If you tuned into most of the sports call-in shows yesterday, you know that the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders’ big win Monday night was the talk of the town.  Their upset win over South Alabama Monday night even made the first segment of SportsCenter Tuesday morning.

The win earned them a bid to play in the Sunbelt Conference Championship against Western Kentucky.  The winner gets an automatic bid to the Big Dance.

Alas, MTSU came up a bit short in the championship game. 

That said, congratulations are in order to the team and coach Kermit Davis for their accomplishments–not just in the tournament, but all season.  I have to admit part of me hoped they’d win the game if only to get yet another Tennessee team a bid to the Big Dance. 

The question now becomes–will the Sunbelt get three teams in?  There’s talk that South Alabama will get a bid since they won the regular season conference championship.  And there was buzz that MTSU could get an at-large bid to the Big Dance. 

Selfishly, I’m glad MTSU won Monday night because their win might have knocked Florida out of the Big Dance, unless the Gators win the SEC Tournament.  And any day that something not positive happens to the Gators is a good day for me…