Surprising Govs make run for OVC title

While Morehead State has grabbed plenty of attention for shooting to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings, Austin Peay perhaps ranks as the OVC's biggest surprise roughly halfway through the league schedule.

The Governors, 14-6 overall, are a solid 7-2 in OVC play, good for second place. They trail first-place Morehead State (14-6, 8-1) by just one game.

Austin Peay has posted six straight conference wins, and they have already notched four OVC road victories -- triumphs at league heavyweights Morehead State and Murray State in addition to decisions at Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State.

Austin Peay was picked fifth in the OVC preseason poll but the Govs have used stout defense and solid team chemistry to become a legitimate title contender.

"We're obviously pleased with the way things are going," Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said during this week's OVC media teleconference. "We've been playing well on the defensive end and that's what's got us going. We're not a team that's going to blow people away. Our margin for error is thin. We have to play just right, play good defense and take good shots."

The Govs have thrived despite graduating last year's leading scorer Nick Stapleton, who was third in the OVC with nearly 23 points per game.

"I'll take a player like Stapleton any time, but we do have a different kind of team this year. We're more balanced, and we work well together. They've been a pleasure to coach," Loos said.

Said Murray State coach Tevester Anderson, "Dave Loos has done an outstanding job coaching that team."

While Morehead State, picked third in the preseason poll, and Austin Peay are at the top of the standings, heavy favorites Murray State and Tennessee Tech have righted their ships somewhat after slow starts. They are tied for third at 5-3.

Defending OVC Tournament champion Murray State, which received eight first-place votes in the preseason poll, has won three straight games.

Two-time defending OVC regular-season champion Tennessee Tech, which also received eight first-place votes and finished a narrow second behind Murray State in the preseason rankings, had won five straight before losing at Southeast Missouri State Saturday.

Morehead State nabbed the two remaining first-place votes in the preseason poll.

"Going into the season, I thought Murray State and Tennessee Tech had a chance to run away with the race," Southeast Missouri coach Gary Garner said. "Morehead State is just a lot better basketball team than I thought going into the season.

"Morehead State is really playing good, and Kyle Macy has done a tremendous job. But the race isn't over. There's a lot of basketball to be played yet. Austin Peay is right up there, and Murray State and Tennessee Tech could still win it."

Southeast Missouri, Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Illinois are all 4-5 and still could make a push toward the upper division while Eastern Kentucky (2-6) figures to also make the OVC Tournament as eight of the nine teams qualify.

Tennessee-Martin, picked eighth in the preseason, has come back down to earth after a strong start. The Skyhawks have lost three in a row and five of their last six.

"We've been in a tailspin the last few weeks," Tennessee-Martin coach Bret Campbell said. "We need to get that taste of winning back in our mouth."

Tennessee State (0-9), which has lost 14 straight games overall and has not won since coach Nolan Richardson III resigned in early January, appears to be in total shambles. It's highly unlikely the Tigers, who are 2-18 overall, will be able to get things together to make a run at qualifying for the conference tournament.

Women's race heats up

Preseason favorite Austin Peay (9-0), Southeast Missouri (7-2) and Eastern Kentucky (6-2) appear to be distancing themselves from the rest of the pack in the women's race.

The Govs, who are 16-3 overall, have won 11 straight games and are off to their best OVC start in the program's history.

Southeast Missouri, 13-6 overall, was picked just fifth in the preseason poll but the Otahkians have been one of the league's surprise teams under first-year coach B.J. Smith.

Eastern Kentucky visits Southeast Missouri Saturday in a key matchup.

Marty Mishow covers Southeast Missouri State University and the OVC for the Southeast Missouiran.