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Ohio Valley Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Harry Schroeder

Dec 10, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Murray State Racers forward KJ Williams (0) drives to the basket during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Murray State Racers forward KJ Williams (0) drives to the basket during the second half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Morehead State’s Ta’lon Cooper Ovc Mball Semo Vs Morehead 18
Morehead State’s Ta’lon Cooper Ovc Mball Semo Vs Morehead 18 /

Key teams to watch

The Favorite – Murray State (28-2, 18-0)

Murray State will be the favorite to win every game they play in Evansville. Clearly, their 18-0 record means they are the best team in league. But during March and tournament season, anything can happen. While Murray’s winning margin during OVC games was nearly 18 points, two of their last three games were two-point affairs. They had to fight for their undefeated lives at Southeast Missouri on Saturday and at UT Martin last week.

Guard Tevin Brown is the OVC’s most dangerous outside shooter and point guard Justice Hill is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He is among the league leaders in assists and is a clutch performer. His late triples were the difference in Saturday’s win at SEMO.

The Racers are the heavy favorites.

Dangerous Challenger – Morehead State (21-10, 13-5)

The defending champions will not be an easy out in Evansville. While the Eagles have struggled down the stretch, coach Preston Spradlin will have his team ready for the OVC Tournament. The Eagles have dropped four of their final six games, including losses to Murray and Belmont. Saturday they lost at SIUE.

MSU split their regular-season games with Belmont and their two losses to Murray State were by eleven and four points. They can compete with the league’s top two teams. The Eagles defend. Spradlin’s team is second to Murray State in points allowed and leads the OVC in defensive field goal percentage. Tray Hollowell and Skyelar Potter join Broome as double-digit scorers. Point guard Ta’lon Cooper is second to Belmont’s Grayson Murphy in assists-per-game.

Dark Horse – Southeast Missouri (13-17, 8-9)

Brad Korn’s Redhawks made Murray’s 18th league win very difficult. They held an 11-point second-half lead before Hill’s heroics won it for the champions. SEMO and Belmont are the OVC’s top-scoring teams. Lacking that inside stopper, the Redhawks run, and gun.

The Redhawks lead the OVC in three-point percentage and in made triples per game. Perimeter players Eric Reed and Phillip Russell combine to score right at 30 points per game. Reed has made 64 triples. Russell has connected 47 times. SEMO split their two games with Morehead State, with the loss coming in overtime. They had lopsided losses to both Belmont and Murray State but also had narrow losses to those OVC powers.