We Have Finally Arrived at Conference Play

MVC & OVC in Full Swing

(St. Louis, MO) – Happy New Year, we have finally arrived at conference play! No more dabbling with outside interests and all the metrics of other conferences, just get down and get busy with what matters most. League play is here.

Five conference games in the Ohio Valley Conference and five in the Missouri Valley Conference, and big games abound. In the parity driven OVC the only two undefeated teams face off today and there is only one winless team. Five of the teams are 1-and-1.

In the top-heavy MVC, two of the heavy-weights collide and two winless teams connect. Two of the league’s four undefeated teams will be tested on the road.

OVC Matchups!

Morehead State (6-7, 2-0) @ Lindenwood (8-5, 2-0)

Neither of these teams were picked near the top of the preseason poll, but here they are on January 1 playing for the early outright conference lead. Kyle Gerdeman’s Lindenwood Lions lead the OVC in scoring, assists and blocked shots.

Lindenwood’s Jadis Jones is sixth the league in scoring (16.1), third in rebounds (7.8) and first in field goal percentage (.664). The reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ is making a bid to be the OVC’s player of the year.

Eastern Illinois (4-8, 1-1) @ Southeast Missouri (6-7, 1-1)

The defending regular season champion Redhawks are off to a slow start. SEMO’s Braxton Stacker (13.7) leads the conference with an outstanding .930 free throw percentage. EIU’s Zion Fruster (16.4) is right behind him at .900.

Tennessee Tech (6-8, 1-2) @ Little Rock (4-9, 1-1)

Little Rock has played a murderous schedule and sustained difficult injury issues. While these are the OVC’s lowest scoring teams, they actually shoot with a high degree of accuracy. Tech leads in field goal percentage and ULR leads in three point accuracy.

Southern Indiana (3-9, 0-2) @ SIUE (8-5, 1-1)

The OVC’s defending tournament champion Cougars hang their hat on defense. They are second in scoring defense and are first in defensive field goal percentage and in turnover margin. USI’s Ismail Habib leads the OVC in scoring (17.9) and in three point baskets (3.2).

SIUE’s Ring Malith is the league’s second at (17.4).

Western Illinois (4-9, 0-2) @ Tennessee Martin (9-4, 1-1)

UT Martin defends and rebounds. They lead the OVC in scoring defense, are second to SIUE at defensive field goal percentage and lead in defending the three and in rebounding margin. Oh, and the Skyhawks lead the OVC in home attendance.

MVC has Finally Arrived at Conference Play

Bradley (10-4, 3-0) @ Belmont (12-2, 2-1)

Bradley has won seven straight games, and Belmont is coming off an overtime loss at Indiana State. Belmont is the league’s most precise offensive team, leading the MVC in numerous shooting categories and in assists. Bradley leads the conference in steals and turnover margin. Belmont’s Sam Orme’s playing status for today’s game will be a huge factor.

Indiana State (8-6, 1-2) @ Northern Iowa (10-3, 2-0)

Included in Indiana State’s league mark is a triple-overtime loss to Bradley and an OT win over Belmont. This will be Indiana State’s fourth straight game against a ‘then’ undefeated league foe. UNI leads the Valley and is second nationally in scoring defense.

Evansville (4-10, 0-3) @ Illinois State (11-3, 3-0)

The Redbirds are rolling, winning three straight and nine of their last ten, and the Purple Aces are struggling. David Ragland’s squad has lost five straight and eight of ten. Illinois State leads the Valley in rebound margin.

The big man matchup will be great theatre as UE’s Connor Turnbull (13.3 & 6.5) faces ILS’ Chase Walker (12.7 & 5.2).

Murray State (11-3, 3-0) @ Illinois Chicago (5-8, 0-2)

The Racers have won seven straight, but this is just their third road game of the season and Ryan Miller’s team is 1-1 away from the CFSB Center. Murray State is the Valley’s highest scoring team. UIC transfer Javon Jackson is Murray’s leading scorer (16.4).

Valparaiso (6-7, 0-2) @ Southern Illinois (6-8, 0-3)

One of these teams will earn its must needed first league win. SIU has lost its three MVC games by a total of 14 points and two of its non-conference losses were in overtime. Valpo gave both Murray State and Northern Iowa all they could handle, but still ended up with losses.

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