The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Murray State News.
It’s that time again. March Madness is upon us. And if you are reading this first thing Thursday morning, the Racers are more than likely warming up at the KFC Yum! Center or getting a pep talk from Coach Steve Prohm.
Campus will probably be sparsely populated today. After all, our beloved 30-1 Racers are taking on Colorado State just a few hours away, as what some may call, a disrespectful ranking as a 6-seed. Murray State was the last unbeaten team and still boasts fewer losses than any other school.
The Racers have had a good run, staying in the top 25 in both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today polls for the majority of the season, so many of us were hoping to be higher in the pecking order. But alas, the Selection Sunday Committee made its decision.
And the choice may not be too shabby for the Racers. Being a 6-seed is so-so. But playing just hours from our home court is a wonderful leg up on the competition.
When the Racers played Vanderbilt and Butler two years ago, several Racer fans made the cross-country journey to San Jose, Calif. But this year, we expect thousands of people to deck out in blue and gold. Some will be loyal fans, others will be alumni and some will just be curious people from around the state who decide to hop on the ever-growing bandwagon.
But honestly, it doesn’t matter who shows up to support the Racers. It’s the quantity. Few Colorado State supporters will shell out approximately $800 for a round-trip flight. And fewer Rams fans will make the 19-hour drive from Fort Collins. For Murray State, the atmosphere at today’s game (and hopefully Saturday’s game, should the Racers be victorious) should mimic that of a home game. Blue and gold should outweigh Colorado State’s green and gold.
So whether you agree with the 6-seed or not, keep in mind that in this case location is more crucial than a higher placement.