Auburn matchup gives Middle Tennessee head start on CUSA basketball tournament stage

Middle Tennessee men’s basketball is heading to the Rocket City with a specific goal in mind. Head coach Nick McDevitt is eyeing a productive December trip to Huntsville, hoping the Blue Raiders can build a level of comfort in the Von Braun Center long before the postseason arrives.

A High-Stakes December Date

It was officially announced on Wednesday that Middle Tennessee will face off against Auburn in this season's edition of the Rocket City Classic. The high-profile matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena.

Beyond the immediate challenge of testing themselves against a premier SEC opponent, the Blue Raiders gain valuable court time at the very same venue that hosts the Conference USA men’s basketball tournament. McDevitt believes the familiarity will pay dividends when the stakes are highest in March.

Learning from the Rocket City Blueprint

The partnership between Huntsville and Conference USA has consistently provided league teams with unique opportunities for neutral-site games against SEC powers. Kennesaw State provides the perfect success story; after playing Alabama in the Rocket City Classic last year, the Owls went on to secure a CUSA tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth.

“Any arena that you get into, the more times you’re in it, the more times you’re shooting on a particular goal with a particular backdrop, your players just get more and more comfortable,” McDevitt said. “Obviously, Kennesaw State was here last year in December, and it worked out pretty well for them in March. Hopefully we can have a similar result, but we’ll have five returning players that have played here this past season of the tournament, now here in December.”

An Ideal Tournament Hub

With Conference USA set to keep its basketball tournaments in Huntsville through the 2029 season, Middle Tennessee finds itself in a prime position. The campus in Murfreesboro sits within a reasonable distance to the Von Braun Center, an advantage shared by other regional league members like Jax State, Western Kentucky, and Kennesaw State.

McDevitt has embraced the transition to Huntsville, noting the positive reception from his fanbase. He lauded the arena's location, citing local amenities and nearby attractions—like the space center—as major benefits for traveling supporters and families.

Preparing for the Big Stage

Looking ahead to December, McDevitt is bracing for a physical and athletic battle against an Auburn squad coached by Bruce and Steven Pearl. While Middle Tennessee finished last season at 17-15 overall and 11-9 in CUSA play, the coaching staff sees the neutral-site environment as a vital teaching tool.

“It’s a neutral site game, but it won’t be so neutral in terms of 50-50 with the crowd, but that’s what you hope to get in games like this,” McDevitt said. “For teams like us at Middle Tennessee, you want to get in the NCAA tournament, and when you do, you want to have had experience playing guys that talented, that big, that physical on a neutral floor. Last year we played Houston, we played Michigan, those are on their home turf, so this one hopefully will give our guys a feel of what it is to play a tournament-level team, a P4 team on a neutral floor, so that when we get to the NCAA tournament, you’re used to it.”