00:14:30] The rankings don't mean anything the biggest thing now is that you got the monkey off your back of winning a First round and see the way tournament game then now you're now the next step in my opinion is to be a sweet 16 team

[00:14:43] What's that gonna take? I think the obvious answer is Bringing the same roster back and Putting together that non-conference that gets you in a situation where you could be a top 16 team in host

[00:14:55] We looked at that last year. That was a possibility last year going into when they were putting in All their lack of better words. They're putting in their quotes to

[00:15:03] Be a top 16 team to show that Murphy's Burrow could host an NCAA tournament at that time and in late January The laterators were a top 25 team so if you have to think if they were able to go into feet of last season

[00:15:16] That they probably could have snuck into a top 16 position this year not so much the non-conference Success kind of thwarted any opportunity for them to be a host school this year

[00:15:28] I would specifically say the Belmont and Grand Canyon games or what kind of put them out of position there because if you lose to prints in a Michigan You probably still have a good resume in the eyes of

[00:15:40] The committee to get you a top 16 seed so all that to be said I think the next step for this program is not only to get to the sweet 16, but I think even take it a step further

[00:15:49] I think the plan for this program is to be a top 16 host and I know the largest battle and has been talked about all season And we'll be talked about from now until the end of time as long as there's ever conferences

[00:16:01] Associated within CWA is how do you schedule non-conferences when they won't schedule you back and I applaud Madden so specifically because I know he's more public about this on on his Twitter Ex account is getting these teams to play us and I know I say that because specifically

[00:16:19] He called for fairfield fairfield was one of the things against them was a non-conference schedule was weak and it was and granite I don't know that they have the same difficulty that we have because we have beaten top 25 teams like Louisville

[00:16:32] Twice now and then we beat Tennessee on a neutral floor, so it's gonna be even harder the better that this team gets It's gonna be even harder and I appreciate Matt calling those teams out and to be honest even if you lose those games

[00:16:43] Is still a level of experience that you're not gonna get if you play other mid-meters now gran I think the CUSA Wack challenge is excellent giving the lady ready as an opportunity to win a top 100 road Consist against grand canyon this year

[00:16:58] It's something that they wouldn't have been afforded if it wasn't for this Cooperation between Conference USA and the Western Athletic Conference so stuff like that is ideal For us to boost that non-conference schedule with other mid-meters because it only does it help us in the situation that

[00:17:14] Grand Canyon could have had it at large bit of what had done them wonders to have a home win against him to issue who is a top 40 net team so all that say The scheduling is gonna get harder for us. I don't imagine that

[00:17:29] P5s are gonna want to play MTSU anytime soon But you know hopefully you can turn a corner there and and Start to to get those tougher non-conference schedules even if they're on the road because I think we should that we can compete on the road

[00:17:42] We were able to go there to the P-MAC and compete with LSU for what at least one half And I still feel like they got cheated out of the opportunity to play four or four quarters of good basketball

[00:17:53] So you take this show on the road you beat good teams you're able to beat you team on a neutral floor I feel good about the opportunity to play them get played them again because I know that we have two more

[00:18:03] Contests with the lady balls that we have a contest. It's gonna be a Knoxville And then I believe the finale is gonna be in Murphy's program. I could be wrong about that But I know that we have two more contests lined up with the UTK

[00:18:18] But that that'll pretty much round out my comments in regards to the lady raiders I can't say enough how proud I am of them How much we're gonna miss Savannah wheeler how much we're gonna miss Courtney Whitson too

[00:18:28] Absolutely legendary players to ever put on the blue and white and I hope again that they're around the program in sub-capacity

[00:18:35] And I hope to see a lot of those faces again next year because I think that this team has a lot of promise this team can go far

[00:18:42] And they just have to be in a situation that is more advantageous to them like I said having a top 16c You saw what I think LSU was able to pull them through isn't not only them being defending champions and then being a good basketball team

[00:18:54] But I don't want to discredit them but having that home court advantage is huge for teams like that And if him TSU is able to sneak into a four seed next year be a top 16

[00:19:05] Anything could happen and this team is talented enough to do that. I really genuinely believe that the biggest obstacles for them to do that As I've already said it is gonna be the non-conference schedule and winning those games

[00:19:15] You've got to win those games you can't have slip ups like thumb on you can't have slip ups like grain canyon And I know I'm preaching to the choir to anyone of the lady raiders that knows that because

[00:19:24] I know that that's something that they've they've talked about a lot is the fact that they have to win those games and Reconcil even said it in the first round of the conference USA tournament against you tap is that if you lose this game

[00:19:34] You're not going to the competition to the NCAA tournament is he may be right? I hope he's not but he probably is right You have to win those games. You have to take advantage of this opportunity

[00:19:43] So not only do we get these power fives on our on our calendar we go to these Thanksgiving tournaments feast week tournaments like we did this year We had an opportunity to play Michigan and then to Paul and then Memphis again

[00:19:55] You took care of business in two or the three if you're able to take care of the business at all three games Your roster or excuse me your resume

[00:20:04] Gross and you're a tough team to beat when it comes or you're tough team to deny that top 16 seed when it comes around in March so Again, those are those are just my thoughts and I know that this is a different episode than we are used to

[00:20:19] I'm not gonna have any of my graphics this week like I said the last week has been kind of a whirlwind for me at home But I was able to still find the time to

[00:20:28] Watch the lady raiders on Friday and Sunday and I know we have some news in regards to baseball We have channel our alderman that through a no hitter this week Despite baseball going one of two Against liberty

[00:20:40] Things are struggling over there, but I do want to give him a least a brief shot I hear the end that channel our alderman if you didn't know through an 80-ending

[00:20:47] No hitter on Saturday against liberty. That's the first one and quite a while I believe it was it's been almost Two decades since the last no hitter and mtissue baseball history so shout out to the young man there

[00:21:00] But I appreciate everyone tuning in this week and it will be back to our typical schedule next week And very excited to actually announce that next week we will be featuring my second episode with

[00:21:13] Afflector director Chris Massaro so I know the a lot of that gets a lot of people excited as I did the first go around Of course always go over to go middle.com where we can write in or

[00:21:23] You can write in your questions that you'd like for me to ask of course I'll bring those things up and I'll do the best I can and I'll go ahead and preface that conversation with them And I know a lot of people are gonna ask to question about

[00:21:33] You know what about nickmic dev it? What are what is he doing about nickmic dev And I do respect that question and I do think that's a question that does there to be asked And there's a certain way to to Present that question to Missaro

[00:21:45] But I will go ahead and say that we're talking about another man's job and I understand where people sit on that side of the fence I'm not saying that I'm with you people but I understand your your your situation or I do understand

[00:21:57] Your feelings towards it and we'll do the best we can to address that next week along with many other things Like I have tons of questions for him in regards to the new and I L collective and how that's working

[00:22:07] I know that they had their first open practice this last weekend for spring which is exciting for a lot of reasons And only for In I L collective but also for seeing what kind of roster we got under direct mason's first year

[00:22:19] So a lot of things to be excited about when I talk with Christmasaro next week So make sure you stay tuned for that conversation again go over to go middle.com and write in any questions

[00:22:28] You may have and of course it's always an open form. I'm always open to listen to ideas and opinions And do the best I can to siphon through that kind of stuff Final plugs for the show don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram at BluWader pod

[00:22:42] Of course we're on TikTok as well at BluWader pod if you're listening on to Apple podcast or Spotify we do have a visual presentation over at YouTube under BluWader podcast This week is not gonna be the typical

[00:22:57] Shabbang that I always put together over at YouTube with my graphics and my BluWader wrap up It's again, it's just kind of a different week but Please feel free to head over to YouTube give us a view there always like comments do us great over there as well

[00:23:12] But I appreciate everyone sticking around Again, I will give a final applaud to the later Raiders super proud of them. I can't say enough about them and I hope that we're able to See much more that coming up this November and again

[00:23:28] Keep back in your team and stuff like that It goes it goes worlds and and I know that it with recruits that's a huge thing Beating lovel is one thing but when these recruits come into our building and they see that we have

[00:23:40] 4,000 people on a Thursday night against You tap that that does worlds for these girls and and I know that they they love the support that they have because they could go They could go anywhere that they wanted to but they chose them to issue for multitude of reasons

[00:23:54] And I hope that the later Raiders fans know that you are a big part of the reason that these ladies choose him to Issues so keep showing that support and I know you always always will and of course

[00:24:04] Support the BluWader podcast. I always appreciate it. I love covering this team with the multitude of other teams and

[00:24:11] Your support and your listening makes this job a lot more fun and a lot easier on me as well because I know that I'm feeding the people that are much like minded like myself

[00:24:19] So I appreciate everyone sticking around and listening thus far today and sorry again for the shortened episode But again step on in next week and listen in for that interview with Christmasaro Thanks again and until next time go blue