NCAA Basketball: Preseason top-25 mid-major power rankings for 2021-22 season
19. Murray State Racers
If Morehead State was the “surprise” of the Ohio Valley last season, Murray State was the “disappointment”. They were supposed to compete with Belmont at the top but instead, finished 13-13 (10-10) overall. But that should also serve as a motivating factor for the program and its two star returning players, KJ Williams (15.6 ppg and 8.5 rpg) and Tevin Brown (14.7 ppg and 4.3 apg).
Both of them are All-OVC players but a lack of consistent production from the supporting cast hurt them. The exception to that was guard Chico Carter, the only other double-digit scorer on the roster at 12.7 ppg. Murray State does bring back a few more rotation pieces in guards Justice Hill and Dionte Bostick, as well as forward Devin Gilmore.
light. Related Story. A look at potential Cinderella Murray State
The rest of the roster has undergone a revamp, with five incoming transfers. In the backcourt there’s Trae Hannibal, a 6’2 guard transfer from South Carolina, as well as Davidson transfer Carter Collins, who averaged double figures in two years as a full-time starter.
Among the newcomers in the frontcourt are Damiree Burns, one of the better 6th men contributors from the SWAC at Southern University, 6’6 combo forward transfer Jordan Skipper-Brown (10.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg at Eastern Illinois), and JUCO transfer Elijah Farr from Olney Central College that is capable of spreading the floor.
Having Williams and Brown leading the way will have the Racers as a contender in the OVC but last season was a wake-up call that there need to be more than two players to win a conference. The hope is that the new-look supporting cast will be what gets them back into contention. If that happens, one of the two stars here may win Conference Player of the Year.