ESPNU announced they’ll include the MSU men’s basketball team in its seventh annual Midnight Madness telecast on the first day of the college basketball season when the Racers have their own Racer Madness on Friday, October 12 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.

 Racer Madness begins at 9:15 p.m. at the CFSB Center, admission is $5.

 ESPNU will be on the air for four hours (From 8 p.m. to midnight central time) with live look-ins from 13 schools including the Racers’ home court as fans get their first look of the 2012-13 Murray State Basketball teams. The Racers are the only mid-major school to be featured in the program that also includes: Baylor, Florida State, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

 “Having ESPNU broadcast live from the CFSB Center is another bonus from last season,” MSU Director of Athletics Allen Ward said. “And it says a lot about our program as we go into the 2012-13 season.”

 Oct. 12 is the first day in which the NCAA allows teams to practice. Racer Madness also coincides with Murray State Homecoming.

 “I’m happy for our fans and the alums in town for homecoming to have the chance to see our team,” MSU Head Coach Steve Prohm said. “Any time we can showcase Murray State Basketball to a national audience on one the ESPN networks, it is great exposure for us.”

 “We wanted to start off the season with a bit of a new look and change the usual Fan Jam from late in the month to the first possible day the teams can practice,” said Paul Bubb, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. “The idea was very attractive when it’s MSU Homecoming weekend and having ESPNU in the CFSB Center is a great addition as well.”

 Racer Madness will feature the introduction of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams and a 3-point shooting contest among student-athletes of each team. There will also be a men’s team scrimmage and a slam dunk contest.

 Fans also get into the act through a variety of interaction during the event, including one fan that will be drawn for an opportunity to win $10,000 cash. There is also a drawing among Racer Club members to win tickets and hotel accommodations for the 2013 OVC Basketball Tournament. Multiple additional prizes will be given away during the evening. Racer Madness also includes performances from the Racer Band, cheerleaders and Racer Girls.

MSU students and Stampede members will be able to enter the CFSB Center at Gate C at 9:10 p.m.

 “We have included more time for a scrimmage this year, as well as the 3-point and slam dunk contest,” Bubb added. “We also have some additional special events which our long-time Racer basketball fans will really appreciate.”

College basketball analyst Miles Simon will be reporting from the CFSB Center and is among the army of reporters covering the event from arenas and studio for ESPNU. Simon had a great career at Arizona in the late 1990’s where he led the Wildcats to the 1997 NCAA Championship.

The MSU men’s team is coming off its greatest season in the history of the program where they were the last undefeated team at 23-0 and the only team in the nation to go undefeated in road games at 13-0. The Racers were 31-2 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Second year head coach Steve Prohm is back to lead the Racers into the 2012-13 season with All-America guard Isaiah Canaan and Ed Daniel back for their senior seasons.

 The MSU women’s team enters the season with high hopes under fifth-year head coach Rob Cross. A trio of All-Ohio Valley Conference performers lead the way. Senior Mariah Robinson who is 27 3-pointers shy of the school’s career record is back along with junior Erica Burgess and sophomore Jessica Winfrey.

Story courtesy of Sports Information