The Blue Raiders won 11 of their last 14 and captured 14 wins against Sun Belt Conference teams - the most league wins ever for a Middle Tennessee team in a single-season.

"College Insiders is one of the most comprehensive basketball sites in the country and offers tremendous exposure for basketball nationally," Davis said. "I am very appreciative of the award and our players, staff and administration. Our team made great progress throughout the season and more than anything it just showed the tenacity, the diligence and how they hung in there - and they end up winning 14 games against conference teams and that's a great tribute."

Davis returns his entire team in 2008-09 and welcomes the return of junior guard Calvin O'Neil who suffered a season-ending knee injury in last season's opener against San Jose State. The Blue Raiders also gain the services of heralded guard Antwaun Boyd, who took his redshirt year in 2007-08.

Middle Tennessee advanced to the Sun Belt Conference championship game by upsetting No. 27-ranked South Alabama on its home court to end the Jaguars' 17-game win streak in the tournament semifinals. The Blue Raiders were the only team to beat South Alabama twice last season and Davis guided his team into the title game for the second time in his six-year tenure. In fact, Middle Tennessee has played in two conference tournament championship games since 1989 and each has occurred in Davis' six years leading the program (2003, 2008). Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Louisiana-Lafayette are the only Sun Belt teams to have played in multiple championship games during this six-year span.

The Blue Raiders also joined Western Kentucky as the only Sun Belt members to reach the league's tournament semifinals at least five times in the previous six years and Middle Tennessee's 100 wins under Davis from 2003-present represents the best six-year total for the school since 1988-93 (105 wins).

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