Bracketology 2022: Murray State and Belmont hunting at-large berths
How Morehead State can get to at-large status
The Eagles’ upcoming schedule isn’t as ripe as either Belmont’s or Murray State’s. A Quad 2 game at East Tennessee State is significant to their post-season chances and then a date in Cincinnati with Xavier could put the defending OVC Tournament champions back on the national radar.
Center Johni Broome is this week’s OVC player of the week and has recorded four double-doubles during the team’s first eight games. The 6’10 lefty is the league’s reigning freshman of the year and is fourth in the nation in blocked shots (3.88 per game). While he averages a double-double (13.9 points and 10 rebounds) he is better from the field (.551) than from the charity stripe (.500).
Skylar Potter, Tray Hollowell and Ta’lon Cooper are the other Eagle scoring threats. Potter (13.0) and Hollowell (10.8) have each made 20 triples with solid shooting percentages from deep. Cooper (9.3) is handing out 6.6 assists per game and owns a better than 3-to-1 assist-turnover rate.
Defense is key to the Eagles. They’re allowing just 63.5 points per game and outrebound the opposition by over six per contest.
An early-season trip to the State of Alabama where they lost to Auburn and UAB, but the Eagles in an 0-2 start, but are 5-1 since then. Their only other loss was to the SEC’s Mississippi State. MSU’s recent wins over Kansas City and Georgia Southern (133 NET) have given them some momentum.
The road is more difficult for Morehead, but if they could knock off East Tennessee State and shock the Musketeers, they would be right where they want to be heading into OVC play.
dark. Next. Biggest winners and losers of week
It is tough for OVC teams to get noticed nationally, but it can be done and five Quad 1 games in the next several weeks opens that national exposure door.