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OHIO VALLEY
The Murray State Racers had an amazing regular season last year. The entered the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship game having gone undefeated against OVC competition and with 27 overall wins. The only problem was that their wins were, for the most part, over weaker competition, meaning that their power rating numbers were really not at-large worthy. But they did control their own destiny, needing only to defeat Belmont in the championship game to complete the perfect OVC season and go to the Big Dance. Belmont had other ideas though, and ended a 25 game overall winning streak by the Racers in a thrilling 88-87 title game. The Bruins got the automatic bid and a 15 seed, falling in the Round of 64 to Virginia, while Murray State was relegated to the NIT.
Belmont has now won two OVC tournament titles in only three years in the conference (and lost in the championship game the third year). This season, they enter conference play as the favorite to represent the conference in the Tournament again. In fact, they should have no problem winning the East Division in the regular season as they appear to be significantly better than the next best team, Morehead State. Eastern Kentucky, which represented the OVC in the CIT last season, should fall in the standings with their head coach and three starters gone from last season.
In the West Division, Murray State does return enough pieces to re-capture the division title and the bye into the conference tournament semifinals that comes with winning the division. However, they will have a lot tougher battle this year as both Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Illinois figure to be in contention. Both teams also played in the CIT last season with UT-Martin advancing all the way to the semifinals. Regardless of which team wins the West, however, Belmont is the choice to have the best record in the league and take the automatic bid.
Predicted Order of Finish
East Division
1. Belmont – Craig Bradshaw may be the best player in the conference and is joined in the Bruins’ backcourt by Taylor Barnette. With Evan Bradds down low, all the pieces are here to return to the Big Dance.
2. Morehead State – The Eagles lost four starters but do return Brent Arrington, who may prove to be one of the best guards in the OVC, both offensively and defensively. Seven newcomers must gel together for the team to succeed.
3. Tennessee Tech – With three starters gone, Torrance Rowe and Josiah Moore will need to step up their games or the Golden Eagles will be fighting just to be one of the eight teams that qualify into the OVC tournament.
4. Eastern Kentucky – The Colonels lost their top three players and their head coach. It could be a long season for new coach Dan McHale in his first year.
5. Tennessee State – The Tigers may be in store for another tough season despite four key contributors returning. At least, it will be tough to be worse than last season’s 5 wins.
6. Jacksonville State – 6-11 Ousmane Ba from Mali could be worth watching, but there does not appear to be much else here.
West Division
1. Murray State – Even though the Racers lost four starters from last season’s undefeated regular season team, they should still be in the hunt for the division crown with Jeffery Moss back, joined by Texas transfer Demarcus Croaker and Chattanooga transfer Gee McGhee.
2. Tennessee-Martin – The Skyhawks lost two of their best players from last season, Deville Smith and Marshun Newell. However, they still have Alex Anderson at guard and Twymond Howard at forward. They also welcome back forward Myles Taylor who missed last season due to an injury. Those three players should be enough to have them challenging for the division title.
3. Eastern Illinois – The Panthers figure to be in the division hunt with Trae Anderson and Freshman of the Year Cornell Johnston. If a solid group of newcomers can contribute, it would not be a shock to see them at the top of the West Division standings.
4. Austin Peay – Three starters return including Chris Horton who averaged a double-double last year. A significant improvement from last year’s 8 wins can be expected.
5. Southeast Missouri State – The Redhawks have brought in former Mississippi State head coach Rick Ray to begin rebuilding a program that only returns two key contributors from last season (Antonius Cleveland and Isiah Jones). It may take a few seasons, but Ray should be able to turn this team into a contender for the league title.
6. SIU Edwardsville – With no starters returning, new head coach Jon Harris looks like he will be in for a long season.