Murray State University is home to one of the most successful basketball programs in the country. The Racers, as they are affectionately known, have won 15 conference championships and made 11 NCAA tournament appearances. They have also produced a number of NBA players, including Ja Morant, Isaiah Canaan, Cameron Payne, and Zay Jackson. But what division is Murray State basketball?
Division I
Murray State University plays in the NCAA Division I. The Division I classification is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics in the United States. It is split into two subdivisions, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Murray State is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the FCS.
Division I schools typically have larger athletic budgets and more scholarship money available for athletes. They also have the highest level of competition and the most prestigious tournaments. The NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament is the pinnacle of the sport. The Racers have made 11 appearances in the tournament, most recently in 2019.
Ohio Valley Conference
Murray State is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the FCS. The conference includes schools from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas. It was founded in 1948 and is one of the oldest Division I conferences in the country.
The Ohio Valley Conference has been a successful basketball conference for many years. It has produced 24 NCAA Tournament teams and several NBA players, including Ja Morant, Isaiah Canaan, and Cameron Payne. The Racers have won 15 conference championships, including eight championships in the past 10 years.
Rivals
Murray State’s biggest rivals are the nearby schools of Austin Peay and Belmont. The three teams have a long history of competing against each other, with the Racers holding a slight edge in the all-time series. The Belmont-Murray State rivalry is especially intense. The two teams have played each other every year since 1980 and the series is currently tied at 23-23.
The Racers also have occasional matchups with other in-state rivals such as Western Kentucky and Morehead State. These games are usually highly competitive and often determine the conference champion.
Conclusion
Murray State basketball plays in the NCAA Division I and is part of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Racers have been very successful in the conference, winning 15 championships and making 11 NCAA tournament appearances. They also have several rivalries with nearby schools, most notably Austin Peay, Belmont, and Western Kentucky.