(St. Louis, MO) – It is ‘opening day’ for the conference season in the Ohio Valley Conference. Six conference games on the schedule and none bigger than the one being played in Murray, Kentucky where Tennessee State visits the Racers of Murray State.
The Tigers have arguably been the best OVC team during the non-conference portion of the schedule, but they open on the road against a dangerous Racers’ squad that is difficult to beat at home. Murray State (6-8) owns a 28-6 advantage over TSU in games played in Murray, but the Tigers (9-3) are an emerging power in the OVC’s East Division.
Matt McMahon’s Racers have four players averaging double digits in scoring, including newcomers Jonathan Stark (20.6 ppg) and Terrell Miller (14.4). Preseason all-conference nominee Bryce Jones (12.1) and Damarcus Croaker (10.1) are the others.
Double-double machine Wayne Martin (12.3 ppg & 10.1 rebounds) and defensive wizard Tahjere McCall (12.2 ppg and 34 steals) lead the Tigers who are currently ranked 51st in ESPN’s version of the RPI and 19th in CollegeInsider.com’s ‘Mid Major Top 25‘.
There are other intriguing matchups in the OVC today, as all the games are ‘cross division’ games where all the East Division teams are playing on the road at West Division sites. Belmont (6-4) goes on the road to Austin Peay (4-10) where the ‘deans’ of the OVC coaching fraternity will match wits, as Belmont’s Rick Byrd (737 career wins) and APSU’s Dave Loos (495 career victories) renew their rivalry.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville (5-9) hosts Tennessee Tech (4-11) in a game between two teams desperate for a strong start to league play. Eastern Kentucky (7-8) travels to improving Southeast Missouri (5-10) where the Redhawks are a surprising 4-2 at the Show Me Center.
Surging Jacksonville State (8-7, 1-0) visits Eastern Illinois (8-5). The Gamecocks have won three of their last four games and the Panthers had won three straight before their double overtime loss to Indiana State. EIU is 5-1 at home.
The West Division’s best team (by record so far), UT Martin (10-6, 0-1) hosts a Morehead State (4-9) team that is trying to find its way after the suspension and then resignation of their head coach.
By New Year’s Day, we will know a lot more about the OVC race.
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I commented on @TVBOren's post about @CarsonSchwieger's signing with @ValpoBasketball, but this is a significant signing for @RogerPowellJr. The Schwieger's will complement each other well and with the other guys they have, this Beacons team will be players in the @ValleyHoops
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