How the conferences shake out as 2013 approaches

Non-conference play is almost over, and it has been quite a stretch. We’ve learned a good deal about a lot of teams, while some are still a mystery for various reasons – injuries, suspensions, ineligibility and a light schedule are all possible reasons. In addition, a few conferences have already seen a game or two mixed in with the non-conference schedule.

Conference play is right around the corner, and while a non-conference resume doesn’t tell the whole story, it does shed some light on teams and conferences. In conference play, there is more familiarity since teams play each other every year, although the changing landscape is starting to diminish that factor a bit. That’s one reason why we see some teams put forth a very good non-conference showing, including some good wins, then go on to have a mediocre showing in conference play.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how every conference in America shapes up.

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Experienced Murray State shows they can overcome adversity

CHARLESTON, S.C. – You can choose to look at Murray State’s 72-67 semifinal win over St. John’s as an instance of youth being served, experience winning out, or some other cliché. While those things apply to a degree, the big story should probably be something Murray State head coach Steve Prohm talked about after the game: resilience.

Murray State has been nothing if not resilient thus far this season. Before the games even started, they had to suspend projected starting guard Zay Jackson for the season after he was arrested and charged with striking two people with his car in a store parking lot following an altercation. That was sure to leave even more on the shoulders of Isaiah Canaan, the All-American guard who bypassed the NBA Draft for another season of college. But it also meant that other players needed to improve to take advantage of the attention opponents will give to Canaan, and thus far that seems to be happening.

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Monson’s 49ers reap the rewards of a tough schedule

If any team could claim to be battle-tested heading into conference play, it had to be Long Beach State.

The 49ers loaded up their nonconference slate with the likes of Kansas, North Carolina, San Diego State, Louisville and Xavier. The team struggled through many of those games, ending up with a 7-6 record heading into Big West play.

But don’t be fooled. The 49ers were more than competitive against the big boys, with single-digit losses on the road at San Diego State, Kansas and North Carolina. Plus, the 49ers beat Pittsburgh, Xavier and Auburn. None of those are particularly outstanding — the Xavier win came during the Musketeers’ tailspin following the brawl against Cincinnati. But in short, Dan Monson’s team learned how to win and how to believe in itself.

This team has taken that lesson and applied it well through the first seven games of Big West play. Long Beach State sits atop the conference standings with a 7-0 record, and only Cal Poly stayed within 10 points of the 49ers.

If Long Beach State can continue to plow through the Big West and claim an automatic to the NCAA Tournament, the 49ers should be a popular first-round upset pick. Their lack of hefty wins will prevent the team from earning a seed much higher than a No. 12 or 13 spot. But that just makes this team a sound pick to upset any No. 4 or 5 seed from a major conference on a neutral court.

The benefits of such a tough schedule might not show up in the win-loss columns immediately. But if Long Beach State goes 1-1 or 2-0 during the first weekend of March, that tournament success will be partially due to the team’s preparation early in the season.

We take you coast to coast with news from around the college basketball nation.

Murray State will get back leading rebounder Ivan Aska, who grabs 6.0 rpg and scores 12.6 ppg, for the team’s game against Eastern Illinois Saturday, according to the Associated Press.

Michigan could have big Jon Horford back for the Wolverines’ game against Purdue Tuesday, coach John Beilein told Wolverine Nation’s Chantel Jennings for ESPN.com. Horford has been out with a stress fracture since early December.

Arguably the most intense and spite-filled rivalry in the ACC, Maryland and Duke will clash for the first time this season Wednesday night in College Park. And the Terrapins will likely have freshman 7-footer Alex Len, even though he twisted his ankle during the Terps’ loss at Temple last weekend, according to the Washington Post’s Liz Clarke.

Of course, that’s no disrespect to the North Carolina vs. Duke rivalry. And this year, coach Roy Williams won’t have his best defender, Dexter Strickland, who tore his ACL in the team’s win against Virginia Tech Thursday, according ESPN.com’s Robbi Pickeral.

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson is considering adding a hometown hero to the Razorbacks squad, according to the Associated Press. Former Oklahoma State guard Fred Gulley has enrolled at Arkansas and plans to play for Anderson as a walk-on or scholarship player. He was a star high school basketball player in Arkansas before leaving the state to play for the Cowboys.

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan railed against the rule that allows graduated players to transfer and play immediately during a news conference Monday, writes Benjamin Worgull for Badger Nation.com.

Undefeated teams remain focused on the task at hand

As we approach the end of January, we still have two undefeated teams out there: Syracuse and Murray State.

The Orange and Racers will take their undefeated records on the road this weekend as Syracuse visits Notre Dame and Murray State faces SIU-Edwardsville. In both games, the undefeated squads should win. But that word “should” is a funny thing.

In conference play, you just never know when a rival will step up and pull off a major upset. Look at Florida State, which got amped for the team’s home game against North Carolina last weekend. Given the Seminoles’ defensive prowess, it wouldn’t have been a shock if they kept the game close or even eked out a slim victory. But a 30-point trouncing of a top five team? That’s ridiculous.

So as Syracuse and Murray State continue to plow through their schedules, plenty of onlookers will speculate about whether these teams can finish the regular season with a perfect record. Murray State will get a bunch of speculation because the Racers are head and shoulders above the rest of their Ohio Valley Conference competition. In the Big East, the general consensus is at least one team will knock off the Orange. But in a rebuilding year for many teams in the conference, it’s not unreasonable to think that Syracuse will be a favorite in every game the team plays.

But there we go again with the speculation. I can almost guarantee you that coaches Jim Boeheim and Steve Prohm aren’t looking further than Saturday’s game. And nor should they lest the Fighting Irish or Cougars come up with a big game to protect their home court like the Seminoles did against North Carolina last weekend.

Here are some of the big games on tap for this weekend.

Saturday:

• Missouri at Baylor
• Purdue at Michigan State
• Florida State at Duke
• Syracuse at Notre Dame
• Cincinnati at West Virginia
• Alabama at Kentucky
• Mississippi State at Vanderbilt
• Xavier at Dayton
• Marshall at Southern Miss
• Kansas at Texas
• New Mexico at UNLV
• Murray State at SIU-Edwardsville
• Rutgers at Georgetown
• Maryland at Temple
• Kansas State at Oklahoma State
• Stanford at Washington
• Arizona at Colorado
• Old Dominion at VCU
• Long Beach State at UC Santa Barbara

Sunday:

• Virginia Tech at Virginia
• NC State at Miami
• Wisconsin at Illinois
• Milwaukee at Cleveland State
• Boston U. at Hartford

Jacksonville State Gets a Building Block Win

AMHERST, Mass. – You can’t read too much into one game, especially early in the season. But the final score on Monday night can’t be the only good thing Jacksonville State takes home.

The Gamecocks came to town on an evening that was big for the UMass faithful, although the crowd wasn’t very large. The paid attendance was over 4,800 (the Mullins Center seats nearly 9,500), but they were there for the home debut of new head coach Derek Kellogg, a hometown hero who was among the keys to UMass becoming a national power in the 1990s. The young Gamecocks at first glance would seem like an opponent the Minutemen could certainly beat to give Kellogg a win in his home debut.

But that’s not what happened. Despite trailing by five points with 29 seconds left, Jacksonville State walked out with a 75-74 win that had plenty of positives.

Jacksonville State was picked last in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll of the head coaches and sports information directors. At first glance, that seems like an understandable selection. The Gamecocks have just four upperclassmen among their top 11 players and a new head coach after a 7-22 showing last season. Four true freshmen are on the roster, and a fifth freshman, Geddes Robinson, was a non-qualifier last season.

Those freshmen are among the reasons for Gamecock fans to be hopeful. Only Stephen Hall, who has already been a steady contributor off the bench, was signed before James Green took over as head coach. Green then had to work with just one live weekend in April to evaluate players, but went out and recruited Brandon Crawford, who has been an instant impact player, then added John Barnes and junior college forward Jacques Leeds.

Crawford already has the look of a star player. He’s athletic and has a good body for his position, and in his first four games he has averaged 16 points and is 9-15 from behind the three-point line. On Monday, he came into the game with his team trailing 13-12 and wasted little time making his presence felt. He scored six straight points to cap a run of eight unanswered to give the Gamecocks the lead at 20-13.

“During practice, we felt he had a chance to be a really good player for us, but he’s actually scored the ball a lot better in the games than what he did in practice,” said Green. “He’s very athletic, he’s long, and he gives us a guy that really sometimes is a mismatch for other teams in the fact that he’s athletic enough to go down inside and do some things there, too.”

Green can see the effect Crawford has had on his teammates with his play. While he surely wasn’t the sole or even main reason for the poise they showed late in the game, he had a role in the end as well, as he converted a four-point play with 23 seconds left that pulled the Gamecocks within one, setting up the dramatics in the final seconds.

“I think when you see young guys play like that, it gives everybody confidence,” said Green.

While this was one game in a long season, you have to think this gives them a confidence boost. This is a road win for a young team early on that can only help them. It also came after events that might normally deflate a young team and perhaps even serve as knockout blows. After the Gamecocks blew a seven-point lead by allowing UMass to run off 13 unanswered points, the psychological impact of giving up the lead might be damaging enough all by itself, especially that late in the game.

Green talked about this game being something for his team to learn from, and he felt they gained something from their season opener at South Carolina. Those are signs that this team is buying into what the coaches are teaching, and that their talent won’t be all that they have going for them.

“As a coach, and being a part of about seven different programs, I can’t really remember having as many young players that have been as poised as we have in the two road games that we’ve had,” said Green, who had been the head coach at Mississippi Valley State before taking this job.

Some of the credit there has to go to the veterans, notably seniors Jonathan Toles (who scored the winning basket) and DeAndre Bray, one of the shortest players in college basketball at 5’6″. Toles led the team with 18 points and added five assists with just one turnover. In fact, the Gamecocks had 19 assists with just nine turnovers on the night.

It’s still early in the season, and Jacksonville State is sure to have some growing pains along the way. They could just as easily finish the season winning just three more games to go with the three wins they already have. But a win like the one they had on Monday night can go a long way towards helping a team grow better, especially if, as Green talked about, it is a game his team learns from.

Austin Peay Wins A Year Later

A Championship a Year in the Making

by Phil Kasiecki

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This is what Austin Peay has been shooting for over the last year. It didn’t begin with the start of practice – it began a year ago.

The Governors were the regular season champions in the Ohio Valley Conference last season with a 16-4 mark in OVC games. They won by three games in the standings and were a clear favorite to take the conference’s NCAA Tournament bid. But Eastern Kentucky spoiled that in the title game with a 63-62 win and left the Governors to the NIT, where Air Force blew them out in the first round.

On Saturday, the feeling was different. Just over a year later, the Governors left no doubt in beating Tennessee State 82-64 to win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship after finishing with an identical 16-4 mark in the regular season.

While the Governors needed to stage a second-half rally to even have a chance in last year’s final, there was none necessary this time around. With 11:27 left in the first half, tournament MVP Todd Babington buried his fourth three-pointer of the half to give the Governors a 21-18 lead. They never relinquished it from there, getting it up to 15 at halftime and never leading by less than 11 for the entire second half.

“It’s like they weren’t going to be denied, they were so focused,” said head coach Dave Loos. “They really put the stamp on this thing today.”

The Governors were clearly a team on a mission after coming so close last season and after winning the regular season title. That was readily apparent to anyone who saw the game and how much they dominated Tennessee State.

“Austin Peay played like champions,” said Tennessee State head coach Cy Alexander. “They played like a team that had not had the opportunity to go last year to the NCAA Tournament. They came into this game on a mission, and they out-played us.”

Babington, who was also a standout quarterback on the gridiron in high school, led the charge with his three-point shooting. Challenged in Friday’s semifinal, he got going in the second half of that game for a spell, and on Saturday he was hot all along. When he got the ball, the defense may as well have just started heading back up the court.

While his shooting will be talked about the most, as he was 6-8 from long range, he did much more than that and more than his five rebounds. During the first half, he deflected an outlet pass to break up a fast break opportunity, then later tipped a rebound out to a teammate that led to a fast break. Later, he pump-faked a defender, stepped in and hit a leaner off the glass.

For all his efforts, he can be excused for a little comedy when asked if he had his dancing shoes for the NCAA Tournament. It turns out, he literally did have them – well, almost.

“I just haven’t put them on yet,” said Babington, noting that he got the red and white shoes from his brother and leading to laugher in the press room. “They’re brand new, pearly whites.”

But while Babington got the big honor on the strength of his play Saturday, the team’s floor leader was perhaps the biggest reason they got there. Derek Wright, a Los Angeles native who somehow got away from the California schools and came across much of the country, is closing out a fine career that has seen him become the school’s all-time leader in steals and place third in assists. He and Babington have played in an OVC record 130 career games. The three-year starter makes this team go and came up big in the conference tournament.

On Saturday, Wright had 13 points and four assists, but as is often the case with a point guard, the numbers don’t show his value. At the end of the first half, he helped bury Tennessee State with two back-breaking jumpers. The first was a three-pointer from near the top of the key with the shot clock running down and a defender in his face, then he did it again with a short jumper near the end of the half as they turned a 35-25 lead into a 15-point halftime advantage.

This came after he handed out seven assists with just one turnover as one of the unsung heroes in Friday night’s close win. It’s nothing he hasn’t done before.

“I hand him the ball, he knows the game plan, he knows how our coaching staff thinks, and I’ve gotten to where I absolutely trust him with our team,” said Loos. “He’s in charge, he is the guy.”

The Governors have reached this point with five double-figure scorers and several reserves who could probably do that if they played the kind of minutes starters do. This team returned all but two letterwinners from last season’s team, and the balance is a big reason they have been able to duplicate the success and take the next step. Three players made the all-tournament team. There’s also plenty of unselfishness that lends itself to the balance; all five starters average at least one assist per game.

A great example of this is junior Drake Reed, last season’s OVC Player of the Year. He didn’t put up the same numbers as last season, but led the balanced attack and plays so well within the team concept like everyone else. He’s second on the team in assists as a combo forward, which also shows his feel for the game.

With everyone back, the Governors didn’t just have the kind of team that could get back to this point and then win the title. They also had a team that was going to have a big target on their back from being picked to win. They were picked to win the conference by a wide margin by the conference’s coaches and sports information directors, as well as basically every prognosticator out there.

“I think that’s really significant. I don’t think a lot of people understand the pressure that’s involved there and the fact that you get everybody’s best shot night-in and night-out,” said Loos, who doubles as the school’s athletic director. “Being able to withstand and respond to all those punches is really something that you have to experience to understand. It’s a real tribute to these guys that they were able to deal with that almost from start to finish.”

The Governors certainly did that – in fact, they led the OVC wire-to-wire. They also accomplished something that only Murray State did about a decade ago, which is post two straight 16-win seasons in conference play. While last season might look impressive because the team was quite young, this season is just as impressive, if not more, because they had a big target on their back the entire time.

But the Governors also had a long time to get ready for this one. They started right away last year, because they remember the feeling when they lost the heart-breaker and didn’t want it to happen again.

“Ever since last year, ever since we lost on that heart-breaker, we’ve worked harder than we’ve ever worked this summer,” said Babington. “We kind of took it to heart. We knew the target was going to be on our back all year, and we played together all year.”

This was the goal all along, starting a year ago. Next Sunday, Austin Peay will enjoy the moment when their name is called – a much better feeling than they had a year ago when it was the NIT that called their name.

Ohio Valley Semifinals

Ohio Valley Tournament Semifinal Notes

by Phil Kasiecki

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament are in the books on a snowy night outside. The championship matchup is set, with the top seed set to take on a surprise contender with an NCAA Tournament bid on the line.

Austin Peay is back in the title game after a 78-77 win over UT-Martin. They will take on Tennessee State, which entered as the No. 6 seed, after the Tigers took out Murray State 83-75 in the nightcap. Both games had plenty of drama, and the outcome of each was in doubt until at least the final minute.

Semifinals Honor Roll

Wes Channels, Austin Peay: 16 points, 3 assists
Fernandez Lockett, Austin Peay: 15 points, 9 rebounds
Lester Hudson, UT-Martin: 31 points, 8 rebounds
Marquis Weddle, UT-Martin: 20 points
Bruce Price, Tennessee State: 20 points, 8 assists
Ray George, Murray State: 25 points on 8-13 shooting (5-7 on three-pointers), 3 assists
Danero Thomas, Murray State: 21 points on 7-9 shooting

Season Forward Ends With a Tough Loss

A season with a lot of firsts and broken records of futility for UT Martin ended on Friday night. Among the highlights:

• The team won at least 10 OVC games for the first time since joining the conference in 1992.
• This was the program’s first trip to the OVC Tournament semifinals.
• Tuesday’s game was their first home game in the conference tournament
• The Skyhawks’ No. 4 seed was the best in the school history.
• Their 17 wins is the most in their Division I history.

Clearly, this season, fresh off one where the Skyhawks went 8-23, was a big step forward.

“I think it was a huge step forward for this program,” said head coach Bret Campbell. “I don’t think many people give Tennessee-Martin a lot of respect and I think we finally earned some respect by our players and our team this year that we could play with anybody.”

The Skyhawks have the conference’s best player in junior Lester Hudson, and also have the Rookie of the Year in promising freshman Marquis Weddle. Hudson, who earlier in the season recorded the NCAA’s first-ever quadruple-double, did everything he could to try to win this game by scoring 22 of his 31 points in the second half. Together, they helped lead a perfect month of February to have them playing well heading into the tournament.

With them at the core of a team that loses just one player, expectations next season are likely to be a little higher than this time around, when the Skyhawks were picked last in the conference in the preseason poll of the conference’s coaches and sports information directors.

“We’re only losing one player this year, we’ve got a great group coming back, and I’ll very much be expecting to be sitting here next year but only on Saturday night,” said Campbell.”

Defense Wins Championships, And Gets Teams There

At times, Austin Peay looked like they could be in danger against UT-Martin in the first semifinal game. The Governors were out-played in the first half, but UT-Martin missed a lot of good opportunities. That might be where the game was lost, but it was a ballgame all the way through.

Early in the second half, Todd Babington got going from long range and the Governors opened up a 60-53 lead at one point. They seemed to be on the verge of breaking it open, but they had to hold off Lester Hudson and the Skyhawks at the end.

While Babington responded to a halftime challenge to get involved, it was the defense that helped change the game for the Governors.

“Once we got a few stops, the body language of everybody just transformed,” said junior forward Drake Reed. “Everybody got a little swagger to them, and we got some big stops and caused some nice turnovers down the stretch.”

Defense got Austin Peay to the title game for the second year in a row. On Saturday, we will see if it wins them a title this time around.

Big Man Gives Unexpectedly Big Boost

A quick look at Tennessee State’s statistics entering Friday’s game would tell you that James Craft wouldn’t seem likely to be a big contributor. His stats are those of a bit player: 7.2 minutes per game, 0.8 points, 1.5 rebounds per game.

But on Friday night, he came through in a big way. Craft scored a career-high 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in 19 minutes, which also tied a career high. A few of his points were also important ones, as he hit two jumpers in the latter part of the second half while Murray State was trying to charge back.

His play was a big reason that after the Tigers took a 58-56 lead with 8:22 left, they never relinquished it. And it wasn’t something that surprised his point guard.

“We could tell he was shooting the ball well in practice the last three days, so we knew to get him the ball,” said Bruce Price, who handed out eight assists to go with his team-high 20 points. “I had no doubt in my mind if I got him the ball, because he’s a great shooter for a seven-footer.”

His coach said the shoot-around earlier in the day gave him an idea that this could happen.

“You coach by gut feeling. I just watched Craft, he wasn’t missing in shoot-around this morning,” said head coach Cy Alexander. “My gut told me to go with him as the first big off the bench, and he still wasn’t missing tonight.”

Career Night Ends College Days for Racer Senior

Ray George has been through a lot in his life, including his high school and college days. He spent time at Mt. Zion in Durham, N.C. early in his high school days, back when the school was a national power. He bounced around on travel teams, later wound up at Coastal Christian in Virginia, and still didn’t get to Division I despite having talent.

George instead spent two years at Georgia Perimeter College, where he averaged 20 points, 8.6 assists and 4.8 steals per game. Never known as a shooter, he even shot 55.2 percent from long range. That got him an opportunity at Murray State, and while he wasn’t a star, he contributed to the team’s success.

After scoring a career-high 25 points, including going 5-7 from long range, George was clearly distraught after the game. He’s come a long way in life and on the basketball court, and with his career over, he now closes in on his degree.

“In the last month, we had a good meeting and I’m really thankful that he was able to play as well as he did because he’s worked real hard on his game, he’s worked hard on doing the things I want him to do,” said head coach Billy Kennedy.

In many ways, George paralleled Lester Hudson on this Friday night. Both have been through well-documented struggles and had to go the junior college route before playing Division I basketball. Hudson did all he could to bring his team back in the evening’s opening game, and George did all he could in the nightcap as he scored 17 of his points in the second stanza. Kennedy took a chance on George, and vice versa given that Kennedy had just taken over as the head coach, and while they had ups and downs, the program moved forward and so did George.

Young Talent on Display

Mid-majors are often known for winning with experience, but Friday night wasn’t quite that. Of the 20 starters in the two games, only six were seniors, while four were freshmen. Add in some young reserves, and it’s clear that there is some good young talent.

Besides Weddle, the Rookie of the Year, UT-Martin starts forward Benzor Simmons, while Tennessee State starts Gerald Robinson, Jr. and Darius Cox. Robinson is the next best of the bunch, as he made the conference All-Rookie team and has a lot of potential, as he’s skilled and plays with a lot of confidence. Cox is third on the Tigers in rebounding and should grow into a good player, while Simmons is a role player who came on late in the year to move into the starting lineup.

This leads to Saturday’s championship, which will feature an experienced group with three senior starters in Austin Peay going up against a Tennessee State team that starts one senior and two freshmen. It’s a little different than last year, when two teams that were relatively inexperienced met in the title game.

Ohio Valley Preview

Ohio Valley Conference 2007-08 Preview

by Josh Bagriansky

The Ohio Valley Conference continued to prove impossible to predict last season. A young Austin Peay team that was seemingly on the decline proved everyone wrong by finishing the season on a tear to win the regular season title. And then Eastern Kentucky, another team not picked to do much, took the conference title. They proceeded to give North Carolina a run for their money in the NCAA Tournament, but the Heels proved too much in the end.

With another season looming around the corner, it looks to be another wild ride in the OVC.

Preseason All Conference
G Anthony Fisher, Tennessee Tech, Sr.
G Drake Reed, Jr., Austin Peay
G Mike Rose, Eastern Kentucky, Jr.
F Amadi McKenzie, Tennessee Tech, Sr.
F Brandon Foust, Southerm Missouri, Sr.

Conference MVP: Amadi McKenzie, Tennessee Tech
Freshman of the year: David Minaya, Tennessee Tech
Newcomer of the year: Leon Buchanan, Morehead State
Defensive Player of the Year: Amadi McKenzie, Tennssee Tech
Most Improved Player: Danero Thomas, Murray State
Coach on the Hot Seat: Bret Campbell, Tennessee-Martin

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Austin Peay
2. Tennessee Tech
3. Murray State
4. Eastern Kentucky
5. Tennessee State
6. Southeast Missouri
7. Morehead State
8. Samford
9. Jacksonville State
10. Eastern Illinois
11. Tennessee-Martin

Austin Peay Governors
2006-07 record: 21-12 (16-4, 1st)
Key players: Jr. G Drake Reed, Sr. F Lockett Fernandez
Key matchups: 11/10 @Vandy, 11.20 @Utah State, 12/1 @Tennessee Tech, 1/31 vs. Murray State, 2/28 @Eastern Kentucky

APSU snuck up on everyone last season. Dave Loos’ young squad finished on an unbelievable hot streak and won the OVC regular season. And although they suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to Eastern Kentucky in the OVC Tournament Championship, they figure to return with a vengeance this season.

The Governors’ success was largely dependent on the emergence of talented young guard Drake Reed. Just a sophomore last season, Reed exploded onto the scene by averaging nearly 16 points per game on 51% shooting. This year defenses will have the 6-5 forward scouted, so it’s imperative that a second option rises up.

With all kinds of scoring coming back in the backcourt, that shouldn’t be a problem. Senior Lockett Fernandez is a similar build to Reed. He led the team in rebounding last season and provide the ying to Reed’s yang. Between the two there is little question that APSU will be among the more prolific offenses in the OVC.

The only question is whether a true point guard can step up and become the guy to distribute the ball to Reed and Fernandez. Derek Wright looks to be that man. At just 5-9, the point guard dished out 4.1 APG last season. Meanwhile, Wes Channels, Landon Shipley and Todd Babington all had their moments last season and will continue to help a team that shot 35% from outside the arc.

There is one glaring weakness for the Governors: center. Duran Robertson, Tomas Janusaukas and J.P. Felder all struggled last season. That was evident by Reed and Fernandez being the top rebounders on the team. Someone must step up down low.

With Belmont, Vanderbilt, Memphis and Utah State all on the non-conference schedule they should be plenty battle-tested for conference play. If the Governors can just get adequate production from their low post players and with virtually everyone returning to the fray, the Governors are the odds-on favorite to repeat as regular season champs.

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
2006-07 record: 19-13 (13-7, 3rd)
Key players: Senior G Anthony Fishers, Sr. F Amadi McKenzie
Key matchups: 11.11 @Florida, 12/1 vs. Austin Peay, 1/24 @Murray State, 2/2 vs. Eastern Kentucky

The Golden Eagles might have actually been the most talented OVC team last year. They had impressive wins against Northwestern and Bradley and finished 13-7 in the conference. A three-point loss to Eastern Kentucky kept them out of the conference championship. It seems like TTU has been on the brink of the NCAA Tournament forever. But this year they have yet another chance to get over the hump.

Everyone talks about the great play of senior Anthony Fisher (17.2 PPG last season), but it’s banger Amadi McKenize that makes the team go. He averaged 7.7 RPG to go with 13.9 PPG to become one of the best low post threats in the conference. This year he is probably the best of them.

More was expected out of South Alabama transfer Daniel Northern last season, but he didn’t have much of an effect after becoming eligible for second semester. If he puts things together, he will provide a decent low post body that isn’t McKenzie. 6-6 freshman guard David Minaya had the talent to be a big-time recruit but slipped through the cracks and looks like a steal for this team. He could be the best freshman in the league.

Mike Sutton’s squad has a legitimate shot to win the OVC. They will also be battle-tested for the bulk of the conference schedule after consecutive matchups at Oregon State, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech in December. Without a doubt, they are primed to make a run at the conference title.

Murray State Racers
2006-07 record: 16-14 (13-7, 4th)
Key players: Sr. G Bruce Carter, So. F Danero Thomas
Key matchups: 11/17 @Western Kentucky, 12/5 vs. Eastern Kentucky, 1/24 vs. Tennessee Tech, 1/31 @Austin Peay

First-year coach Billy Kennedy experienced mixed results last season. The team got off to a miserable start, but finished up the season with a 13-7 conference record. Now they’re looking to get back to where they belong, atop the OVC.

The main strength for the Racers is in the backcourt. Senior Bruce Carter and junior Tyler Holloway were the top two scorers last season. They’re both back, and sophomore Ray George also returns.

The guard play should help the Racers win, but to win it all they need production from their forwards. Big-time recruit Danero Thomas was inconsistent last season, though he started to pick it up down the stretch. He is talented enough to jump right into the fray and be a big time player. JUCO transfer Tarod Sanders will help bring some serious muscle in the paint as well.

State took their bumps last season. They will need frontcourt help this season if they want to get back into the elite of the OVC. Holloway and Carter will win some games on their own, but production from Thomas is a must. If he can be the impact player that coaches think he can be, the Racers have a shot to win the conference. Look for them to finish with a similar record to last season and be a solid team with a serious chance to win the OVC tournament by March.

Eastern Kentucky Colonels
2006-07 record: 21-12 (13-7, 2nd)
Key players: Jr. G Mike Rose, So G. Adam Leonard
Key matchups: 11/25 @Duke, 12/5 @Murray State, 1/5 vs. Tennessee Tech, 2/28 vs. Austin Peay

The Colonels surprised everyone last season just by finishing tied for second in the conference. Then the dream run continued when they beat APSU to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. And with plenty of talent back from last season, it’s not unthinkable that they do it again.

Junior Guard Mike Rose was as good as anybody in the conference last season, dropping 15 PPG and leading the Colonels to the tournament title. He has already developed into one of the stars in the conference. Adam Leonard flashed star ability last season as well, as in just his freshman year he played a pivotal role in EKU’s success. He and Rose formed a terrifying tandem from beyond the arc and he also averaged 1.6 SPG. Between the two EKU has the best backcourt duo in the conference.

EKU will have to replace the bulk of their rebounding with Michael Brock and Julian Mascoll gone. But Jamaal Douglass and Darnell Dials are both similar players that look to take over their roles.

No one expected Jeff Neubauer’s West Virginia styled offense to catch on so quickly, but it did. And with their top scorers back in Rose and Leonard, they seem poised to have the most prolific offense in the OVC. If they can replace the void down low they will have a good chance to be a part of the Big Dance for a second straight season.

Tennessee State Tigers
2006-07 record: 12-20 (8-12, 8th)
Key players: Sr. F LaDarious Weaver, Sr. G Andrae Belton
Key matchups: 12/3 @Indiana, 1/3 vs. Morehead State, 1/31 vs. Samford, 3/1 @Eastern Kentucky

Cy Alexander’s team looked poised to make a run at a conference title last season. But when the season was over, they had only had an 8-12 OVC record to show for it and were one of the conferences more underachieving teams. This season they’ll hope to fix things.

One of the reasons for the losing last season was the loss of guard Bruce Price. He hasn’t played a game since December of 2005 when tore his ACL, as he tore it a second time before last season. He was one of the greatest talents in the OVC before the knee problems. If he can find his previous form he could lead the Tigers to greatness.

Seniors LaDarious Weaver and Andrae Belton are back after averaging double digits last season. Weaver and Price could form one of the more dynamic scoring duos in the conference. Senior Ervin Reiley will spread the ball around after averaging over four APG last season. The Tigers also brought in two big-time recruits. Reiley should help get freshman Gerald Robinson up to speed, and Robinson’s classmate Dontrell Taylor has the size and ability to contribute right away.

The coaches picked TSU to finish sixth in the conference. If Price is back to his form of 2005, they will finish much higher. There is enough potential across the board to make a surprise run at a conference title.

Southeast Missouri Redhawks
2006-07 record: 11-20 (9-11, 6th)
Key players: Sr. F Brandon Foust, Sr. C Michael Rembert
Key matchups: 12/1 @Bradley, 12/6 vs. Tennessee State, 1/7 vs. Murray State, 2/9 @Eastern Kentucky

SEMO Head Coach Scott Edgar demands his team play at an extremely fast pace. The result is one of the more exciting teams in the NCAA. Unfortunately that didn’t translate into many wins last season. But with virtually everyone returning, there’s no doubt that the Redhawks will be more efficient running Edgar’s frenetically paced offense.

The Redhawks have talent coming back at a variety of positions. Swingman Brandon Foust, a transfer from Oklahoma, was the top scorer at 11.8 PPG and also led the team in rebounds. Senior center Michael Rembert was another transfer who impressed (from Bradley). Like Foust, he was a solid scoring and rebounding option, but he struggled on the defensive end by fouling out of a staggering six games. Senior David Johnson also dropped double-digit points last season. And sophomore guard Roderick Pearson is also back after leading the team in assists.

With practically all of the contributors from last season back, SEMO should be one of the most improved teams in the conference. Being a serious threat for a conference title is unlikely, but the Redhawks are definitely going to make a serious jump into the second level of the OVC. Expect them to have a winning conference record.

Morehead State Eagles
2006-07 record: 12-18 (8-12,7th)
Key players: Jr. F Leon Buchanan, Sr. G Maze Stallworth
Key matchups: 11/21 @Oklahoma, 12/17 vs. Tennessee-Martin, 1/19 vs. Jacksonville State, 2/20 @Eastern Kentucky

MSU alum Donnie Tyndall had a seemingly impossible task facing him when he became the Eagles’ head coach last season. But you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t think Tyndall got the most out of his bunch last season. The Eagles opened up the OVC season with a surprising 6-2 record before faltering down the stretch.

Unfortunately, it might take another year before MSU becomes truly competitive, as their top two scorers from last year are gone. Versatile guards Cordaryl Ballard and Maze Stallworth are back, but the keys to success are the newcomers. Leon Buchanan joins MSU after an impressive JUCO season with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He garnered All-America honors while averaging 17.1 PPG on 62 percent shooting. 6-7 Lee Simmons was also a JUCO All-American last spring and should provide much needed size for the Eagles. Incoming freshmen guards T.J. Clark and John Lamb should also get into the mix.

Things are suddenly picking up for this dormant basketball program. Although MSU has four NCAA tournament wins in its history, they haven’t gotten into the tourney since 1984. But Tyndall has this team back on the right track. It will take the newcomers some time to get acclimated, but once they do this could be a dangerous team. They aren’t among the upper-echelon of the OVC, but expect them to spring a few upsets before season’s end.

Samford Bulldogs
2006-07 record: 16-16 (12-8, 5th)
Key players: Sr. C Travis Peterson, Sr. G Joe Ross Merritt
Key matchups: 12/2 @Florida State, 12/18 vs. Southeast Missouri, 1/10 vs. Tennessee State, 3/1 @Eastern Illinois

The Bulldogs were picked to win the conference by OVC coaches last season. After a 9-2 start in the OVC they were certainly one of the front-runners, before it all came falling down as the Bulldogs won just three of their final ten games. Now after losing all-conference guard Randall Gulina to graduation they will have to rely on plenty of youth to pick up the slack.

Senior Travis Peterson will lead the way. At 6-10 he averaged five boards and over a block a game. He also figures to improve on his 11.3 PPG since he will likely be the focal point of Jimmy Tillete’s Princeton-like offense.

But the keys to the offense are the guards, meaning a pair of seniors in Jerry Smith and Joe Ross Merritt need to emerge. They both shot well from the field last season, but they were relied on mostly for passing and didn’t take many shots. Now they will get first crack to play in a wide-open backcourt rotation. Junior Jason Black and freshmen Jim Griffin and Trey Montgomery will also get a look.

This is Samford’s last season in the OVC. After not having much success, they will probably be happy to be joining the Southern Conference. Peterson’s size is a nice asset, but he needs to be tougher to become a true inside force. And it’s also unclear who else might be ready to step up. If no one does, it will be a tough season.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks
2006-07 record: 9-21 (7-13, 9th)
Key players: G Sr. Dorien Brown, G Jr. Jonathan Toles
Key matchups: 11/9 @ Georgia, 12/6 @Samford, 1/31 vs. Eastern Illinois, 2/16 vs. vs. Morehead State

JSU has never been to the NCAA Tournament. But last season, with one of the best scorers in the conference in Courtney Bradley, they thought they had a chance. Instead they went through a season marred by disciplinary and chemistry issues. Now Bradley is gone and JSU is left with very little, meaning that just qualifying for the OVC Tournament might be a challenge.

Dorien Brown, who sat out ten games last season due to suspension, is the top returnee for JSU. He has the potential to be a very dynamic player for Mike LaPlante’s squad. But the key for the Gamecocks comes in the form of three JUCO recruits. Point guard Jonathan Toles averaged 8.6 APG at Bevill State-Sumiton CC, which was fourth amongst the JUCO ranks. Dwight Tolbert has a chance to join Brown as the top scoring option. And power forward Jozay King will help provide some muscle inside.

If it wasn’t for the trio of JUCO transfers, JSU may have been picked to finish last in the conference. But if they can get production from those three, they should have a good chance to qualify for the OVC Tournament. They are probably a year away from really competing.

Eastern Illinois Panthers
2006-07 record: 10-20 (6-14, 10th)
Key players: So. G Romain Martin, Sr. Bobby Catchings
Ket matchups: 11/30 vs. Rice, 12/19 @Morehead State, 1/5 vs. Southeast Missouri, 2/28 vs. Jacksonville State

Coach Mike Miller has had a tough time turning around one of the OVC’s perennial cellar-dwellars. Last season was no different as the Panthers suffered their second consecutive 20-loss season. But some talented youth may be able to finally steer EIU in the right direction this season.

The help came in the way of freshman guard Romain Martin, who led all OVC freshmen with 14.8 PPG. EIU has had trouble scoring in the past, but he looks to be the cure to those problems. Now the Panthers need others to step up and fill the void if they are to make drastic improvements for an offense that ranked next-to-last in the conference last season. Senior swingman Bobby Catchings and junior point guard Mike Robinson both stepped up down the stretch. Robinson may be a key to curing EIU’s offensive problems, as he flashed the ability to be a solid distributor last year.

EIU isn’t going to set the conference on fire this winter, but they are showing marked improvement. Martin’s presence gives them a player that will finally force opponents to take them seriously. Don’t expect much out of this team, but another 20- loss season is unlikely.

UT Martin Skyhawks
2006-07 record: 8-23 (5-15, 11th)
Key players: Sr. F Gerald Robinson, Fr. G Benzor Simmons
Key matchups: 12/1 @Saint Peter’s, 12/8 vs. Jacksonville State, 1/31 vs. Tennessee Tech, 2/16 vs. Southeast Missouri

Bret Campbell is entering his ninth year as coach of the Skyhawks. With the heightened expectations in college ball today, it’s quite surprising that he has hung on for so long. UTM hasn’t had a winning OVC record since 1995-96, and with just three players returning things aren’t looking much better.

The Skyhawks do have Gerald Robinson back. He has the right combination of size and strength to do a lot of different things. If he can raise his shooting percentage he will challenge for all-conference honors. Unfortunately, he’s the only sure thing for the Skyhawks.

Six freshmen and five JUCO transfers will all come in to try and handle the load. Shooting guard Benzor Simmons was a solid recruit. The Skyhawks will also have some help in the backcourt with the arrival of JUCO transfer George Pruitt, who once set a record for treys in a game at Des Moines Area Community College. The low post is the main weakness, with the Skyhawks handing the load off to JUCO transfer Djero Riedwald and freshmen Daron Hood and Andres Irrarazabal.

Robinson is a nice asset, but he’s the only proven returnee on a side that finished dead last in 2006-07. It’s hard to imagine that they won’t be returning to the basement this time around either.

Ohio Valley Notebook

Ohio Valley Conference Notebook

by Josh Bagriansky

The Best

Austin Peay (9-6, 6-1 OVC)

Surprise, surprise

No one was expecting Dave Loos’ bunch to make much noise this season. But the Governors have shocked the OVC with a balanced attack and solid defense.

Youth is served

With no seniors on the roster, sophomore Drake Reed has led the way with 15.4. points per game. Also, fellow sophomore Landon Shipley is shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. And the young bunch has proven they can win in any way possible. They defeated Southeast Missouri 68-67 in a game that included 41 turnovers for both sides.

On the “Loos”

When the season began, it looked like APSU was heading for a fall, and the future didn’t look bright either. Then after a disappointing loss to Morehead State left them at 2-4, it looked like the season was about to spiral out of control. But Loos kept his team confident, and a month later he is one of the main reasons that they are tied for the OVC lead.

A long road ahead

Although APSU has been impressive, they are yet to enter the teeth of the schedule. The Governors still haven’t faced perennial favorite Murray State or preseason favorites Tennessee State and Samford.

Morehead State (10-6, 6-2)

Rookie coach leads the way

Donnie Tyndall came to MSU last summer preaching discipline and an up-tempo style. After a season where the Eagles won only four games, it appeared any significant progress would take some time. But Tyndall has already helped the Eagles to a 6-1 conference record. If his bunch stays the course, Tyndall will be the obvious choice for coach of the year honors.

Williams getting help

Everyone knew that Shaun Williams was a force to be reckoned with, but the Eagles struggled finding a second option in previous seasons. This year, Williams’ numbers have dropped off, but that’s a good thing. Quentin Pryor and Cordaryl Ballard are both averaging double-figure point totals and also shoot over 50 percent from the field.

Upset City

The Eagles have pulled out victories over the league-leading Governors and also beat Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech in back-to-back games to start the new year. One-point losses to MAC opponents Marshall and Central Michigan have also turned some heads.

Big Matchup

If the Eagles are truly as strong as their record, they will have to beat the best. A trip to Samford looms this Thursday. If Tyndall’s team can pull off yet another shocker, they will have confirmed their presence among the conference’s elite teams.

Samford Bulldogs (10-6, 6-2)

Juggernaut Offense

Everyone knew that the Bulldogs had some prolific shooters, but no one thought they would be this good. Jimmy Tillete’s version of the Princeton offense has resulted in an astonishing 48 percent clip from the field and the Bulldogs also lead the lead in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Inside-and-outside

Guard Randall Gulina is one of the best players in the league with close to 18 points per game. But the key to the Bulldog offense has been the emergence of 6-10 center Travis Peterson, who has been a consistent scorer and also leads the team in rebounds and blocks. His mere presence has opened up the perimeter for a team that was already strong at three-point shooting.

Close wins

The Bulldogs have won three conference games by just one point and another by three. Junior Curtis West capped off one of the great finishes of the season last week against Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs trailed 63-58 with nine seconds remaining before West’s back-to-back three’s gave them a stunning victory.

Recent struggles

Despite the hot start to the conference-season, the Bulldogs have lost their last two against Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, and neither game was close. Even more disturbing was the sudden offensive struggles; the Bulldogs notched just 41 points against TSU and shot a lowly 34 percent. Gulina and Peterson combined for 9-24 shooting in a disappointing 14-point loss to TTU.

Second-tier

Eastern Kentucky (10-6, 5-3)

Inconsistency

Despite notching impressive wins over Murray State and Morehead State, the Colonels have yet to win more than two consecutive games in the conference. They lost a head-scratcher by 14 points to Southeast Missouri and were blown away by 22 at Tennessee Tech last week. A big reason for that has been the lack of a consistent scoring option. Mike Rose, Julian Mascoll and Adam Leonard are the top scorers, but none of the three has emerged as an obvious threat.

Big victories

As bad as the blowouts to TTU and SEMO were, the Colonels have also notched some impressive victories against perennial powerhouse Murray State and Morehead State. They also gave Kentucky a run for their money in an impressive non-conference performance.

Defending home-court

Although they’ve had some nice victories at McBrayer Arena, two of the three conference losses have been on their home court. In order to move up the standings, they must win in Richmond.

Murray State (7-9, 5-3)

Turning things around

After squeaking by Eastern Illinois in the conference opener, the Racers lost three of four and were primed for one of their worst seasons in recent memory. But they have rebounded to win four of six since then.

Offensive emergence

Although Shawn Witherspoon is one of the conference’s best players, he does most of his work on the boards and on defense. In light of that, asking him to be the first option in the offense was probably too much to ask. But guards Bruce Carter and Tyler Hollaway have picked up the slack in previous weeks. Carter is averaging 20.5 points over his last four contests. Meanwhile, Holloway has dropped totals of 22, 29, and 24 points during his last three contests.

Are they back?

With Holloway and Carter taking some of the pressure off Witherspoon, normalcy has returned to Murray. But the Racers have to deal with a rare problem: less talent than the other top OVC teams. But they’re still Murray State, so you can’t count them out. Trips to Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech are on deck for the Racers over the next seven days. We should have a better idea of this team’s worth after those games.

Tennessee State (7-9, 4-3)

Underachieving

The Tigers looked primed for a great season after the coaches pick them to finish third in the conference. A 2-0 start to OVC play in December seemed to justify that. But the Tigers only won one game after that before a nice win over Samford ended the slump. Despite having a wealth of offensive firepower, Cy Alexander’s team has shot a putrid 39 percent from the field. Top scorer LaDarious Weaver is shooting just 42 percent, and talented Andrae Belton is averaging just 11 points a night. He showed his potential by dropping 35 in a loss to Murray State just after New Years, but he is averaging just 9 points per game since that explosion.

Are they back?

Alexander is too good of a coach to allow his team to underachieve so drastically. He may have helped to get his team headed in the right direction after an impressive 18-point win over Samford heading into last weekend, one which they capped off with a victory over Jacksonville State.

Road trip

The Tigers will have to continue to play solid basketball if they want to stay in the conference race thanks to a brutal schedule. After a breather against non D-1 school Fisk, they go on the road for three straight OVC games at Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri, and Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers have much more talent than all three, but if they continue to struggle with their shooting they might have problems. Losing two of those games would put their hopes of a regular season title in serious doubt.

Tennessee Tech (8-9, 4-4)

Where’s the talent?

Much like their cross-state rivals Tennessee State, TTU has struggled to play up to their ability. They may have the most individual talent in the conference, which showed in an early season win over Bradley. But a frustrating 2-4 start in OVC play left the Golden Eagles scratching their heads.

Righting the ship

TSU had their way at home against Samford in an excellent 73-59 victory. The win got them back to .500 in the conference and may have been what they needed to get back on track. The Golden Eagles also turned in their first good defensive game in some time against the hot-shooting Bulldogs.

Offensive trio

Belton Rivers leads the conference with 19 points per game, but Anthony Fisher might be the most important offensive force. The point guard is averaging close to 18 points and also over 4 assists per outing. But Amadi McKenize is the most well-rounded player on the team, as he has been a triple-double machine all season long.

The basement

Southeast Missouri (5-12, 4-5)

Bad start

Poor stretches have been a theme for many conference teams, but the disastrous 2-11 (1-4) start for SEMO was downright embarrassing. Despite having two low-post forces in Brandon Foust and Michael Rembert, the Redhawks haven’t gotten the job done. With enough talent to be in the top half of the conference, the Redhawks were unable to get anything going.

Murray State beatdown

An impressive 96-85 win over the Racers proved that SEMO does have the talent to be a force. It also capped off an impressive three-game winning streak, one that ended when Redhawks failed to hold a second-half lead against conference leaders Austin Peay en route to a 68-67 loss. But by beating MSU and hanging with APSU, Scott Edgar’s team may have finally turned the corner.

Tennessee-Martin (5-14, 3-6)

No offense

The Skyhawks have still not recovered from the losses of Jared Newson and Jeremy Kelly. The Skyhawks are averaging just 62 points a game and only have one player (Gerald Robinson) averaging double-figures. In addition to that, the Skyhawks have only two players averaging more turnovers than assists and are shooting just 40 percent from the field. It’s been a recipe for disaster all season, and it doesn’t look like it will be getting better any time soon.

Now or never

Samford, Murray State, and APSU all face the Skyhawks in the next ten days. UT-Martin must make some noise over that span to make up some ground in the conference. Otherwise, just qualifying for the conference tourney might be in doubt.

Jacksonville State (3-14, 1-7)

No help for Bradley

The Gamecocks have a real talent in senior forward Courtney Bradley. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much else. Junior Dorien Brown has been an adequate secondary option, but no one else has stepped up. Bradley has also been one of the only players to excel defensively. The Cocks are allowing 71 points per game.

Backcourt struggles

Bradley and Brown have been solid. But both play forward. Will Ginn is the top scoring guard, but he is shooting just 36.6 percent from the floor. Ginn is also the only guard with over one steal per game, and the lack of defense from guards has allowed teams to light up JSU on the perimeter.

Eastern Illinois (5-14, 1-9)

Conference collapse

EIU looked like they were ready to surprise some folks after they opened up MVC play with a close loss to Murray State and a victory over Tennessee Tech. Not the case: the Panthers have lost 9 of their last 10 and haven’t won an OVC game since the win over TTU.

Only getting worse

Five of the next six games are against teams with conference records of .500 or better. Things might be about to get much, much worse before they get better in Charleston.

Ohio Valley Notebook

Ohio Valley Conference Notebook

by Josh Bagriansky

When the regular season kicked off just over two weeks ago, there was no clear favorite. Now as the calendar rolls into December and conference play looms, the picture looks even more muddled.

It’s hard to see a clear favorite emerging until well after the holidays.

Conference play starts

Murray State and Eastern Illinois kicked off conference play, with the Racers emerging victorious in a surprisingly small three-point-victory. The Racers held the lead for most of the second half but had to withstand a late push from EIU. Bobby Catchings had a chance to tie it for the Panthers at the buzzer, but his three-pointer was off the mark.
The Racers’ offense continued to struggle with no one reaching double figures. Shawn Witherspoon was a monster on the boards, grabbing 11. A fantastic 21-point performance from Romain Martin kept the Panthers within striking distance.

Newcomers lead the way

Tennessee State transfer Ladarious Weaver has been among the OVC’s best performers so far. Weaver led the Tigers to a 2-0 record at the Las Vegas Invitational and is averaging 15 points-per-game. He also garnered newcomer of the week honors for the second week running.
Meanwhile, transfers Michael Rembert (Bradley) and Brandon Foust (Oklahoma) are trying to lead Southeastern Missouri back to success after a disastrous campaign in 05-06. Rembert leads the team in scoring and Foust in rebounding.

What’s up with Murray State?

Despite their win in the conference opener against EIU, this has not been the usual Racers side OVC fans are used to watching. Before facing the Panthers, MSU had not defeated a Division I team all season.
And a shocking early loss to Seattle-Pacific sent shockwaves through Murray, Kentucky. The Racers are struggling with new coach Billy Kennedy’s offense. With conference play getting into full swing this week, the Racers may be primed for an unusual slow start.

Team capsules

Austin Peay (1-3, 0-0 OVC)

What’s happening?

After getting blown out at Dayton and Illinois, the Governors had 12 days to prepare for an intriguing matchup against Arkansas State. The teams last met in February during ESPN’s Bracket Busters.
APSU’s youth showed as they fell into an early hole. But after being down by as many as 19 points, the Governors pulled within 62-57 with 5:53 to play. However, they couldn’t get any closer, and lost 77-70 to drop to 0-3. Drake Reed led the way for Dave Loos’ side with 31 points.
The Governors finally got their first win of the season against Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday. APSU were dominant on the boards with a 56-31 advantage en route to a 79-64 victory. But APSU was probably lucky to be facing an inferior opponent as they committed 26 turnovers and shot only 31 percent in the second half.
Focus has been an issue for this youthful team thus far. The young talent was evident in the comeback against Arkansas State, and also in a solid first half against Wesleyan. But the Governors still haven’t strung together a good 40 minutes.

What’s next?

Conference play starts this weekend with a home matchup versus Tennessee Tech. TTU is off to a great start and one of the conference favorites. With home-court advantage, Loos’ boys have a shot. But it all depends on which Governors team shows up.
If they lose that game, they will have to beat Morehead State in Morehead. Lose that one, and there will be big trouble.

What does it mean?

The Governors must cut down on unforced errors. Junior point guard Derek Wright has been the lone bright spot in this area with 16 assists. Also, Reed will have to regain his scoring touch after going 3-9 from the field last game.
APSU must put their early-season problems behind them, or they could easily be in a 0-2 hole in conference play.

Upcoming games
12/2 vs. Tennessee Tech
12/7 @Morehead State

Eastern Illinois (2-5, 0-1)

What happening?

EIU alum Tony Romo’s performance for the Dallas Cowboys was just about all the Panthers had to cheer about over their Thanksgiving. An impressive 63-61 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay was soured by the OVC opening loss at Murray State.
Close early season losses to Louisiana-Monroe and Iowa State proved that second-year coach Mike Miller has the program heading in the right direction. Romain Martin, Miller’s first prized recruit, has showed flashes of brilliance. Bobby Catchings and Mike Robinson have also been solid.
But the Panthers have been wildly inconsistent on the offensive end, shooting just 38 percent for the season. If not for their shooting woes, the record could be much better.

What’s next?

Eastern has another shot to upset a larger conference foe when they face Arkansas State Saturday. Eastern has already been painfully close to pulling a few upsets, and this may finally be the time for them to finish the deal. Then it’s a five-day break before they begin OVC play.

What does it mean?

EIU has surprised more than a few people so far. After being predicted to finish by most near the bottom of the conference, they’ve proved that they can play with anyone. But they still haven’t learned how to win. And if they don’t solve that problem, it will be the same old story for the Panthers.

Upcoming games
12/2 vs. Arkansas State

Eastern Kentucky (5-1, 0-0)

What’s happening?

The Colonels are off to a great start at 5-1. Impressive wins over UNC-Ashville and James Madison have opened eyes across the OVC. Against UNCA, Eastern connected on an astonishing eight consecutive three-pointers.
The EKU offense was in full force again Tuesday evening as they converted 50 percent of their shots against a solid James Madison team. They won 70-66 in a game where they never trailed.
Sophomore Mike Rose has firmly established himself as one of the premier players in the conference, averaging 15.5 points-per-game on 53 percent shooting. In fact, three players are shooting over 50 percent from the field for Jeff Neubauer’s team.

What’s next?

It’s the annual rivalry game with Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers have dominated their cross-state-rival in recent years and bring a strong 6-1 squad to the table. They have notched impressive victories over Georgia, UAB, and Ball State.
But the Colonels will be looking to defy the odds. The offense will have to continue to fire on cylinders. Expect Rose to have a huge game, but the inside play of Julian Mascoll, Jamaal Douglass, and Darnell Dials will be the key offensively.

What does it mean?

In order to beat WKU, someone must step up as a secondary option to Rose. Meanwhile, Hilltopper guard Lee Courtney will face off against Rose in one of the more intriguing matchups of the young season.
Don’t expect a win for the Colonels this weekend. But the Hilltoppers will definitely be in for a battle.

Upcoming games
12/2 vs. Western Kentucky (at Bowling Green)

Jacksonville State (1-3, 0-0)

What’s happening?

The Gamecocks are yet to beat a division 1 opponent after a blowout loss to UMass last week. But all is not lost with conference play just around the corner.
As expected, the talented forward tandem of Dorien Brown and Courtney Bradley is tearing it up. Bradley leads the conference in scoring, and his strength and quickness will present a tough matchup for any OVC team. Point guard Will Ginn leads the conference with 6.5 assists per game.

What’s next?

The Gamecocks have a good chance to notch their first win against a D-1 team when they face a sub-par William & Mary squad on Friday at the William & Mary Classic. They will face either VMI or Cornell in the second game.
JSU has a legitimate chance to leave the classic with a 2-0 record and plenty of confidence heading into conference play next week.

What does it mean?

JSU knew that they had a chance to do some things with Bradley and Brown at their disposal. But the emergence of Ginn as a playmaker gives them a good shot to come on top of this weekend’s tourney.
However, the star-power won’t mean a thing if JSU doesn’t get the job done in OVC play starting next week.

Upcoming games
12/1 William & Mary (William & Mary Classic)
12/2 Cornell/VMI (William & Mary Classic)

Morehead State 2-3 (0-0)

What’s happening?

Head coach Donnie Tyndall spent the entire off season preaching more discipline on and off the court. And the light may have finally gone off in his players’ heads during an impressive 77-56 victory over East Tennessee State on Nov. 21. The Eagles lead by just nine at the half before playing their best 20 minutes of the season.
The play of versatile forward Quentin Pryor was the key. The senior shot 5-7 from outside the arch and scored 24 points, which helped him garner OVC Player of the Week honors.
After and eight-day break, JSU continued to make progress in a one-point loss to Marshall. The Eagles showed heart by responding from an 18-point second-half deficit to pull within one-point on two occasions. Freshman Maze Stallworth showed he is ready to contribute by scoring 21 points, while Pryor chipped in with 18.

What’s next?

JSU heads north to Western Illinois for an interesting weekend matchup. If JSU can bring the same intensity from the second half of the ETSU and Marshall games for 40 minutes, they will win.

What does it mean?

Everyone knows that preseason-all-conference pick Shaun Williams is a force to be reckoned with. But he can’t do it alone. If Pryor’s games against ETSU and Marshall were any indication, he may be ready to step into that role. Another key component has been the guard play. The Eagles are averaging 17 assists per game.

Upcoming games
12/2 @Western Illinois

Murray State (2-5, 1-0)

What’s happening?

Everyone expected growing pains early under new head man Billy Kennedy. But a 2-5 start was worse than anyone could have expected. And Racers fans are growing impatient.
MSU might have been lucky to take down Eastern Illinois in the OVC opener, as no player scored in double-figures and that may be a sign of things to come. The Racers showed improvement in a six-point loss to Illinois-Chicago. Witherspoon led the way with 19 and 9 and the Racers shot 47 percent from the field, but they blew an 11-point half time lead.
The dagger came inside of two-minutes when UIC scored three baskets in under a minute to give them a six-point lead.

What’s next?

The pressure is building on the Racers, and a Friday night matchup at Tennessee probably won’t help matters. Then the Racers get a breather against non D-1 side Anderson College. But the last time the Racers faced a non D-1 team, they were defeated by Seattle-Pacific.

What does it mean?

The Racers might need a miracle to even hang with the Vols if they maintain their current form. A respectable loss might be the best that Racer fans can hope for.
If a consistent scorer doesn’t emerge there is big trouble on the horizon. Bruce Carter leads all scorers at just 12 points-per-game, as Witherspoon is not a big-time scorer.
If the Racers don’t show signs of life before OVC play begins, they may be in for their worst season in a long time.

Upcoming games
12/1 @Tennessee
12/4 vs. Anderson College

Samford (2-3, 0-0)

What’s happening?

The coaches picked the Bulldogs to win the conference this season. They have shown flashes of brilliance thus far, but their record doesn’t show it thanks to trips to Florida and Arizona.
At Arizona, the Wildcats jumped out to an early 18-7 lead and never looked back. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs set a McKale Center record by attempting 43 three-pointers. The blowout loss was not what Samford wanted, but it wasn’t a surprise.
Having already faced off against two of the top 15 teams in the country, the Bulldogs would not be intimidated by MAC opponent Ohio on Tuesday evening. Samford easily disposed of the previously undefeated Bobcats with an 80-66 victory. Stud guards Randall Gulina, Curtis West and Jerry Smith lead the way with a combined 60 points. The Bulldogs also shot 64 percent from the field and 53 percent from downtown.

What’s next?

Samford has another shot at a solid mid-major opponent this weekend in South Alabama. USA has already beaten an OVC opponent in Morehead State and sits at 4-2 following last season’s NCAA tournament appearance.
This should serve as a nice measuring stick for Samford. If they can get the win, they will have already established themselves among the OVC elite.

What does it mean?

Samford’s outstanding outside shooting may make them a threat if they can qualify for the Big Dance. But March is still four months away.
The guard play of Smith and Gulina has been nothing short of fantastic and center Travis Peterson gives the Bulldogs a decent option inside.
A win over USA would speak volumes about how far this program has come. Look for the Bulldogs to surprise USA in Mobile.

Upcoming games
12/2 @ South Alabama

Southeast Missouri (1-6, 0-0)

What’s happening?

The Redhawks’ winless streak finally came to an end with a 78-75 win over California-Riverside. But the Riverhawks nearly blew a seven-point lead over the final 42 seconds. UC had a chance to send the game to OT when Roderick Pearson inexplicably fouled Justin Bell as he missed a game-tying three-pointer. Fortunately for Pearson and the Redhawks the guard made only two of three and Southeast held on.
Then SEMO took a step back in an embarrassing 65-45 loss to Evansville. Hot starts from Jajuan Maxwell and Brandon Foust helped the visitors jump out to a 20-13 lead. But the Purpe Aces proceeded to go on a 32-4 run and the game was over midway through the second half.
A lack of focus again proved to be Southeast’s undoing in an 84-65 loss to Indiana-Fort Wayne. The Redhawks fell into an early 20-9 hole and were unable to recover.

What’s next?

Conference play kicks off this weekend, with Tennessee-Martin being the first conference opponent for SEMO. The Redhawks have more talent than UT-Martin but have played down to inferior competition thus far. They will have to shake that reputation quickly if they want to be a factor in the OVC.

What does it mean?

Defense has been the Redhawks’ bugaboo thus far, as they’re giving up over 80 points per game. There is some talent on the offensive end with Foust and Michael Rembert, but the Redhawks haven’t been able to put it together on both sides of the floor.
The UT-Martin matchup will be a good indicator of where the Redhawks stand.

Tennessee State (2-2, 0-0)

What’s happening?

Cy Alexander and company opened up the season with four games in six days at the Las Vegas Invitational. The slate included an opening game at Western Kentucky followed by a matchup with Kansas, both of which were blowout losses. But the Tigers closed out strong with back-to-back wins over Prairie View and Towson.
As expected, Clarance Mathews leads the way for TSU. The 6-7, 250 pound forward dropped 18 points on WKU and the Jayhawks, and also tallied 11 rebounds against Prairie View.

What’s next?

Two stiff tests are just around the bend for the Tigers. First it’s a trip to Tuscaloosa on Thursday to face Alabama. It will take all-world performances from Mathews and Ladarious Weaver to keep the Tigers in it.
Then it’s a more reasonable trip to Middle Tennessee State, who lost to Bama by just 9 earlier in the season.

What does it mean?

A split from the next two might be a bit too much to ask. Instead, the Tigers will look for improvement offensively. They’re shooting a meager 35 percent from the floor and all of the major contributors other than Matthews and forward Rashad Armstrong are shooting below 43 percent. A 56 percent clip from the charity stripe hasn’t helped matters either.
If we’ve learned anything from the last two seasons, it’s that Matthews can’t do it all alone. Weaver has picked up the slack, but he still needs to be more consistent.

Upcoming games
12/2 @Alabama
12/4 @MTSU

Tennessee Tech (3-2, 0-0)

What’s happening?

TTU came up with two very impressive non-conference victories in beating Wisconsin-Milwaukee and MVC opponent Bradley.
The 10-point victory over UWM was nice, but the 86-84 victory over the Braves may be the best non-conference victory for the OVC this season. Anthony Fisher hit an off balance lay-up with 2.4 seconds remaining to get the win. He finished with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

What’s next?

TTU faces off with Austin Peay in the best conference game of the weekend. The Golden Eagles will want to exploit APSU’s weakness in the low post. Amadi Mckenzie has tallied three triple-doubles and will lead the way.

What does it all mean?

The Bradley win was a pleasant surprise, and this may be the deepest team that TTU has had in years. Mckenzie is a monster in the low post, and guards Belton Rivers and Fisher are all huge threats from the outside. The trio is the main reason that TTU is averaging an impressive 86 points per game.
A win over APSU will establish Mike Sutton’s team as one of the early favorites to take the regular season title.

Upcoming games
12/2 @Austin Peay

Tennessee-Martin 1-6 (0-0)

What happened?

The coaches picked the Skyhawks to finish last in the conference this season, and if their early form is any indication, they were probably right. After a season-opening win against High Point, UT-Martin has lost their last six games.
Losses to Arkansas State and Arkansas Little Rock by a combined seven points didn’t help matters. But a blowout 18-point loss to Evansville did little to enhance the Skyhawks’ reputation as one of the lesser talented OVC teams. The Purple Aces dominated offensively, shooting 58 percent from the field, and they attempted 16 more free throws.

What’s next?

UT-Martin better put the six-game losing streak behind them, because this Saturday’s conference matchup at Southeast Missouri is very winnable. Both teams are struggling and a loss to open up the conference would only make things worse.
Then it’s a relatively easy matchup with non-Division 1 opponent Freed-Hardeman.

What does it mean?

It’s hard to call a conference opener a “must win” game. But the matchup with the Redhawks is as close as it gets. Both teams are in desperate search of a win and a 1-0 record in conference play would be just what the doctor ordered.
The key to the game will be the low-post matchup of UT-Martin’s high scorer Gerald Bobinson and SEMO’s Michael Rembert. The winner of that battle should determine who wins the game.

Upcoming games
12/2 @Southeast Missouri
12/5 vs. Freed-Hardeman

Statistical Leaders

Individual

Points: Courtney Bradley, Jacksonville State: 22.5 PPG
Rebounds: Amadi Mckenzie, Tennessee Tech: 10.2 RPG
Assists: Will Ginn, Jacksonville State: 6.5 APG
FG percentage: Mckenzie: 72.7 percent

Team

Points for: Tennessee Tech, 86.0 PPG
Points against: Eastern Kentucky, 57.5 PPG
FG percentage: Samford, 48.0 percent
Assist-turnover: Samford, 1.43:1

Early Player of the Year candidates

Randall Gulina, Samford 22.2, PPG, 53.6 FG%, 38.2 3PT%
Courtney Bradley, Jacksonville State, 22.5 PPG, 51.6 FG%, 9.0 RPG
Anthony Fisher, Tennessee Tech, 18.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.8RPG

Early Coach of the Year candidates

Mike Sutton, Tennessee Tech
Jeff Neubauer, Eastern Kentucky
Cy Alexander, Tennessee State