The OVC’s Play-off Push

(St. Louis, MO) – With three days left in the regular season, Ohio Valley Conference teams have massively important games to play Thursday night. Every game has major Music City Madness implications.

The only thing settled so far is that Belmont will be the number one seed and that Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky aren’t invited. Everything else is up for grabs.

(See my article for MidMajorMadness.com about Belmont’s sustained excellence)

Tonight’s games.

Jacksonville State @ Eastern Kentucky – 6:00 pm – OVC/DN

The Gamecocks (16-13, 8-6) are this year’s ‘turn around team’ after winning just eight games all last season. First year head coach Ray Harper’s team actually plays better on the road than at home, and JSU can seal a play-off spot with a road win at fading EKU (10-19, 3-11). The Colonels have dropped five straight. Harper’s squad is 5-1 in when traveling to other OVC destinations.

Murray State @ Southeast Missouri – 6:30 pm – OVC/DN

At least a portion of first place is on the line in Cape Girardeau. Visiting Murray State (14-14, 8-6) travels to Missouri to take on the West Division surprise team SEMO. The Redhawks (13-16, 8-6) won only five games last season. The winner of this game will be no worse than tied for first in the West (depending on UT Martin’s game against Austin Peay) and could stand alone heading into Saturday’s action.

Austin Peay @ UT Martin – 7:00 pm – OVC/DN

The Governors are fighting for their play-off lives, just like they were last season, when they qualified on the last day of the season, and went on to win the OVC Tournament. APSU (10-18, 6-8) has to win two road games and hope for help in other contests. UTM (18-11, 8-6) is 5-1 in home conference games and tied with Murray State and SEMO for the top spot in the West.

Tennessee Tech @ Morehead State – 8:00 pm – CBS Sports Network

Morehead State (13-14, 9-5) holds a tenuous one game lead over five teams for the third seed at Music City Madness. One of those teams is Tennessee Tech (12-17, 8-6). Any of those 8-6 teams could fall out of the play-offs all together, or could catch the Eagles and finish third.

All twelve teams are in action on Saturday.

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