Can Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Ignite at Liberty Arena?
As the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders prepare to face off against the Liberty Flames at Liberty Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward the momentum from their recent home victory. The upcoming clash, set for February 9th, promises to be an intriguing encounter in Lynchburg.
The Blue Raiders' performance has been a mixed bag over their past few games. They secured a hard-fought win against Belmont with a score of 65-75, showcasing resilience on their home turf. Their defensive prowess was evident as they blocked five shots and made six steals, contributing to Belmont's ten turnovers. Offensively, they maintained a solid field goal percentage of 40 percent and were particularly effective from beyond the arc with a three-point shooting rate of 30 percent.
However, this victory was sandwiched between two losses that exposed some vulnerabilities. Against Southern Utah Thunderbirds and Saint Mary's Gaels, the Blue Raiders struggled with ball handling and offensive efficiency. They turned over the ball 16 times against Southern Utah while only making four out of seventeen three-point attempts (24 percent). Against Saint Mary's Gaels, they fared even worse with eighteen turnovers and an abysmal assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.35.
Despite these setbacks, there are positives for Middle Tennessee fans to hold onto as they head into enemy territory. The team demonstrated an ability to dominate inside by scoring 46 points in the paint against Southern Utah and will look to exploit any weaknesses in Liberty's interior defense.
The venue could play a significant role in this matchup; playing away from home always presents additional challenges such as unfamiliarity with the court and lack of fan support which can influence game dynamics.
As we approach game day on February 9th at Liberty Arena, fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+. Will Middle Tennessee rise above recent inconsistencies or will Liberty Flames leverage their home-court advantage? Only time will tell if the Blue Raiders can turn up the heat away from home.