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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DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 17: The Austin Peay Governors mascot walks on court in the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 17: The Austin Peay Governors mascot walks on court in the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Key Teams

Team to Beat – Belmont: 25-4, 16-2 in OVC play

Even with all the national attention on Murray State, the tournament is still Belmont’s to lose. We’ve seen the Bruins knock out a deserving Racers squad in the ASUN final on multiple occasions.

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Rick Byrd and company, Belmont finds themselves once again in the driver’s seat thanks to a great freshmen class and solid veteran leaders.

Top Contender – Murray State: 25-4, 16-2

This will be the last chance Morant gets to prove himself as a college player. There’s not much he hasn’t accomplished as a Racer, but if would be a shame to not get to see him on full display in the NCAA Tournament.

But Murray State isn’t a one-man squad, Shaq Buchanan and Tevin Brown are good players in their own right.

Secondary Contender – Jacksonville State: 23-8, 15-3

As mentioned before, JSU went 3-0 against Murray State and Belmont this season. If anyone can knock off one of the top teams, it’s the Gamecocks.

Jacksonville State is balanced and the roster is upper-classmen heavy, a strong recipe for a tournament run.

Biggest Sleeper – Austin Peay: 21-10, 13-5

This feels like a cop out since APSU is the fourth seed, but the Govs deserve to be written about and none of the other teams inspire any sort of confidence.

They lost to Belmont and Murray by a combined six points before losing to the Racers by 11 in the regular season finale. An upset is in play.