Ohio Valley basketball: 2018 Conference tournament preview
By Logan Butts
Predicting the OVC tournament
5) Tennessee Tech vs. 8) SIUE
This should be an easy win for Tech as SIUE is the worst team in the field. Tech should advance past round one with ease.
Prediction: Tenn. Tech 74 SIUE 58
6) Tennessee State vs. 7) Eastern Illinois
These are the two lowest-scoring teams in the OVC. TSU’s experience and depth should help them survive a slugfest.
Prediction: TSU 60 Eastern Ill. 50
4) Jacksonville State vs. 5) Tennessee Tech
JSU is the only OVC squad to have beaten both Belmont and Murray this season, doing it in back-to-back games. I think they will get one more crack at the big dogs.
Prediction: JSU 71 Tenn. Tech 67
3) Austin Peay vs. 6) Tennessee State
This has a chance to be the first upset of the tournament. The Tigers have the type of squad that could thrive in a tournament setting.
Prediction: TSU 62 APSU 60
Who wins?
Semifinals: 1) Murray State vs. 4) Jacksonville State
After these two split their regular season meetings at one win apiece, the Racers will win the chalk match. Jacksonville State’s top-ranked defense will budge just enough for Murray’s top-ranked offense to pull through.
Prediction: Murray State 78 JSU 71
Semifinals: 2) Belmont vs. 6) Tennessee State
Another semifinal featuring teams who split their two regular season meetings, and another semifinal where the top seed prevails. TSU’s upset bid ends here as the Belmont upperclassmen who reached the big dance early in the careers sense that another trip is close.
Prediction: Belmont 80 TSU 68
Finals: 1) Murray State vs. 2) Belmont
Bring your popcorn buckets because this one will be a barn burner. The OVC’s two best teams are also its two highest-scoring. Each squad is full of talented veterans and a number of players who can score in a pinch.
Next: Ranking the 32 Conference Tournaments
In what will be a nail-biter, where the smallest of margins will decide the winner, I think that the Racers seniors desire to finally make it to the NCAA Tournament will be the difference.
Prediction: Murray State 82 Belmont 80