Murray State Banking on Defense and Toughness

Miller Wants a Different Mindset

(St. Louis, MO) – Murray State was one of the best offensive teams in the nation last year, but this season head coach Ryan Miller is banking on defense and toughness. The Racers are one of the favorites to win the Missouri Valley Conference league race and Miller believes that potential title will only come with a greater amount of defensive intensity.

Murray was 76^th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings, but a substandard 244^th in defensive efficiency. While winning twenty games (20-13), Miller’s squad was 311^th in defending the three-point line.

The Racers were second in the Valley in scoring offense (83.1 ppg) and eleventh out of all eleven MVC teams in scoring defense (80.2), defensive field goal percentage (.474) and defensive rebound percentage (.687).

Something had to change.

Enter intra-league ‘post’ transfers Brigham Rogers (Belmont) and Shon Tupuola (Valparaiso) and George Washington transfer Christian Jones. Miller says those additions and the rest of the teams’ ‘buy-in’ will make them better.

Jones’ 6’4 frame will help the Racers at the wing position.

Reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ Roman Domon says the most important thing he’s working on, is improving his defensive capabilities. Jones’ addition was important to Miller.

Miller believes Domon’s future is unlimited if he can grow defensively.

Jones was named to the Atlantic Ten’s 2025 ‘all-rookie’ team (2025) and was a double digit scorer last season.

Don’t Eat the Cheese

Many publications are naming the Racers as the league’s top team. Incoming players like Auburn transfer Kaen Magwood who was a top-50 recruit coming out of Oak Hill, Mouth of Wilson High School are part of that enthusiasm.

Miller continues to add talented foreign players.

Domon and fellow French sophomore Mathis Corbon have led the way for incoming Frenchmen Jonas Boulefaa and Talis Soulhac. Serbia’s Pavle Nikolic (6’8) and Boulefaa (6’10) have just cleared their eligibility hurdles and will be ready to play.

Slovenia’s Mark Padjen is another incoming foreign-born freshman. The 6’6 Padjen was the MVP of the Slovenia U20 Euro Championship team.

While these additions are impressive, Miller wants his team banking on defense and toughness. He says he doesn’t want his team to ‘eat the cheese’ and thus fall into the rat trap.

Along with Corbon, Brayden Shorter is the other returning player with extensive playing time last season. Ben Shtolzberg missed last season, but was with the team. He played for Miller at Creighton.

Opening The Season

The Racers’ exhibition season is in the books and are preparing for Monday’s season opener in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Murray is part of the ‘Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon’ where they will battle Ohio Valley Conference favorite Tennessee State.

Miller’s squad didn’t show great defensive improvement against Wichita State, but prevailed over the American Conference foe 93-87. Four Racers reached double figures in scoring as Domon tallied 17 points and Brayden Shorter contributed 16.

During the team’s second of three exhibition games they routed Incarnate Word 93-66 as Domon tallied 30 points. Lachlan Crate produced 15 points.

While the defense wasn’t amazing, the Racers defeated Florida International 86-79. Domon exploded for 29 points. The Valley’s preseason, player of the year averaged 25.3 points-per-exhibition game and five other Racers reached double digits at least one time.

Miller is from South Dakota and told our Josh Betts that he’s thrilled to be going home for the Field of 68 event, but cautions that his team is playing a difficult opponent in TSU.

Murray State plays its first game in the remodeled CFSB. Center (‘The Bank’) Saturday, November 7 against Northwestern State.

Do Good