The 2018–19 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team represented Middle Tennessee State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blue Raiders, led by first-year head coach Nick McDevitt, played their home games at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as members of Conference USA (C-USA).

The Blue Raiders finished the season 11–21 overall, 8–10 in C-USA play, to finish in a four-way tie for ninth place. In the C-USA tournament, they were defeated in the first round by UAB.

Previous season The Blue Raiders finished the 2017–18 season 25–8 overall, 16–2 in C-USA play, to win the regular season championship. In the C-USA tournament, they were defeated in the quarterfinals by Southern Miss in overtime. As a regular-season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, the Blue Raiders received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated Vermont in the first round before losing to Louisville in the second round.

The season marked the first time in the program's history that the Blue Raiders were ranked in the AP Top 25 during the season, coming in at No. 24 on the week of February 19.

Head coach Kermit Davis left the school on March 19, 2018 to accept a head coaching job at Ole Miss. He finished at Middle Tennessee with a 16-year record of 332–188. On March 24, the Blue Raiders named UNC Asheville head coach Nick McDevitt as the team's new head coach.

Offseason Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure Tyrik Dixon 0 G 6' 1" 184 Sophomore Bentonville, AR Transferred to Missouri State Brandon Walters 1 F 6' 10" 250 RS senior Chattanooga, TN Graduated Antwain Johnson 2 G 6' 2" 197 Junior Greenwood, FL Dismissed from the team; transferred to Buffalo Nick King 5 F 6' 7" 225 Senior Memphis, TN Graduated Will Slatten 10 G 6' 4" 166 RS freshman Sparta, TN Walk-on; left the team for personal reasons Edward Simpson Jr. 11 G 6' 2" 195 Senior Ocean Springs, MS Graduated Therren Shelton-Szmidt 12 G 6' 5" 190 Freshman Mississauga, ON Left the team due to his religion Giddy Potts 20 G 6' 2" 217 Senior Athens, AL Graduated David Simmons 21 G 6' 3" 195 Junior Henderson, KY Graduate transferred to Southern Indiana Davion Thomas 35 F 6' 9" 215 RS freshman Columbus, GA Dismissed from the team

Incoming transfers Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school DeAndre Dishman 2 F 6' 6" 215 Junior Lexington, KY Transferred from Eastern Kentucky. Under NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out in the 2018–19 season. Had two years of eligibility left. Reggie Scurry 22 F 6' 5" 213 Senior Atlanta, GA Transferred from Missouri State. Under NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out in the 2018–19 season. Had one year of eligibility left. C. J. Jones 23 G 6' 5" 180 Junior Birmingham, AL Transferred from Arkansas. Under NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out in the 2018–19 season. Had two years of eligibility left.

2018 recruiting class

2019 recruiting class

Roster

Schedule and results

!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular season

!colspan=9 style=| Conference USA regular season

!colspan=9 style=| Conference USA tournament

Source:

References