Jacksonville State's success has been OVC's big surprise

Coming off one of their best performances of the season -- even though it resulted in a loss -- Southeast Missouri State University's Otahkians now set their sights on the Ohio Valley Conference's most surprising team.

Jacksonville State (11-5, 5-1) was picked eighth out of 11 squads in the league's preseason coaches poll, but the first-year OVC member is in second place heading into today's 5 p.m. game with the Otahkians (8-9 3-3) in Jacksonville, Ala.

"They've really been playing well and it's going to be a big challenge for us," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said.

Smith was encouraged by the Otahkians' effort Saturday in a loss at defending OVC champion Austin Peay. The Otahkians led most of the second half before the Governors rallied for a 68-65 victory.

"We looked good," Smith said. "If we'll go with that type of effort every time, I think we'll be fine."

Jacksonville State already owns a 22-point victory over perennial OVC power Eastern Kentucky. The Gamecocks' lone conference loss was a nine-point setback at Tennessee-Martin.

The Gamecocks feature one of the OVC's premier players in 6-foot-1 junior forward Shanika Freeman, last year's Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year when she averaged 21.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

This season, Freeman is second in the OVC in scoring and first in rebounding, with averages of 21 points and 10.5 boards. As a team, Jacksonville State is first in the conference in scoring at more than 73 points per game.

"Freeman is a very talented player and they've got good players around her," Smith said. "They're very athletic, with good size, and their forwards all put it on the floor. They're a good team."

Following today's contest, the Otahkians continue their two-game road trip Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest against Samford (8-9, 1-5) in Birmingham, Ala. The Bulldogs, the OVC's other first-year member, were picked last in the preseason poll. Southeast won 89-49 at Samford last year.

"They've struggled some, but we can't take them lightly," Smith said. "This is obviously another big trip for us. We need to have some success."

The Otahkians, the OVC preseason favorites, are tied for fifth place. But Smith knows Southeast can still make a strong push for the regular-season title with 10 conference games remaining.

"There's still a lot of basketball left to be played and a lot can happen," Smith said.