Ohio Valley Conference Notebook
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
