To celebrate 30 years of SLAM, we’re featuring the 30 most influential men’s college teams of the past 30 years. Stats, records and chips are not the main factor here, it’s all about their contribution to the cultural fabric of the game.
Over the next 30 days, Monday through Friday, we’ll be featuring full list here. We also have an exclusive retro collegiate collection out now that pays homage to the threads of each squad. Shop here.
“Swagger” may be an overused term, but there is no more perfect way to describe the style of play that the 2018-19 Murray State Racers embodied. Intermediate core program. Who betrayed?
Led by head honcho Matt McMahon, the Ohio Valley Conference leaders sent a message to America with every copy.See you all in March“.
A big reason was that the loose standout was with freeform dreads, loose and unrelenting athleticism. Ja Morant was simply “The One” in Calloway County. As a sophomore, he had one of the greatest individual seasons in program history. But it was the national stage where Morant’s legend grew.
He was the first player to average 20 points and 10 assists in the modern era, dropping 24.5 points and 10 drams overnight. He has the sixth most assists in a season in NCAA history. He recorded the 9th triple-double in NCAA tournament history. He had 14 games with 20 and 10 rebounds and a career-high 18 points in a win over UT Martin. The man was downright dirty. explosive like Dr. Dre Chronicle.
Plucking behind then reassessing. When drawing the in-out cross to the hanging lay contact. And one. Cradle baby. Flying to the ledge as fast as he flew off it. Hard to predict, almost impossible to contain. Beans came from anywhere and everywhere; half court, outfield, on a fast break. Trackbreakers, throwback alleyways and tomahawk banners with abundant, airy guitar cellos following suit. Opponents spent more time looking up than following the middle of their opponents’ threads.
But then came Morant’s single-handed demolition of UT Martin. After a backdoor shot from the baseline, Morant received the ball and, without even dribbling, got right on top of a defender who attempted a wildly vicious shot at the world’s fastest player, and slammed it home while almost clearing the MJ-like spread-footed defender. The highlight will introduce the name of Temetrius “Ja” Morant and the high-flying Murray State Racers to millions upon millions.
Downtown’s Tevin Brown lit up Racer Arena with nearly three treys a game, while Leroy Buchanon anchored the Racer’s otherworldly backcourt. In the paint, Darnell Cowhert resided with considerable power. The former JUCO product has quickly established himself in the OVC, using his nifty footwork to dance around defenders for 10.3 points and 6.5 boards per game.
Two non-conference losses left the Racers with an early indication of their postseason success, losses to Alabama and No. 7 Back-to-back games against Auburn in late November and December provided bottom tests. The Racers ran through the OVC, compiling a 16-2 conference record en route to their second straight conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
After solidifying their staying power with a 20-point win over Marquette, the Racers fell to No. 10 Florida State in the round of 32, but not before putting on enough impressive performances to earn their own “One Shining Moments” rotation. Not only were the Racers the 2019 Cinderella Team of the Tournament, but they recaptured the magic that was created in mid-major programs across the country.
Photos via Getty Images.
