OVC – Midseason All Conference Team

Four Stars and … ?

(St. Louis, MO) – From day one of the season all Ohio Valley Conference fans knew that Dylan Windler, Terry Taylor, Nick Mayo and Ja Morant were the league’s four best players. The OVC’s preseason team included six other players. So as we’re announcing the ‘Valley Hoops Insider Half-Way Point All-OVC Team’, the question is ‘four stars and … ?’

This evaluation is based completely on OVC play.

With five teams battling for the top four positions and the other seven teams scratching for a playoff spot, this all-league team mostly reflects those records. As Jay Spoonhour once told me, ‘you have to have a pro to win our league.’

We posed that question to our Twitter followers. We told Twitter Nation those four players would be on the all-OVC midseason team, but we needed help with that fifth player.

First let’s discuss the stars.

Ja Morant – Murray State – 25.1 ppg – 11.7 apg

Everyday we read another story or see another highlight of Ja Morant. The Murray State sophomore is dazzling college basketball fans across the nation. ESPN’s John Gasaway just called him the second best player in college basketball. He has accumulated 223 assists, which is the sixth best season total in OVC history.

If Morant doesn’t win the ‘Player of the Year’ award there should be a Senate investigation. He handles the ball with aplomb, has improved his three-point shooting, dunks with style and finds the open man better than Tom Brady.

Dylan Windler – Belmont – 20.4 ppg  – 10.8 rpg

The preseason ‘Player of the Year’ has been outstanding. He’s third in scoring and second in rebounding. Windler is AVERAGING a double-double. His 2.7 triples-per-game is tied for third best and if it wasn’t for Morant people would be lauding Windler as the best player in the middle of America. The left-handed sharp shooter works relentlessly and contributes in myriads of ways.

Over nine of his ten rebounds per game come on the defensive end. He and fellow senior Kevin McClain are surrounded by rookies and the Bruins are still in the hunt for an OVC title.

Nick Mayo – Eastern Kentucky – 22.4 ppg – 7.6 rpg

If Morant is the OVC’s top NBA prospect, then Mayo seems to be next in line. At 6’9 and 245 pounds, Mayo has expanded his outside game, rebounds well and he can leap. Head coach A.W. Hamilton is convinced Mayo can play in ‘the Association’.

The three-time all-OVC team member is amongst league leaders in blocked shots and is making a brilliant .823 from the free throw line.

Terry Taylor – Austin Peay – 19.6 ppg – 8.2 rpg

The reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ followed his outstanding rookie year with a brilliant second season. The undersized power forward uses his athleticism to out perform bigger and slower defenders. Taylor is the face of the APSU resurgence.

Who is Number Five?

Jason Burnell – Jacksonville State – 17.6 ppg – 11.0 rpg

The only JSU player to earn a weekly award from the league and the OVC’s leading rebounder has been solid all season, but has been particularly good in conference play. Not only is he productive, but he is durable. The 6’7 Burnell leads the conference in minutes played at 37.1 per game.

Burnell led JSU in scoring during the Gamecocks’ two game sweep of Belmont, scoring 19 in the first game and 30 in the second.

Don’t worry JSU fans there are four stars and Burnell makes it five.

Do Good