OVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Preston Spradlin of the Morehead State Eagles speaks with Mark Freeman #0 in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on November 07, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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Kinyon Hodges #10 then of the Eastern Illinois Panthers OVC Basketball (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

2. Tennessee State Tigers – Head Coach Brian Collins

2022-23 record: 18-14 overall, 10-8 in the OVC

Brian ‘Penny’ Collins may have a juggernaut on his hands. Despite losing two of his top four scorers from last season, he has an embarrassment of riches. Returners Marcus Fitzgerald and Christian Brown are proven producers and TSU’s Gentry Arena has become a difficult place for opposing teams to succeed.

Fitzgerald averaged 13.6 points while adding over three boards and three dimes per game. The 6’1 guard drives to the rim and made 112 free throws and is dangerous (36%) from deep. Brown missed much of last season with a foot injury, but when active averaged 12.1 points and was lethal (42%) from deep. Those two players would be enough to make TSU a contender, but Collins has accumulated an abundance of talent.

The sixth-year coach signed Eastern Illinois’ all-newcomer team member Kinyon Hodges, two former Belmont players and two ‘power 5’ players. Hodges averaged 14.4 points per game and the 6’2 guard excelled on the defensive end, finishing tenth in the league in steals.

Belmont refugees E.J. Bellinger and Michael Shanks were forever lingering just behind outstanding Bruin guards and bring great stability and depth to the Tiger lineup. Shanks and Bellinger have a combined 161 D1 appearances.

Collins needed some size and landed Florida transfer Jason Jitoboh. The 6’11 Nigerian appeared in 32 Florida contests, starting seven Gator games. Denin Dawson comes from Nebraska. The 6’6 wing could provide some punch and rebounding help.

Two highly regarded freshmen join this talented team. Jaylen Jones and John Gamble have both been rated as three-star recruits. The 6’1 Jones was rated as high as Tennessee’s second best senior and the 6’6 Gamble is a top 100 player coming from Florida.

‘Coach Penny’ employs a high energy game on both ends of the floor and has the depth and athleticism on this year’s roster to run some teams out of the gym. When the game slows down, he will need Jitoboh and 6’11 David Acosta to hold up and provide both offensive and defensive balance.

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