(St. Louis, MO) – Is the Ohio Valley Conference getting a face lift? Three West Division teams are making a bid to rearrange the balance of power. During the first two years of divisional play, the Beast has been the East, but not so in 2015.
Following Murray State’s lead, the West is 22-12 against the East division this year. The streaking Racers and Eastern Illinois are a combined 12-0 versus the East and the Panthers are leading an uprising that includes Southern Illinois Edwardsville and UT-Martin. In the previous two seasons the East has dominated 50-22.
Both the Skyhawks and Panthers have already won more games than last season. With six regular season games left, SIUE is within two games of last year’s win total and have a better winning percentage in OVC play than last season.
Jay Spoonhour – ovcsports.com
Murray State (19-4)(9-0) is on an historic run to be sure, but Jay Spoonhour’s Eastern Illinois (13-9)(7-3) has more wins than any of the last four seasons. Even their middle of the road 157 RPI is 100 points better than any of the last four campaigns. By defeating East Division powers Belmont and Eastern Kentucky, the Panthers proved their legitimacy.
Dana Ford
UT-Martin (13-8)(5-3) is carrying it’s best OVC record in over 14 years! How have the Skyhawks done it? Recruiting. Heath Schroyer and Spoonhour deserve consideration for Coach of the Year honors for sure. Schroyer’s players have won ‘newcomer of the week’ awards five times this year, divided by three players (Deville Smith 3X, Arkeem Joseph & Twymond Howard).
Just a side note. Watch out for the East Division’s Tennessee State. The Tigers are just 5-18, but their next win will move them past last season’s total. Schroyer’s fellow first year coach Dana Ford has had three different freshmen win the ‘freshman of the week’ award and they are no longer a pushover in the East. Make note of those freshmen, Christian Mekowulu, Darreon Reddick (Belleville East High School) and Charles Tucker.
Murray State, Belmont and Eastern Kentucky are still the measuring stick, but the entire OVC is on the rise and some of these other programs are the reason why.
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
