Compiled by staff writer Ben Morrow
Thursday’s matchup with Colorado State will mark Murray State’s 15th NCAA Tournament appearance.
? 2012: Led by rookie Head Coach Steve Prohm, the Racers capped off their best regular season in school history by winning the OVC regular season and conference titles and going into the tournament with a 30-1 record.
? 2010: Danero Thomas hit a game-winning two-point jumper at the buzzer to lift the No. 3 seeded Racers to their second tournament win in school history, a 66-65 nail biter over No. 4 seed Vanderbilt. The Racers, led by Head Coach Billy Kennedy, lost a close one to the eventual tournament runner-up Butler, 54-52.
? 2006: In head coach Mick Cronin’s last year at the helm, No. 14 seeded Murray State lost its opening tournament game to No. 3 seed North Carolina, 69-65.
? 2004: In Mick Cronin’s first season as head coach, the No. 12 seeded Racers lost their opening game to No. 5 seeded Illinois, 72-53.
? 2002: Head Coach Tevester Anderson took the OVC champs to the opening game against Georgia, where they lost 85-68.
? 1999: Tevester Anderson’s Racers lost their opening game to eventual Final Four participant Ohio State, 72-58.
? 1998: In his final year as Racer Head Coach, Mark Gottfried led Murray State to what was considered, until this season, the best regular season in Racer history. The Racers, led by De’Teri Mayes and freshman Isaac Spencer, won the OVC regular season and tournament titles. They posted a disappointing performance in the tournament, however, losing as a No. 9 seed to No. 8 seeded Rhode Island, 97-74.
? 1997: Although they lost their opening game versus No. 2 seeded Duke, the No. 15 seed Racers, led by second-year Head Coach Mark Gottfried, nearly shocked the Blue Devils, falling just short, 71-68.
? 1995: Head Coach Scott Edgar led the Racers back to the tournament, where they lost their opening game to eventual Final Four participant North Carolina, 80-70.
? 1992: Murray State lost its opening game to Arkansas, 80-69.
? 1991: In Steve Newton’s last season as head coach, the Racers lost their opening game to Alabama, 89-79.
? 1990: Murray State lost its opening game to Michigan State 75-71.
? 1988: Under head coach Steve Newton, the Racers got their first NCAA Tournament win by defeating North Carolina State, 78-75. Murray State lost a tough second-round contest to eventual national champion Kansas, led by Head Coach Larry Brown and future NBA star Danny Manning, 61-58.
? 1969: Racer Head Coach Cal Luther led Murray State to its second tournament appearance, where they lost their opening game to Marquette, 82-62.
? 1964: The Racers, led by head coach Cal Luther, lost their first ever tournament game to Loyola (Ill.), 101-91.