Busting Brackets
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OVC Basketball: Belmont, Murray State favorites for 2019 conference tournament

By Logan Butts

AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 22: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers goes up for a dunk against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on December 22, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 22: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers goes up for a dunk against the Auburn Tigers at Auburn Arena on December 22, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Spencer Turner #11 and J.J. Mann #24 of the Belmont Bruins leave the court after a last-second win over the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 17, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mann hit the game-winning 3-point shot as Belmont defeated North Carolina, 83-80. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Spencer Turner #11 and J.J. Mann #24 of the Belmont Bruins leave the court after a last-second win over the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 17, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mann hit the game-winning 3-point shot as Belmont defeated North Carolina, 83-80. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Conference tournament week is off and running, and OVC Basketball is up next. Will someone upset top seeds Belmont or Murray State?

Different year, same results.

Belmont and Murray State find themselves atop the OVC Basketball standings once again this year, having each earned a share of the regular season crown. It was the 10th consecutive year the Bruins or the Racers (or both) won the regular season title.

Although the duopoly is still strong at the top, there are more contenders lurking in the OVC than usual. Jacksonville State and Austin Peay each put together 20-win campaigns of their own.

Per the OVC, this is first time since the 2013-14 season that four teams have reached 20 wins before the conference tournament.

Jacksonville State swept Belmont and hung a loss on Murray State as well, forcing three of their top two squads’ four combined conference losses.

None of the teams seeded five through eight (Morehead State, Eastern Illinois, UT Martin, and SIUE, respectively) really move the needle either way. They aren’t terrible, but they aren’t enticing dark horses necessarily either.

Throw in the double bye for Belmont and Murray State, and this feels like its going to come down to the top four teams.

Extra attention has been paid to the OVC this season thanks to Ja Morant’s status as a potential top-three pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Hopefully his presence will lead to a few more eyeballs than usual for the OVC Tournament.