MTSU
SIDELINES
3// 19// 2014 E D I T O R I A L LY INDEPENDENT
Residents file suit against Aspen Heights Pg. 3 The Acorn People rock the record shop Pgs. 6-7 Antique adventures Pg. 12
NASA engineer discovers a different universe Pgs. 10-11
A missed shot Pg. 15
S T N E T N CO
3 NEWS 6 A&E 10 COVER 12 Features 14 OPINIONS 15 SPORTS S T A F F
Emily West >> Editor-in-chief John Coulston >> Assistant A&E Editor
Amanda Gambill >> Managing editor Sam Brown >> Sports Editor
Quint Qualls >> News Editor Connor Grott >> Assistant Sports Editor
Daniel Jansouzian >> Assistant News Editor Robert Allen >> Opinions Editor Taylor Davis >> Assistant News Editor Laurel O’Neill >> Designer
Bailey Robbins >> Features Editor Cat Murphy >> Photo Editor
Claire Osburn >> Assistant A&E Editor
Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E and Features Editor
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Maranda Faris >> Copy Editor Leon Alligood >> Adviser
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Cover designed by Ethan Grissom. John Bragg Mass Communication Building Center for Innovation in Media 1301 East Main Street P.O. Box 8, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37132 Editorial: 615-904-7648 mtsusidelines.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mtsusidelines. Tune in Friday to Sidelines FM on 88.3 from 6-8 p.m.
NEWS
Alleged Aspen Heights violations brought to court By Daniel Jansouzian // Assistant News Editor
Aspen Heights started experiencing the majority of its complaints from students in the spring semester. Photo by Cat Murphy.
Recent uproar over substandard living conditions at Aspen Heights, the student housing complex that advertises itself as “affordable luxury living,” has led to a lawsuit in Rutherford County Circuit Court. Forty-nine residents filed suit March 5 against the Breckenridge Group, the developer of the Aspen Heights neighborhood, for breach of contract, violation of the Landlord and Tenant Act and violation of the Consumer Protection Act. One of the more prevalent complaints made by tenants has been the extreme cold temperatures in residents’ homes. Given the unusually cold winter and the concrete flooring in the apartments, the tenants have catalogued freezing temperatures in their rooms. City of Murfreesboro inspection records obtained by Sidelines confirmed that four of the homes had temperatures below 65 degrees. Building and codes officials found in their inspections on Feb. 28 that there were doors and frame that were “not weathertight” and that units had substandard equipment “not capable of maintaining a room temperature of 65 degrees in all rooms and bathrooms.” In addition to temperature issues,
the contract was confusing about late fees and that the company added sections that contradicted one another, according to the complaint. Residents have been charged high overages for utilities and additional fees that have ranged as high as $400 per month.
“Based on current data, the issue appears to be isolated in only a few rooms,” the statement read. “Your comfort is important to us… We are taking your feedback seriously.” Neely said there had been no work order submitted on any of the four rooms since Jan. 23.
According to the lawsuit, the Breckenridge Group “intentionally preyed “on financially struggling students who did not have the expertise to handle the issues raised by the company’s negligence.
According to Neely, the only issue they have had with fees has been an accounting error that charged students rent they did not owe. He said they have since fixed the problem and reimbursed affected residents.
Aspen Heights received a notice of violation from the city’s building and codes department on March 3. According to Lucas Neely, general manager at Murfreesboro Aspen Heights, the company immediately responded to the situation and remedied it within two hours.
Another issue cited in the complaint involves amenities that were never provided to residents.
Although Neely said they have personally checked additional homes at the complex and found no other issues, a resident sent WSMV a video on March 4 that showed the thermostat in her apartment reading 48 degrees. Neely sent all residents a statement that said they had hired an outside company to do an inspection of all homes.
The company advertises itself as a “gated community,” according to the complaint, but has not utilized its gate, resulting in strangers entering the area and using parking spots reserved for residents. Neely said weather hasn’t permitted them to mark reserved parking on the asphalt yet, but they hope to have the spots marked when the students return from break. In reference to the gate, Neely said they initially installed crossing arms at the entrance to the property because of a building
code that required one second of closing/opening-time per each foot of entrance width. Feedback from tenants demanded a gate, so the complex installed a gate. Since the opening of the complex, the gate has been hit three times by cars, requiring repairs. According to the lawsuit, the gate is not working. Students also complained they were promised curb side trash pickup, an amenity that Neely says was never promised. Students have been charged $50 for leaving trash outside their homes. “Given that feedback, we have just recently solidified a contract with an outside vendor to provide this service,” Neely said in an email. “Pending the logistics of delivering the new trash receptacles for each of our homes, this service should start no later than April 1.” The complaint requests for reparations for residents, including pecuniary damages “in a specific amount to be determined at trial.” To contact the news editor, email Quint Qualls at news@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_news and @mtsusidelines.
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NEWS Electronic cigarettes controversy extends to campus By Taylor Davis // Assistant News Editor Electronic cigarettes are sparking controversy on campus. “E-cigarettes” are advertised as a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but whether or not they fit the profile as advertised remains the subject of discussion. The percentage of people smoking normal cigarettes has reached historic lows in many parts of the country, mostly due to knowledge of tobacco-related health risks and policies restricting smoking in public spaces, according to Lisa Schrader, health promotion director at the university. “I hate to think that years of positive trends and social norms could be reversed,” Schrader said. “With the introduction and growing popularity, these new devices have more questions than answers in terms of their impact and safety.” E-cigarettes contain nicotine like their cigarette counterparts, but they do not contain tobacco, and instead of smoke, they emit vapor when inhaled. “I don’t mind people smoking on campus,” said Morgan Washington, a junior public relations major. “But if they still have that cigarette smell to them, then I prefer outside because the smell can be very irritating. Even if it’s not a smell, I still say outdoors because it can also be a distraction to some people.” E-cigarettes have not been fully studied and are not regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration, which means the potential risks of the products are unknown. The FDA is also unaware if there are any benefits associated with using the product or how much nicotine and other harmful chemicals are being inhaled. “I try not to use [the e-cigarette] in public, on the busses and around other people,” said Philip Grand, a sophomore electronic media communication major. “Others shouldn’t have to be around what’s coming out of my lungs even if it smells like candy… I’m sure there are several things in the liquids that are dangerous. I can’t tell you if they are more dangerous than regular cigarettes or not. I can’t imagine them being considered any more dangerous than actually smoking. Like a regular smoker, I am aware of the risks that come with inhaling anything, and that, of course, is my choice.” Ten chemicals that appear on the California Prop 65 list, “a list of the chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity,” have been identified in e-cigarettes. Hospitalizations of e-cigarette users for illnesses such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, disorientation, seizures, hypotension and other health problems have been reported to the FDA, but it is unknown whether the e-cigarettes caused them.. The FDA is currently investigating the product. To contact the news editor, email Quint Qualls at news@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_news and @mtsusidelines. 4 SIDELINES | March 19, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
THEFT Beasley Hall March 12, 1:46 p.m. A complainant reported that his bicycle had been stolen. VAGRANCY Davis Science Building parking lot March 10, 1:34 p.m. Authorities arrested Justin Jefferson, 25, for criminal trespass. THEFT Lightning Way March 9, 4:14 a.m.
Authorities observed two individuals running who are suspected of stealing a sign. The suspects fled into a neighborhood where officers lost contact with them. TRAFFIC Bell Street March 7, 8:08 a.m. Authorities arrested Jason N. Willard, 36, for failure to appear in court and issued him a citation for driving on a suspended license. VANDALISM Wood-Stegall Center March 6, 3:35 p.m. Complainant reported that his vehicle had been vandalized.
THEFT Photography Building March 6, 1:11 p.m. Complainant reported that her camera and case were stolen from the Photography Building. BURGLARY Horticulture Facility March 6, 10:35 a.m. Complainant reported that she had money stolen from her office. VAGRANCY Walker Library parking lot March 4, 8:58 Authorities arrested Justin Jefferson, 26, for criminal trespass.
NEWS
TRAFFIC Champion Way March 4, 6:06 p.m. Complainant reported that his vehicle had been struck and the other driver had left the scene. THEFT Honors College Building March 4, 12:37 p.m. Complainant reported that his cell phone had been stolen. THEFT Corlew Hall March 3, 5:00 p.m. Complainant reported that his laptop had been stolen.
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A&E
aim for authenticity on debut album By John Connor Coulston // Assistant A&E Editor Well after its normal business hours, Murfreesboro’s Little Shop of Records was busier than ever. A diverse crowd consisting of classic rock fanatics, hardcore fans and everyone in between flooded the record store to celebrate the release of local rock band The Acorn People’s debut album, “Secrets.” “Rather than doing our [album] release at a cool brewery or outside, we went old school; we picked a record store,” said front woman Grace Jermusyk.
and AC/DC’s Angus Young. Bassist Brendan “Rocko” Herr, RIM major, listens to heavy acts like Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osborne, and drummer Quinten Thorton, an MTSU alumni currently pursuing a master’s degree at Lipscomb University, takes cues from artists ranging from Cream to Green Day. This blend of diverse influences helps give The Acorn People their heavy classic rock and blues sound.
This preference toward classic sensibilities is nothing new for the four-piece group of MTSU students, whose influences show a partiality for classic rock and blues.
“It’s like taking four tornados and lassoing them together,” Cagle said. “We all have our opinions … and that’s what makes it great, that’s what makes it groove, and we come together.”
Music business major Jermusyk is influenced by icons such as Joan Jett and Queen’s Freddie Mercury, while guitarist Kris Cagle, a RIM major, takes cues from blues legend Buddy Guy, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante
This mesh of styles can be shown in the band’s recording space. Posters of Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more fill the walls of the house shared by Cagle and Herr that served as the recording studio for
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“Secrets.” The space was not only practical for the band to record in, but also a motivating factor in the recording process. “If we had booked [a studio,] Chris and I would have shown up and just found a millionand-five reasons to not [record],” Jermusyk said. “But here, it was staring us in the face every single day. The drum kit’s set up, the mics are set up, you’re taking up space, you’re in somebody’s way, you have to get it done.” This do-it-yourself mindset has been a staple of The Acorn People’s dynamic since their inception. “Chris already had equipment, and he already had done some work with Oh! Grandpa and other bands from back home before he got to MTSU,” Jemusyk said. “So I just said do it, and we did it. That’s definitely what we try to strive towards more than anything else. We are DIY. We’re not looking to get signed; we’re
A&E
not looking to necessarily be employed by anybody. I go to school for music business, [Chris] goes for audio production, and we sort of built our business model around that.”
The songwriting process behind the band’s material usually starts with Jermuysk, the band’s primary songwriter, latching onto an idea, creating lyrics and bringing the song to the rest of the group for fleshing out. “[Our track ‘Oh My’] starts with the acoustic, then into the full band,” Kagle said. “That’s kinda how I wanted to portray our songwriting process. Simple, bare bones and eventually build it into something huge dynamically.” The Acorn People’s straightforward, genuine approach to creating music is what makes their sound simple yet compelling. They recreate the energy of their live shows on “Secrets” and vice-versa without struggle. “Our overall mission statement is just that we want to be as authentic and down to Earth as possible,” Jermuysk said. “I don’t want people to buy the album and come to the show expecting anything less.” “Secrets” is available now on iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud.
The Acorn People is an up and coming Murfreesboro band with a rock sound. Photo by Dylan Aycock.
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To contact the A&E editor, email Claire Osburn at ae@mtsusidelines. com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @Sidelines_AE and Instagram @sidelines_ae
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A&E Hip-hop heavyweights carry spring’s musical offerings By John Connor Coulston // Assistant A&E Editor Any music fan will admit that 2014 has not featured a strong release schedule so far. However, hip-hop heavyweights Kid Cudi, Pharrell, Rick Ross and Schoolboy Q have gotten the music world’s attention as they’ve released their latest projects.
Kid Cudi — “Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon” Kid Cudi’s 2013 release “Indicud” featured its share of questionable moments, mainly due to the Cleveland MC’s decision to produce the entire album himself. He follows this same ideology on “Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon” but with much worse results. “Satellite Flight” was originally planned as an EP to bridge the gap between “Indicud” and the next installment in Cudi’s “Man on the Moon” series. However, Cudi’s tendency for self-indulgence got the best of him as the EP grew into a 10-track album full of lackluster sound pieces and minimal rapping. The only worthwhile moments on “Satellite Flight” are the sensual space jam “Balmain Jeans” and the genuinely catchy title track. This sleepinducing album should have remained an EP or not have been released at all. Fans should check out the highlights, but wait on “Man on the Moon III” for a full Kid Cudi listening-experience.
Pharrell—“G I R L” Elegant string sections, disco grooves and feel-good vibes fill Pharrell’s “G I R L,” the rapper/producer’s first solo album in eight years. There isn’t a single track on the 10-track release that doesn’t feature some sort of polarizing groove or element. “Gust of Wind” grabs you with a lively vocal feature from collaborators Daft Punk, as well as a lively string accompaniment throughout. “Hunter” and “Come Get It Bae” are groove-reliant tracks carried by irresistible guitar riffs and danceable percussion. The Oscar-nominated “Happy,” and the Justin Timberlake collaboration “Brand New” are blasts of sunshine in the dismal releases of 2014. While not all hip-hop fans will buy into Pharrell’s preference to pop and R&B song styles on “G I R L,” it’s the most consistent album of its kind in recent memory.
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A&E Rick Ross—“Mastermind” Rick Ross’s sixth album is a mixed bag, but it shows the Maybach Music Group founder starting to stray from his usual formula of drug rap and trap beats. “Mastermind” shows Ross moving his trap-heavy sound into smoother territory with R&B assisted tracks, like “Thug Cry,” the Weeknd collaboration “In Vein,” and soul-sampling cuts, like “The Devil is a Lie” and “Sanctified.” Other highlights come when Ross raps over nostalgic sounds on “Blk & Wht” and “Nobody,” which samples Notorious B.I.G. While “Ricky Rozay” changes his approach with some of the production choices on “Mastermind,” his lyrical content remains repetitive and derivative. Uninteresting lyrics paired with Ross’s continuing reliance on radioready tracks like “War Ready” and “Drug Dealer’s Dream” makes “Mastermind” only worth listening to for the handful of new sounds presented.
Schoolboy Q—“Oxymoron” Schoolboy Q successfully emerges from the shadow cast by label-mate Kendrick Lamar on his latest album “Oxymoron.” The Los Angeles MC channels his aggressive delivery, straightforward lyrics and ear for beats and hooks into an album that offers a little bit for everyone. He updates the mindset of 90s gangsta-rap with modern sounds and his own addictions, as displayed on the tracks “Oxymoron” and “Prescription.” While Schoolboy Q reflects straightforward, street sounds on tracks like “Gangsta” and “The Purge,” he also turns out some of the catchiest hip-hop of 2014. The Kendrick Lamar collaboration “Collard Greens,” which has been a club-staple since its initial single release, “Studio” and “Man of the Year” display Schoolboy Q’s versatility without watering down his straightforward street-rap essence. While a few tracks in the album’s mid-section could have been cut, “Oxymoron” has something to offer for every hip-hop fan.
To contact the A&E editor, email Claire Osburn at ae@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @Sidelines_AE and Instagram @sidelines_ae. SIDELINES | March 19, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com 9
COVER
from nasa to the classroom: an unexpected journey By Blake Jennings // Staff writer
At 56 and with stark silver hair, physics professor and former NASA engineer, Eric Klumpe (kloom-pa) conveys a youthful and laid-back presence. “Hey dude,” he can be heard saying, sporting a Northface vest, black glasses and a likable, wry smirk. His small, rectangular office space resembles a meeting ground shared by both athletes and intellectuals. Posters of triathlons and surfing are plastered along the walls right next to a bookcase filled with multiple, dense physics textbooks. In a corner stands a tall plastic plant with blossoming faux flowers, each one representing a planet, with the large stem symbolizing the infinite stretch of the solar system. It is one of the many gifts from students, who are a high priority in his life. He invests personal time in their education, offering time slots on the front of his door to any student who wants to talk about anything: life, the universe, culture, sports or motorcycles.
A place in physics From a young age, Klumpe, was drawn to the intricate inner workings of machines. “I remember when I was young. All I wanted was to be like my dad,” Klumpe said. “He worked at a power plant. But all I knew was that he was good with his hands. He built the whole second story to our house and was always working on cars. At school they said, ‘Draw a picture of what your dad does for a living,’ and I drew a picture of my dad working on the engine of a pick-up truck. Not because he did that, but because I saw him do it.” During childhood, Klumpe had a budding interest in science, making his own chemistry sets out of kitchen supplies. For a time, he even thought of being a doctor. “I think that’s because my mother told me it was a really hard job,” he said. Similar to most teenagers, Klumpe entered high school with a great sense of awkwardness and insecurity. As a 100-pound kid who spent his first years of school studying in the third-world nation of Panama where his family had moved there from New York when he was 8, he was unsure of where to fit in. But he eventually found a place. “In high school I totally got into motorcycles and cars: V8s, noise, horsepower. It was then that I knew I was going to be an automobile mechanic. And I wanted that more than anything,” Klumpe said. “And so I started working on cars and making great friends; we called them ‘motorheads’ back then.” 10 SIDELINES | March 19, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
COVER When high school ended, Klumpe applied for a full-time job at a local mechanic shop. He had befriended most of the guys who worked there. Though he knew that he would start off as a pump jockey — a guy who pumped gas — after a few years he predicted he would be fixing cars. But one day Klumpe made a decision that would take his life on a different course. Klumpe was noticed by a counselor after he and a friend decided to register for junior college. “He must have assumed I was just there for an appointment,� Klumpe said. “[The counselor] said, ‘Come in here. We can talk.’ I don’t know why I went into his office. But we sat down and he said, ‘Are you interested in going to classes here?’ And I asked, ‘Well ... I don’t know. What’s the hardest major you have at this institution?’ He said, ‘Physics.’ Then I replied, ‘Okay then. I’ll come if I can be a physics major.’� Klumpe’s passion for difficulty had led to a decision that would end up redirecting the remaining course of his life. After graduating from prestigious schools such as the California Institute of Technology and Stanford, Klumpe became a design engineer for NASA, collaborating with large and specialized groups of designers, artists and scientists, all of whom worked together in shuttling space crafts out into the far reaches of the universe.
Those who love physics, teach physics With a nostalgic sigh, Klumpe looks back on his past conquests that inspired him to be more than just an adviser. “The way I look at my life now — my family, my wife, all the relationships I have ... I say you know I could do that for other people. Just find out what students are good at, and tell to keep going, keep going, don’t settle for second best. People are capable ... more capable than they realize. I’m not going to point fingers, but I think that’s one of my jobs ... to encourage them to keep going.� While in school, Klumpe ran into a multitude of teachers who impacted his life and made him feel special, keeping him from being second best. And now he sees teaching as an opportunity to pass on the torch, to inspire students in following their own aspirations. “I see the classroom as a magical place,� Klumpe said. “When a person enters my class on the first day of a semester, by the end I feel I’ve done my job when they leave thinking, ‘That was time well-spent.’ I try to treat students as a whole people. They’ve got real life. I’m not an adviser; I’m not a counselor. But I can listen. I hate to think of them as astronomy students. There much, much more to me than that.�
To contact the features editor, email Bailey Robbins at features@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mtsusidelines.
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FEATURES
A trip into the past Opening the door and looking inside, the sight of vintage hats, old-fashioned cameras and polished typewriters are reminiscent of a familiar place. The sound of creaking, wooden floors and a rustic aroma are soon replaced with friendly laughter and welcoming voices. It becomes clear this isn’t grandmother’s attic, it’s Antique Center I & II. The two-building antique mall on South Church Street, owned and operated by Cindy and Brant Voss, has provided the Murfreesboro area with true antiques and vintage pieces for the past 22 years. “We’re trying to stay true to the antique mall and not sell reproductions,” Cindy said. “We try to keep our store neat and clean, and we have a friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff who all really care about antiques.” More than 75 dealers occupy the Antique Center and many have
been with the store since its opening in 1992. Most dealers reside in the Middle Tennessee area, although a few live across the country.
New owners, familiar faces Though the couple has not owned the antique mall for long, Cindy is no stranger to the historic wonders of these buildings. “I worked here while [attending] college at MTSU,” Cindy explained. “After my husband and I moved back from California, I started working here full time.” Her parents owned the Antique Center since its opening, and after talks of retirement, Cindy and her husband decided to keep the business within the family. She said there is never a dull moment at the antique mall, and that she learns something new everyday.
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By Dylan Aycock // Staff writer The two buildings are filled with an array of items dating as far back as the 1800s; however, Cindy said if customers can’t find something particular among the booths, all they need to do is ask. “We do our best to try to help customers,” she said. “If we don’t have it, we try to send our dealers out to see if we can find it for them. So we try to be as helpful as we can.”
Younger crowd seeks affordable antiques As students make the transition from on-campus housing to living on their own, the high cost of new furniture isn’t an option for those on a budget. Lately, students have been shopping in Antique Center for well-made furniture with an affordable price tag. “I think the first thing out of their mouth when they walk in is that
it doesn’t smell like grandma’s closet,” she said. Instead, students are shocked to discover the great conditions of the items. It’s easy to spend hours searching through the antiques and collectables, and sometimes it requires a keen eye and patience to find what’s being looked for. “We have stuff for the guys, stuff for the younger girls, stuff for the older girls,” Cindy said with a smile. “There’s just a lot of neat stuff out here that’s worth taking a look to see what you might be missing out on.” While most antique stores in the area are closed on Sundays, Antique Center I & II is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. “We enjoy what we do, and hope it comes across,” Cindy said. “And we hope to be here another 22 years.”
OPINIONS
All bracket bets off By Robert Allen // Opinions Editor
Sports gambling is a huge and rapidly growing industry, showcasing its true madness during March. Bookies and brackets tempt fans to join in the financial fray for fun and high earnings. But sadly, this trivializes and is terrible for collegiate sports.
This isn’t just isolated at the college-level though. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission published an estimate of somewhere between $80 billion and $380 billion is annually bet on sports.
In 2013, an estimated $12 billion was bet during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, exceeding even the Super Bowl’s figures by $2 billion during that same year, according to a Forbes article “The Business Of The Bracket: How Vegas And Businesses Capitalize On March Madness,” citing the owner of Pregame.com RJ Bell’s research.
Gambling is an ugly juggernaut, eroding the value of each game that is played.
This year is poised to put even dollars more on the line.
Betting on players takes away from the essence of the game even though an estimated $12 billion was bet during last year’s tournament. Photo by Amanda Gambill.
Even Warren Buffett is jumping in on the frenzy, offering $1 billion dollars to anyone who can pick a perfect bracket in his Quicken Loans Billion $ Bracket Challenge. I understand that moves like this and what ESPN does with its bracket coverage generate higher demand for college basketball and other sports. And that’s great for ratings and keeping college-level sports in the public eye.
Sports represent recreation, hard work and dedication. It shouldn’t be convoluted with promises of quick profits and needless feuds.
As the tournament kicks off this March, I encourage you to take a stand: watch the games, watch the people, hear the stories. These athletes and teams aren’t chess pieces on a board, digitized enemies or even words next to a numbered seed. They’re real humans working toward achieving a common goal.
However, I would argue that the negative backlash from so much betting and the emphasis on picking winners destroys any benefits that a viewership boost might offer.
Step out of the madness bubble and realize that.
Betting on sports takes away from the true essence of the game. It’s not about players accomplishing life-long goals or people succeeding on the highest level any more.
Don’t muddy the waters with impure bets. It’s illegal (for the most part) and doesn’t help the game.
Rather, it becomes a battle between colors — my shirt versus yours. At its worst, gambling consumes people, causing them to go thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of dollars in debt. An article in the New York Times, “The Super Bowl of Sports Gambling,” profiled many individuals crushed by gambling in sports. For the players, it’s just as bad. Many of them join in on the avarice and wagering because it’s all they’ve ever seen. 14 SIDELINES | March 19, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
And if you have to fill out a bracket, do it for fun.
Want to write an opinion? Contact the opinions editor, Robert Allen, at opinions@mtsusidelines.com.
SPORTS Blue Raiders miss out on postseason play despite By Trenton Duffer // Staff writer
Even with a share of the C-USA regular season title, a 24-9 overall record and 13-3 mark in conference play, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men’s basketball team failed to cap off their season with an NCAA or NIT tournament appearance.
ference Player of the Year Shawn Jones. Jones led MT in points (14.2), rebounds (8.5), blocks (1.9), and field-goal percentage (57.7). Jones became the second player in MT men’s basketball history to win a Conference Player of the Year award.
MT earned a share of the regular season Conference-USA title along with Tulsa, Southern Mississippi and Louisiana Tech earning the No. 3 seed in the C-USA tournament. The Blue Raiders defeated Old Dominion in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual C-USA champion Tulsa in the semifinals.
Along with Jones, Neiko Hunter will end his senior season as a Blue Raider with no tournament appearance. Hunter was named to the Conference-USA All-Tournament team this year, with the senior forward averaging a team-best 17.5 points. He also snagged 6.5 rebounds and shot 51.9 percent from the field in the conference tournament.
Although the Blue Raiders failed to reach postseason play, MT continued its winning ways in the regular season. Middle Tennessee’s 24 wins this season were the third most in program history. MT’s current class of seniors are the winningest in program history, but will end their Blue Raider careers on a sour note following last season’s loss to St. Mary’s in the NCAA tournament and the lack of a tourney bid this season. “We were really proud of our third-consecutive conference championship and had a goal of making the NCAA tournament,” head coach Kermit Davis told the Daily News Journal. “We were really confident that our 24 wins and RPI of 64 would have been enough for an NIT bid. I met with our seniors before the NIT selection show and they decided if we were not selected, we would not participate in any other postseason tournament.” With the end of the season arriving, Middle Tennessee will be losing one key member of their squad in C-USA Con-
While MT sits out of tournament play, the other three Conference-USA teams will be competing in either the NCAA or NIT tournament. C-USA champion Tulsa was the only conference team to earn an NCAA bid, earning a No. 13 seed and first round contest against No. 4 seeded UCLA. In the NIT Tournament, Southern Mississippi and Louisiana Tech, the other two teams to share the conference regular season title along with MT and Tulsa, will be playing against Toledo and Iona, respectively. Outside of the NCAA or NIT, Old Dominion, UTEP, and Tulane each received an invitation to play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), with East Carolina earning a CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) bid. With a second straight NCAA appearance not happening along with no NIT bid, the Blue Raiders end their season on a sour note. SIDELINES | March 19, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com 15
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