Murray State went undefeated during the Ohio Valley Basketball Conference regular season. They had some tight contests, but 18-0, is 18-0. The Racers roll into Evansville on an 18-game winning streak, a top 20 national ranking, and a top 30 NET rating. They seem like the team to beat at the OVC Championships and this could be a Murray State coronation.
Murray has star power, a rising star of a coach and Evansville’s Ford Center has sometimes been called ‘Murray State North’ because of the large numbers of Racer fans that make the drive north for the OVC Tournament.
But there are worthy opponents. While Murray swept Belmont during the regular season, the Bruins are used to winning titles and they will be hungry when they arrive in Evansville. Both the Bruins and the Racers have the distinct advantage of double byes into the tournament’s semifinals.
Morehead State is the defending tournament champion and the one player who can take over a game on the defensive end.
The OVC doesn’t bring all ten league members to the tournament, so teams five through eight play in the first round, followed by a quarterfinal round where seeds three and four play the winners of those opening-round games.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville had to upset Morehead State on the final day of the season to earn their eighth-place finish. Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State have proven worthy opponents. While the Racers will be heavy favorites to win the tournament and earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, this will be no cakewalk for Murray State.