Maybe this is just this year’s version of the Murray State home loss last season but a very discouraging performance nonetheless. Middle Tennessee could not create easy shots yet gave easy shots to Belmont all game. A concerning combination.

As fun as the 2nd half against UAB on Monday night was is how miserable this 2nd half against Belmont has been.

Middle Tennessee is missing an identity other than being a decent 3-point shooting team.

Now that we're at halftime, it's a good time to remind you! Don't miss our post-game press conference with HC Nick McDevitt and select players at the conclusion of today's game!

Carter is 3-9 from the field (all from 3). That might not sound great but the rest of the team is 7-27 from the field. Team is 5-17 from 2.

Jahvin Carter has been great, but Middle Tennessee has to find better offense than him bailing them out late in the shot clock every possession.

Does anyone else’s ESPN Plus account constantly lag and stutter when they watch games on the TV? Audio and video never match. Extremely frustrating @ESPNPlus @ESPNFANSUPPORT

Blue Raiders are quite the opposite and have seen a lot through these first five weeks. 0-3 to KenPom top 77 but undefeated against everyone else. Belmont, rated 85th nationally, should be a good litmus test this afternoon.

Belmont debuted at 35th in the NET last week after an 8-0 start. Since then, they’ve lost to the only KenPom top 150 team they have seen so far (Richmond). Middle Tennessee is 139th, so it will be another validation test for the Bruins to prove they aren’t just a computer tiger.

Middle Tennessee is a 3.5-point underdog hosting Belmont this afternoon.

There are just some things you can’t defend — like Jahvin Carter! Highlights from the UAB win now streaming on YouTube and X!

Blue Raiders dominated in the paint Monday evening! Highlights from the UAB win now streaming on YouTube and X!

Unselfish basketball from Luka Jovanovic leads to a deep three from Jahvin Carter late in the shot clock! Highlights from the UAB win now streaming on YouTube and X!

November’s schedule was a little too topsy turvy to have strong takeaways. Not many normal games against normal opponents in a normal setting, so the team is still a bit of a mystery. Tonight was encouraging performance. Can they take it a step further against Belmont on Sunday?

This feels emblematic of what this team excels at: making shots. Smith & Carter off the dribble. Oglesby & Green as spot up shooters. Lands is streaky but can do it all. Alston is becoming a force in the paint. This is the most depth & variety of scoring Nick has had as MTs coach

Impressive and convincing win for the Blue Raiders to open the month of December, entering the game as a 1.5-point underdog then beating UAB by 15. MT simply outshot them: 51% vs 43% from 2, and 40% vs 23% from 3.

Here is the NET of Middle Tennessee's nonconference opponents (and result) Evansville- 317th (won by 5) Michigan- 1st (lost by 25) Murray State- 93rd (won by 3) George Washington- 47th (lost by 13) McNeese- 44th (lost by 10) Still to go: UAB- 98th Belmont- 35th Houston- 18th

This was the first NET last year. Looks like the bottom of the league is significantly worse. https://t.co/Wt5JGvK3Xq

First NET rankings filtered to only Conference USA teams. 70. New Mexico State 78. Sam Houston 95. Western Kentucky 124. Middle Tennessee 125. Liberty 209. Kennesaw State 237. Louisiana Tech 251. FIU 266. Delaware 273. Jacksonville State 297. Missouri State 312. UTEP

Blue Raiders gonna fall short here. 55 points with 1:35 left. Just 7 points in the last 12 minutes.