coreyschucky
11-08-2004, 01:13 PM
From CBSSPORTSLINE.COM
Ohio Valley Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Murray State
2. Tennessee State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Tennessee Tech
5. Austin Peay
6. Tennessee-Martin
7. Eastern Illinois
8. Southeast Missouri State
9. Morehead State
10. Samford
11. Jacksonville State
One legendary former Kentucky guard made his run at Ohio Valley Conference supremacy, and now it's time for another legendary former Kentucky guard to make his.
Virginia transfer Keith Jenifer will run the show for Murray State.(AP)
The first one, Kyle Macy, will undoubtedly see his Morehead State program dip now that Ricky Minard -- the league's best player in years -- is gone.
The second one, Travis Ford of Eastern Kentucky, has made steady progress for three seasons and is about to get into the good stuff this season.
The programs most likely standing between Eastern Kentucky and the OVC's automatic NCAA bid are reloaded Murray State and turnaround team Tennessee State.
Another former Kentucky guard, Saul Smith, also has joined the OVC coaching ranks. He's an assistant at Tennessee Tech.
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Murray State
2. Tennessee State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Tennessee Tech
5. Austin Peay
6. Tennessee-Martin
7. Eastern Illinois
8. Southeast Missouri State
9. Morehead State
10. Samford
11. Jacksonville State
Murray State
Top three: G Adam Chiles, G Keith Jenifer, G Trey Pearson.
On the rise: Almost nobody is back from last season's team that won 26 games and finished second in the league, but the Racers are still the smart pick to replace Austin Peay at the top. Why? Because of what they brought in. Coach Mick Cronin will unleash a torrent of transfers, led by Jenifer, the speedy ex-Virginia point guard, and Pearson, an Ole Miss refugee.
Tennessee State
Top three: F Roshaun Bowers, G Bruce Price, F Jeremy Jackson.
On the rise: If there's another team in America that won only seven games last season yet still deserves to be picked second in its league this preseason, show us. Until then, we're saying Tennessee State could be in for the biggest one-season turnaround in the country. The Tigers were competitive in the league last season, going 6-10, and will add Division I transfers Flowers (Cincinnati), Eric King (St. John's) and Wayne Arnold (Georgia) to the devastating duo of Bowers and Price.
Eastern Kentucky
Top three: G Matt Witt, F Michael Haney, G Ben Rushing.
On the rise: Ford's best team yet has a core of solid returning players, led by Witt and Haney, mixed with what has been called his best recruiting class to date. There's a reason Ford's contract was extended after last season even though his record stands at an ugly-looking 39-71. That reason: He has this once-dismal program headed in the right direction.
Tennessee Tech
Top three: F Willie Jenkins, G Milone Clark, F Keyon Boyd.
On the rise: The Golden Eagles' intriguing new faces include two from the SEC: assistant coach Saul Smith, the ex-Wildcat; and small forward Derek Stribling, the former Tennessee wing. The centerpiece is an old face: Jenkins, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds last season.
Austin Peay
Top three: G Anthony Davis, G Maurice Hampton, F Zac Schlader.
On the decline: This is an osmosis pick, the assumption being that 2003-04 role players like Hampton and Schlader learned enough -- while mostly watching the Governors go 16-0 in league play -- to keep Austin Peay in the OVC's upper half. We're not sure that's the case, but we'll give Peay the benefit of the doubt and put them here.
Tennessee-Martin
Top three: F J.C. Howe, G Justin Smith, G Earl Bullock.
On the rise: The Skyhawks are a program in flux, but the flux could be good this season. Howe is a 14-and-7 guy who is returning after taking last season off to serve a mission, while Smith and Bullock are said to be healing from season-ending injuries from a year ago. Throw in N.C. State transfer Justin Flatt, an exceptional shooter, and the Skyhawks have the potential to make a massive jump from ninth a year ago.
Eastern Illinois
Top three: G Josh Gomes, F Aaron Patterson, G Emanuel Dildy.
On the rise: The Panthers were too small to compete in the OVC last season, but a recruiting class led by three players standing 6-6 or taller should address that problem. Gomes averaged 13.6 points last season but went for 20-plus during the Panthers' overseas trip.
Southeast Missouri State
Top three: G Derek Winans, F Dainmon Gonner, G Mike Nelke.
On the rise: The Indians had more talent than their 4-12 league record last season would indicate, and most of that is back. Winans and Gonner are about as good as any returning inside-outside combination in the OVC.
Morehead State
Top three: C Chad McKnight, G Quinton Smith, G Ramon Kelly.
On the decline: The Ricky Minard Era is over, which means that after finishing third in the OVC last season, the Eagles must play this season with mere mortals. A tumble will follow, naturally.
Samford
Top three: F J. Robert Merritt, G Jerry Smith, F Josh Hare.
On the decline: Minus three double-figure scorers from last season, and without an especially well-regarded class of newcomers, the Bulldogs will drop from last season's fifth-place tie.
Jacksonville State
Top three: G Walker D. Russell, C Abdou Diame, F Carlos Lumpkin.
On the decline: The Gamecocks have one of the OVC's best guards in Russell, but one of the league's worst supporting casts in everyone else. Everyone else trumps Russell.
Accolades
First team
F -- Willie Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
F -- Roshaun Bowers, Tennessee State
G -- Matt Witt, Eastern Kentucky
G -- Adam Chiles, Murray State
G -- Bruce Price, Tennessee State
Second team
F -- J. Robert Merritt, Samford
F -- Dainmon Gonner, Southeast Missouri State
C -- Derek Winans, Southeast Missouri State
G -- Anthony Davis, Austin Peay
G -- Walker D. Russell, Jacksonville State
Player of the year
Willie Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
Newcomer of the year
Rod Flowers, Tennessee State
Breakthrough player
Adam Chiles, Murray State
Ohio Valley Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Murray State
2. Tennessee State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Tennessee Tech
5. Austin Peay
6. Tennessee-Martin
7. Eastern Illinois
8. Southeast Missouri State
9. Morehead State
10. Samford
11. Jacksonville State
One legendary former Kentucky guard made his run at Ohio Valley Conference supremacy, and now it's time for another legendary former Kentucky guard to make his.
Virginia transfer Keith Jenifer will run the show for Murray State.(AP)
The first one, Kyle Macy, will undoubtedly see his Morehead State program dip now that Ricky Minard -- the league's best player in years -- is gone.
The second one, Travis Ford of Eastern Kentucky, has made steady progress for three seasons and is about to get into the good stuff this season.
The programs most likely standing between Eastern Kentucky and the OVC's automatic NCAA bid are reloaded Murray State and turnaround team Tennessee State.
Another former Kentucky guard, Saul Smith, also has joined the OVC coaching ranks. He's an assistant at Tennessee Tech.
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Murray State
2. Tennessee State
3. Eastern Kentucky
4. Tennessee Tech
5. Austin Peay
6. Tennessee-Martin
7. Eastern Illinois
8. Southeast Missouri State
9. Morehead State
10. Samford
11. Jacksonville State
Murray State
Top three: G Adam Chiles, G Keith Jenifer, G Trey Pearson.
On the rise: Almost nobody is back from last season's team that won 26 games and finished second in the league, but the Racers are still the smart pick to replace Austin Peay at the top. Why? Because of what they brought in. Coach Mick Cronin will unleash a torrent of transfers, led by Jenifer, the speedy ex-Virginia point guard, and Pearson, an Ole Miss refugee.
Tennessee State
Top three: F Roshaun Bowers, G Bruce Price, F Jeremy Jackson.
On the rise: If there's another team in America that won only seven games last season yet still deserves to be picked second in its league this preseason, show us. Until then, we're saying Tennessee State could be in for the biggest one-season turnaround in the country. The Tigers were competitive in the league last season, going 6-10, and will add Division I transfers Flowers (Cincinnati), Eric King (St. John's) and Wayne Arnold (Georgia) to the devastating duo of Bowers and Price.
Eastern Kentucky
Top three: G Matt Witt, F Michael Haney, G Ben Rushing.
On the rise: Ford's best team yet has a core of solid returning players, led by Witt and Haney, mixed with what has been called his best recruiting class to date. There's a reason Ford's contract was extended after last season even though his record stands at an ugly-looking 39-71. That reason: He has this once-dismal program headed in the right direction.
Tennessee Tech
Top three: F Willie Jenkins, G Milone Clark, F Keyon Boyd.
On the rise: The Golden Eagles' intriguing new faces include two from the SEC: assistant coach Saul Smith, the ex-Wildcat; and small forward Derek Stribling, the former Tennessee wing. The centerpiece is an old face: Jenkins, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds last season.
Austin Peay
Top three: G Anthony Davis, G Maurice Hampton, F Zac Schlader.
On the decline: This is an osmosis pick, the assumption being that 2003-04 role players like Hampton and Schlader learned enough -- while mostly watching the Governors go 16-0 in league play -- to keep Austin Peay in the OVC's upper half. We're not sure that's the case, but we'll give Peay the benefit of the doubt and put them here.
Tennessee-Martin
Top three: F J.C. Howe, G Justin Smith, G Earl Bullock.
On the rise: The Skyhawks are a program in flux, but the flux could be good this season. Howe is a 14-and-7 guy who is returning after taking last season off to serve a mission, while Smith and Bullock are said to be healing from season-ending injuries from a year ago. Throw in N.C. State transfer Justin Flatt, an exceptional shooter, and the Skyhawks have the potential to make a massive jump from ninth a year ago.
Eastern Illinois
Top three: G Josh Gomes, F Aaron Patterson, G Emanuel Dildy.
On the rise: The Panthers were too small to compete in the OVC last season, but a recruiting class led by three players standing 6-6 or taller should address that problem. Gomes averaged 13.6 points last season but went for 20-plus during the Panthers' overseas trip.
Southeast Missouri State
Top three: G Derek Winans, F Dainmon Gonner, G Mike Nelke.
On the rise: The Indians had more talent than their 4-12 league record last season would indicate, and most of that is back. Winans and Gonner are about as good as any returning inside-outside combination in the OVC.
Morehead State
Top three: C Chad McKnight, G Quinton Smith, G Ramon Kelly.
On the decline: The Ricky Minard Era is over, which means that after finishing third in the OVC last season, the Eagles must play this season with mere mortals. A tumble will follow, naturally.
Samford
Top three: F J. Robert Merritt, G Jerry Smith, F Josh Hare.
On the decline: Minus three double-figure scorers from last season, and without an especially well-regarded class of newcomers, the Bulldogs will drop from last season's fifth-place tie.
Jacksonville State
Top three: G Walker D. Russell, C Abdou Diame, F Carlos Lumpkin.
On the decline: The Gamecocks have one of the OVC's best guards in Russell, but one of the league's worst supporting casts in everyone else. Everyone else trumps Russell.
Accolades
First team
F -- Willie Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
F -- Roshaun Bowers, Tennessee State
G -- Matt Witt, Eastern Kentucky
G -- Adam Chiles, Murray State
G -- Bruce Price, Tennessee State
Second team
F -- J. Robert Merritt, Samford
F -- Dainmon Gonner, Southeast Missouri State
C -- Derek Winans, Southeast Missouri State
G -- Anthony Davis, Austin Peay
G -- Walker D. Russell, Jacksonville State
Player of the year
Willie Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
Newcomer of the year
Rod Flowers, Tennessee State
Breakthrough player
Adam Chiles, Murray State