OVC Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Logan Butts | Mar 3, 2020

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - DECEMBER 28: Terry Taylor #21 of the Austin Peay Governors looks to drive during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on December 28, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Governors 76-65. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – MARCH 21: Nick Muszynski #33 and Dylan Windler #3 of the Belmont Bruins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

2020 March Madness is here! Which team has what it takes to win the OVC Basketball Tournament?

The Ohio Valley Conference entered 2019-20 after losing a number of notable figures to the NBA or retirement. Ja Morant and Dylan Windler were drafted, and Rick Byrd is no longer roaming the Belmont sideline but did not stop OVC Basketball from having another exciting race at the top of the league standings.

Once again, it’s business as usual with Belmont and Murray State sitting pretty in the top two spots. And Austin Peay is back again this season as an intriguing spoiler, even more threatening to the big two than they were last season. Gone, however, is Jacksonville State as the fourth team in the competitive quartet. Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee State, and Eastern Illinois have all had moments where they looked as if they might earn that fourth slot, but it never fully came to fruition for any of them.

The Bruins and the Racers may not have the same star power or NET rankings as they did last year, but they are both still good enough that they could make some damage if they win the OVC Tournament. Austin Peay is nearly on equal footing with the constant OVC powerhouses this year, and have the best player in the league to boot.

As the OVC Tournament begins on March 4, be on the lookout for one of the non-first-round bye teams (the top four seeds get byes and the top two seeds get double byes) to fight their way to the semifinals.