Wild Divisional Races in the OVC

(St. Louis, MO) – Eastern Illinois is shaking things up in the Ohio Valley Conference. By defeating Belmont (10-6)(2-1) on the road, the Panthers put themselves in first place in the OVC’s West Division and knocked the Bruins out of first place in the East.

Head Coach Jay Spoonhour’s team is the second lowest scoring team in the OVC (61.0), but they are the number one defensive team (60.3). The two hottest teams in the conference are EIU and Murray State. The Panthers have won seven straight and the Racers’ (13-4)(3-0) streak stands at 11.

Spoonhour’s blend of returners and new players has meshed very well. Freshman point guard Cornell Johnston has been a spark, but hold over Chris Olivier has been on a great run.

After a year at Northern Iowa, Olivier transferred to Charleston. He averaged 11 points last season and has upped that to over 12 this year, but in OVC play, the Chicago native is putting up 18 points per night. For the season his field goal percentage is north of 55%.

His former coach at UNI, Ben Jacobson told me Olivier is easy to like and he is happy for his success.

 

Another surprising member of the West Division is Southern Illinois Edwardsville. The Cougars (7-8)(3-1) have found their stride in recent weeks. The return of Rozell Nunn to last season’s form has ignited a better play throughout the entire lineup.

Belmont’s loss dropped them behind Eastern Kentucky (10-5)(2-0) in the East. The Colonels have won four straight and Jeff Neubauer’s team is the second highest scoring team and the second best defensive team in the OVC.

The East is a two-team race, but the big questions reside in the West. Murray State is the team with a long term resume, but Eastern Illinois’ win and SIUE’s near win against Belmont hints that one or both of those teams could give the Racers a run for their money.

EIU’s next three games will tell us much about the race. The Panthers travel to Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State before hosting Murray (2/22). Those games will give the Spoonhour’s young team a chance to prove they belong among the OVC’s elite.

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