OVC Opening Night – Really Challenging Really Early

Gigantic Road Challenges

(St. Louis, MO) – Life in the Ohio Valley Conference gets really challenging really early. All ten OVC teams get started Tuesday and five of them battle nationally ranked and/or power conference teams. Exactly one half of the league’s teams have gigantic road challenges.

Not every game is a ‘David versus Goliath’ affair, but five contests are clearly deeply difficult. Only two OVC teams (Austin Peay and Murray State) open at home and five of the eight road contests will be greatly challenging, but also provide the teams and the league with early season opportunities for the so-called ‘signature wins’.

Tennessee Tech @ Memphis – 7:00 pm – ESPN+

Tech is expecting to have an improved team this season, but opening night will not be easy. The Golden Eagles travel to the FedEx Forum in Memphis to take on Penny Hardaway’s Tigers. Memphis is picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference and are twelfth in the season-opening Associated Press poll.

TTU’s Jr Clay is an all-OVC preseason pick, but he and his teammates will have their hands full with Memphis’ star freshmen recruits Jalen Duren, Emoni Bates and a roster loaded with talent. Former Evansville star DeAndre Williams and sophomore Landers Nolley were double-digit scorers last season.

Southern Illinois Edwardsville @ Marquette – 7:30 pm – FS2

SIUE coach Brian Barone played at Marquette and takes his Cougars to Milwaukee to battle the new-look Golden Eagles. The Big East team is now coached by Shaka Smart and the Marquette roster has been completely rebuilt. SIUE was 9-17 last season and Couger fans are looking forward to seeing freshman guard Ray’Sean Taylor make his college basketball debut.

Tennessee Martin @ Tennessee – 6:00 pm – SEC Network 

UT Martin has a new coach and an entirely new roster and Ryan Ridder’s first game leading the Skyhawks is against eighteenth ranked Tennessee. Head coach Rick Barnes has won 727 career games and is a regular in the NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State @ Auburn – 7:00 pm – SEC Network+

In another OVC/SEC battle, the defending OVC Tournament champion travels to Auburn for a game with Bruce Pearl’s 22^nd ranked Tigers. Pearl makes a habit of playing mid-major teams and Morehead coach Preston Spradlin appreciates the opportunity to play on such a big stage.

Eastern Illinois @ Northwestern – 7:00 pm – BTN+

Marty Simmons’ first game with the Panthers is not an easy won. EIU heads up the highway to play Big Ten member Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois. Despite being in the lower tier of the Big Ten, Northwestern racked up a 79 KenPom rating last year and brings back four starters from last year’s team.

One of the things we at Valley Hoops Insider truly admire about OVC teams is that they go anywhere to play anyone. This year the season gets really challenging really early.

Do Good

 

Editor: Feature photo courtesy of msueagles.com & Taylor Johnson.