When Middle Tennessee State University senior forward Reggie Upshaw takes the floor in Milwaukee this afternoon for an NCAA tournament first-round game against Minnesota, it could be for the final time as a collegiate athlete.
The 6-foot-8, 228-pound former Baylor School standout enters today averaging 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and a team-high 31.8 minutes per game for the Blue Raiders, who have won 20 of their past 21 games and are 30-4 overall this season. Upshaw was a guest earlier this week on “Press Row” on Chattanooga’s 105.1 FM.
Q: Does this year have a different feel given the first-round upset of Michigan State in last year’s tournament?
A: “It’s different because nobody is going to allow us to sneak up on them. We kind of snuck up on Michigan State and blew everybody out of the water with how we played, but this will be different. Minnesota is going to be more locked in, and I bet their scouting report is a lot more detailed than the one last year.”
Q: Will you guys have a chip on your shoulder after only getting a 12 seed given all you’ve accomplished?