Iowa beat Southeast Missouri State 96-89.SIU is now in their first year of D1 basketball, something that arguably would have never happened if Bruce Pearl wasn’t so beloved by Illini fans as he is. Beloved (by Illini fans) former Iowa assistant Bruce Pearl once coached at Southern Indiana.Tennessee Martin (20 seasons), Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (14 seasons), Lindenwood (ineligible), Southern Indiana (ineligible)ī1G connections and other fun conference stats Murray State went 30-2 (18-0) in the regular season, received a 7 seed, beat San Francisco in the first round, and then lost to Saint Peter’s. If both make the final, the #1 seed Morehead State will take the prize. If one of these schools reaches the final, their opponent will get the auto bid win or lose. Neither program is eligible for the NCAA tournament this season as they are in their first of a four year transition period. They were a very successful D2 program in the 70s, but have not made the NCAA D1 tournament since 1994. Tennessee State Tigers (14-13, 10-8) - The Tigers play a lot of games very quickly daring opponents to shoot early in the shot clock. ![]() They play quick and showed themselves capable of beating Morehead State when they toppled them back on December 31. Tennessee Martin Skyhawks (14-13, 10-8) - The Skyhawks have been in the Ohio Valley Conference since the 1992/93 season and never won the OVC auto bid. They lost to Loyola Chicago in the opening round of the 1963 tournament 42-111. The Golden Eagles have not been to the tournament in 60 years. If they make a run, they shot well enough to make up for their warts. Tennessee Tech has one thing going for them: they can shoot the three ball well (37.5%). Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (12-16, 11-7) - It’s not often you find contenders with overall losing records but welcome to the OVC. They aren’t unbeatable but they are the only remaining program that has been here recently. Morehead State Eagles (17-10, 14-4) - Morehead is the slowest team in the conference, but also the best team and program now that their primary competition has left. OVC fever! /t22ZmHbwwK- The Field of 68 February 26, 2023 The Ohio Valley Conference tournament bracket. ![]() Although the two bid OVC was a possibility with Murray State and Belmont in the conference, those two programs have fled for the greener grass of the Missouri Valley Conference and the OVC is now a one bid conference and probably the recipient of a 16 seed. In the past five tournaments the OVC has received a 7, 14, 11 (and 12), 12, and 15 seed. Both Lindenwood and Southern Indiana qualified for the OVC field. The odd thing about the OVC bracket is that while they take only 8 of 10 teams, they don’t exclude the two teams that are ineligible for the NCAA tournament. Interestingly, the women’s tournament takes place at the same time and location (which is why you only see two games/day on the men’s side) and an admissions fair for high school students interested in all ten OVC universities takes place Thursday at the Ford Center. All tournament games are played in Evansville, Indiana at the Ford Center. ![]() The top 4 seeds get a bye, the top two seeds get a double bye and only 8 out of 10 conference teams get to participate. The Ohio Valley Conference tournament has four rounds on consecutive days. Ohio Valley Conference tournament preview Feel free to skip to the bottom of each section if you just want to know who your Big Ten rooting interests are.
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