MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It starts from the inbound pass. The opposing guard, in whatever color that night's opponent is wearing the Murphy Center, starts his quest upcourt, while a Blue Raider stays in his back pocket.
It's a team effort, to be sure. But when Middle Tennessee really wants to turn up the heat, it shifts its lanky, 6-foot-5 starting guard onto the ball handler. Now just breaking halfcourt, at first an annoyance, quickly becomes arduous. The tight pressure from the sophomore wing forcing crossovers, between-the-legs dribbles, even passes to help, wasting time and getting into their best player's legs.