Teams Five, Six and Seven
(St. Louis, MO) – In what appears to be a top-heavy Ohio Valley Conference race, our third OVC preseason preview focusses on the bunch in the middle. The league’s official poll places Tennessee Tech seventh and finds Lindenwood and Morehead State tied for fifth and sixth.
This is the official league poll, but my personal power rankings will come out later this week at BustingBrackets.com.
We were privileged to meet with all the OVC head coaches and one player per team. While the conference did not post a preseason, all-conference team, it did list ‘players to watch’.
No. 7 – Tennessee Tech – 15-17 (10-10)
OVC’s ‘Players to Watch’ – JaJuan Nicholls (6’8, 220 pound forward) & Mekhi Cameron (8.7 ppg in just seven games last year.
We interviewed seventh year coach John Pelphrey (66-120 & 215-246 overall) and Polk State transfer guard Ty Owens.
No. 5/6 – Morehead State – 15-17 (10-10)
OVC’s ‘Players to Watch’ – Davion Cunningham (15.2 ppg at USC Aiken) & Chase Dawson (21.4 ppg at Mount Olive).
We interviewed second year head coach Jonathan Mattox (15-17) and the 6’3 junior guard Cunningham.
No. 5/6 – Lindenwood 16-17 (10-10)
OVC’s ‘Players to Watch’ – Anias Futrell (12.8 ppg & 6 rebounds) & Mekhi Cooper (5.8 ppg at Miami of Ohio). Lindenwood’s Jadis Jones is the OVC’s reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ and a returning all-OVC performer.
We intereviewed fourth year (at Division 1) coach Kyle Gerdeman (36-60)and the 6’5 Futrell.
During Part One of our five part series we featured Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois. In Part Two, we looked into Southern Indiana and UT Martin.
Up Next: The fourth ranked Tennessee State Tigers and third ranked SIUE.
Do Good
Twitter Feed
Opening round of #ArchMadness is today. The only quarterfinal we know is @UIC_MBB v @RacersHoops tomorrow at 2:30. We look at their contrasting styles heading into the @MVCsports tournament. #FatherHarry
Don't look now, but @BustingBrackets tells us some of the hottest teams coming into #ArchMadness aren't the teams at the top of the bracket. @ValpoBasketball, @SIU_Basketball & @UNImbb shouldn't be overlooked. #FatherHarry
ICYMI: @BelmontMBB & @BradleyUMBB are two of the best at being committed to development and succeeding at the same time. #ArchMadness
Congrats to @RogerPowellJr, @CoachJonny_B & @NdotSmitty being named to the Ben Jobe Award finalist list. Well deserved!
