OVC – On the Verge of Something Special

Part One – Tennessee State Building Momentum

(St. Louis, MO) – Tennessee State doubled its win total last season. Eastern Kentucky doubled its conference win total. Still, Belmont and Murray State were outstanding mid-major teams, but Austin Peay was knocking on the door to the OVC’s penthouse.

Is the Ohio Valley Conference on the verge of something special?

The OVC’s depth of outstanding talent can be seen everywhere. If there is anything resembling a normal college basketball season, the Ohio Valley will turn some heads.

Existing Talent

Returning ‘Player of the Year’ Terry Taylor leads twelve of the league’s top 15 players back to their teams. Eight of ten named to the all-conference team return including ‘Defensive Player of the Year’, Belmont’s Grayson Murphy and Taylor’s Austin Peay teammate and ‘Freshman of the Year’ Jordyn Adams. Only three of those top 12 returning players will be seniors this season.

Adams was one of 31 players named to the Kyle Macy All-American Freshman team. Taylor and Murray State’s Tevin Brown were a part of the Lou Henson All-American team.

The last time there was an NCAA Tournament, the OVC sent two teams to the Big Dance and each won a contest.

There is talent everywhere and the OVC is on the verge of something special.

Tennessee State Building Momentum

The reigning BOXTOROW.com  Coach of the Year, Brian ‘Penny’ Collins begins his third season with the Tigers with returning talent, players that sat out last season and an excited fan base. His postseason award is for being the outstanding coach from an Historically Black College and University.

TSU doubled its win total from nine to 18 last season and the Tigers split their 18 conference games. Fans are jumping on the TSU bandwagon. Attendance jumped 342% and the Gentry Center is hopping with excitement.

In spite of a coronavirus interruption, coach Collins feels like his program’s culture is taking hold. His team is better and the fans are taking notice.

 

 

Collins says the Ohio Valley Conference is growing. Players are being drafted into the NBA, league teams are winning NCAA Tournament games and the talent level is as strong as ever.

Tennessee State has been an NAIA and Division 2 basketball power. Now Collins believes his Tigers can become a significant force at the higher levels of college basketball. The energetic coach never neglects the academic part of his players’ careers.

 

 

Returning Players on the Verge of Something Special

One of those top twelve returning players is TSU’s Carlos Marshall. The 6’6 junior was a second team, all-league performer and was one of five players named to the OVC’s ‘all-newcomer’ team.

Marshall averaged over 11 points and four rebounds per game. The Memphis native has returned to the Nashville campus lighter than last season and ready to continue his leadership role.

Sophomore guard Mark Freeman and senior forward Shakem Johnson are two other outstanding returners. Freeman was fifth in the OVC in assists (4.2 per game) and Johnson led the league in field goal percentage (62%). Collins has a deeper team than in years past. He has the luxury of eight returning players.

 

 

Newcomers With Good Resumes

The life-blood of growing programs is the year-by-year addition of talent. While Collins loves his returners he smiles when he talks about the incoming reinforcements. Guard Marcus Fitzgerald JR is the most decorated freshman, but he is not alone as a highly regarded player.

Big things are expected Former Tulane guard Shakwon Barrett and junior college big man Yusuf Mohamed. Mason Green sat out last season. He and Mohamed are both 6’10 and Mohamed can shoot the three. Josh Linder played three seasons at Georgia State, so Collins has veteran help coming to support his solid core of returning players.

 

 

This story follows a similar trail. OVC teams are improving and adding talent. In Part Two of this series we speak with reigning OVC ‘Coach of the Year’ A.W. Hamilton. The Eastern Kentucky coach had a health scare during the offseason and we address that and his improving Colonel squad. EKU is on the verge of something special.

Collins, his team and his university are navigating the difficult waters of social unrest and we addressed those issues in our previous story. Our entire interview with Penny Collins can be found here.

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