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Ohio Valley Basketball: 2023 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Harry Schroeder

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Preston Spradlin of the Morehead State Eagles looks on during a college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Preston Spradlin of the Morehead State Eagles looks on during a college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Ohio Valley Basketball Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks guard Parker Stewart (45) is consoled by Skyhawks head coach Ryan Ridder Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio Valley Basketball Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks guard Parker Stewart (45) is consoled by Skyhawks head coach Ryan Ridder Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Ohio Valley Basketball Conference games this week felt like tournament games that are coming this week in Evansville. Newcomer Lindenwood University had to stage two, dramatic, overtime victories to qualify for the tournament and Tennessee Tech won two road games to claim the tournament’s second seed.

The OVC championships begin Wednesday at Evansville’s Ford Center.

There were four teams tied for second place heading into the season’s final weekend.

While Morehead State (21-10, 14-4) dominated the conference race, Tech, Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Southern Illinois Edwardsville all produced history-making seasons. SIUE set program Division 1 records in wins (18) and conference victories (9). Tech’s second seed, guarantees the Golden Eagles’ first visit to the conference tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 2012.

Morehead’s regular season championship was the Eagles’ first since the 1983-84 season. The Eagles also won at least 20 games for three straight seasons. It’s the second time that has happened in program history.

UT Martin set its program’s new Division 1 record for home wins (14). SEMO won ten OVC games for the first time in 23 seasons and its nine home victories are the most during coach Brad Korn’s career in Cape Girardeau (3 seasons).

Like Lindenwood, Southern Indiana transitioned into D1 and the Screaming Eagles (16-15, 9-9) also qualified for the OVC championships.

Morehead is the clear favorite to win the tournament but with six of the eight teams separated by just two games in the final standings, clearly every other game is a toss-up.

Tennessee State’s Jr. Clay finished the season by edging Southeast Missouri’s Phillip Russell for both the league’s scoring (18.8 to 18.2) and assists per game (5.6 to 5.1) title. Southern Indiana’s Jacob Polakovich (12.8) was the rebounding champion. While USI’s Trevor Lakes (99) led the league three-pointers, Lindenwood’s Keenon Cole paced the conference in three-point shooting (.469).

Defensive standouts included steals leader Sincere Malone (Eastern Illinois) and shot-blocking leader Alex Gross (Morehead State).