Top Tier
No. 3 – Western Illinois Leathernecks – (6-4)
This is a team we would rank higher if we could. Three sub-D1 victories clouds the subject, but the Leathernecks (the coolest name in college athletics) have been impressive. They’ve won four of their last five games, but all three of those sub-D1 games happened during the streak.
Other than a blowout loss at Northern Iowa, the Leathernecks have been in every game. WIU is the OVC’s stingiest defense, allowing just 67 points-per-game and they are the league’s second best at rebound margin (+8.7). The combined computer numbers rank them as the league’s best team and the preseason poll had them ranked second.
Coach Chad Boudreau put together a 21-win season during his first year at the helm and WIU’s first in the OVC. With three very viable offensive options the Leathernecks are tough to defend.
Marko Maletic (15.9 ppg), Ryan Myers (15.0) and Sean Smith (11.5) are all dangerous. Maletic has recorded four twenty-point games and Smith has posted two, triple-doubles and is the OVC’s third most prolific distributor (5.4 assists-per-game).
No. 2 – Southern Illinois Edwardsville Cougars - (6-4)
Brian Barone’s team was picked third in the preseason poll and have nudged their way to second in the updated power poll. The Cougars have the OVC’s top NET and RPI rankings and have won five of their last seven games.
SIUE owns the league’s second-best defense and is third in scoring and in rebounding margin. They are playing sound, fundamental basketball. Other than struggling to score from long distance, this team has a solid portfolio.
Taylor leads the OVC with a 5.5 assist average and is third in scoring (16.9). Cousin Brian Taylor (12.1) has emerged as a good second offensive option and transfer Ring Malith (6.6 rebounds per game) is rebounding well and a dual, inside/outside threat.
The shooting problems extend to the free throw line. SIUE is an alarming .627 from the charity stripe. This could become an Achilles heel for SIUE’s title chances.
No. 1 – Little Rock Trojans – (6-4)
Even losing the league’s top, preseason player hasn’t swayed us from picking the Trojans. The metrics crunching finds them first at kenpom.com, barttorvik.com and the BPI. They’ve won three straight and two of their losses were at Arkansas and at Illinois.
Darrell Walker’s team defends. While just fourth is scoring defense, they are the OVC’s best at defensive field goal percentage (.379), blocked shots (5.1 per game) and second in steals (9.7 per contest). If the old adage is true that ‘defense travels’, the Trojans will be just fine.
LSU transfer Mwani Wilkinson scores (16.2 ppg) and rebounds (6.6), leads the OVC in steals (2.3 per game) and is second in blocks (1.15). He’s seemingly everywhere. Triple threat Johnathan Lawson scores (14.7), rebounds (5.5) and distributes (four assists per game). He leads the league in three-point percentage (.443) and is fifth making 2.7 per game.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville opens OVC play with games at Little Rock, at SEMO and then the Cougars host Western Illinois. By January 2, we will have a good read on where this race is headed.