Not every school has a rivalry as notorious as Texas vs. Oklahoma or Duke vs. North Carolina, but it does not diminish the significance of Western Kentucky’s matchups against Middle Tennessee State. They both have those games circled on their calendars! Let’s dive deeper into this storied feud, which takes center stage in one of the final games of the season for both the WKU men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The History of Hate
The rivalry between the two teams earned the moniker “100 Miles of Hate” due to the distance between the campus towns of Bowling Green and Murfreesboro. Mostly recognized as a football rivalry, the two teams have been competing against each other since 1914. WKU and MTSU have maintained their competition through various conference moves, transitioning together through the Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, and C-USA conferences, and facing off against each other in all sports.
Photo Cred: X.com
Crucial Blow for the Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky was on a five-game winning streak, which included a 23-point victory over the Blue Raiders and a win against top-seeded Louisiana Tech. They aimed to continue steamrolling their opponents in this rivalry game, seeking to secure the first seed in the conference in their final home game this season.
However, Middle Tennessee State’s Jared Coleman-Jones had a standout performance, leading both teams in points (20), rebounds (11- tied with teammate Justin Bufford), and assists (four). MTSU emerged victorious 74-72, rallying with a 40-point second half to erase a two-point deficit from the first half. WKU’s struggles on the road continued, which may potentially jeopardize their chances of a deep run in the C-USA… This home game could’ve been crucial in narrowing the gap in the Conference USA standings.
Photo Cred: WKUHerald.com
Speaking of which, these two teams face off once again today at 3:00 PM ET for the last time! The season series is currently split one-all, so this conference semifinal matchup will determine the victor in the heated rivalry.
Lady Toppers Could Not Manage the Upset
The WKU Lady Toppers also clashed with Middle Tennessee on February 24th alongside their male counterparts. The Lady Raiders maintained an undefeated record in conference play (13-0) and possessed an overall record of 23-4. They arrived at Bowling Green pursuing another dominant win. At the beginning of the month, they hosted the Tops and secured a remarkable 80-48 triumph.
An upset would have been remarkable for Western Kentucky, as they are on a three-game skid while simultaneously aiming to maintain their position in the top half of the C-USA standings. However, WKU failed to find a solution against the Blue Raiders, as they couldn’t even score 10 points in two of the four quarters. Despite a solid defense, MTSU toppled Western 59-41.
Photo Cred: Newsday
Even though dual wins would have greatly benefited Western Kentucky, MTSU managed to win the rivalry this time around. While this rivalry might not bring about the same sense of significance for everyone, it holds immense importance for the students who despise seeing our teams lose to any opponent, especially a Blue Raider!
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