Morehead State Eagle Crash Landing

Thankfully my last Blog post is now (relatively) meaningless. Murray State secured the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with Saturday's 62-51 win over Morehead State.

If you were not at the game you probably did not see the Morehead State mascot trample over a cheerleader (don't know if ESPN2 showed the video on air). It happened just minutes before tipp-off.

Don't worry... The only injury suffered was to the ego of the cheerleader and/or the bird-person.

Kudos to KFVS Chief Photographer John Morgan for capturing the "event".

Racers Deserve to Dance

The NCAA Tournament dream for the Murry State men's basketball team can come true with a pair of victories this weekend in Nashville beginning with Friday nights Semifinal game against Eastern Illinois. The Racers swept the regular season series against the Panthers winning by 16 in the first meeting and 9 just ten days later.

A loss in Nashville could turn the dream into a nightmare which could last more than a week untill the NCAA Selection Show. Most bracket projections have only one team from the OVC playing in the tournament. Of course that would be the winner of the conference tournament with no other OVC team receiving an at-large bid.

In years past that formula has been correct, but this year the predictable tried and true recipe used by the Selection Committee needs a little tweaking. To borrow from Chef Emeril Lagasse, the process could use some "Bam".

This quote from Emeril fits the situation.

“I had these recipes that say do this, do that. Who MAKES these rules?”

I would love to see that written on the dry erase board in the Selection Commitee's "War Room". Variety is the spice of life - the NCAA Tournament could use some out-of-the-box forward thinking.

By no means is the OVC a power conference or one which can even be mentioned with the likes of the ACC, Big East, SEC, Big XII or even the mid-majors (MVC, Horizon, etc.).

As of Thursday March 4th the OVC ranks 20th in RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) out of 33 Division 1 leagues.

RPI Rankings: Conference
1. Big XII
2. Big East
3. ACC
4. SEC

5. Big Ten
9. MVC
33. Great West

Simply looking at the overall RPI and it's easy to see why it appears Murray State needs to secure the OVC's automatic bid. Dig deeper and you'll see the Racers have done everything possible (short of going undefeated) to get an at-large bid. They dominated the regular season (17-1) in the OVC, nearly won road games over Cal (RPI 23) and Lousiana Tech (RPI 80), won all 15 home games and have a 28-4 record heading to Nashville. Honestly! What more could you ask for.

Bypassing Murray State for a .500 team from a power conference would be a huge injustice and continue to devalue the importance the regular season. You can't blame coach Kennedy, Ivan Aska, Tony Easley, Isaiah Canaan or the rest of the team for playing in a bad conference, but you can reward a team for doing what great teams do...Dominate their opponent.


Coach Kennedy talks about the struggles for national recognition.

MVC Tournament Info

Need to know the time and channel to watch the 2010 MVC men's basketball tournament games?

Here is all the information - probably more than you'll need.

2010 STATE FARM MVC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Scottrade Center (21,472) ... St. Louis, Missouri ... March 4-7

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #1 at Noon Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at noon Central.

Fox Sports Indiana -- Live at noon Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at noon Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Live at noon Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at noon Central.

DirecTV -- Live at noon Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at noon Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at noon Central on channel 748.

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #2 at 2:30 p.m. Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Indiana -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central.

DirecTV -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 2:30 p.m. Central on channel 748.

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #3 at 6 p.m. Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 6 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 6 p.m. Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Tape-delay at 12:30 a.m. Central on March 6.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus (alternate channel) – Live at 6 p.m. Central.

*Comcast and Bright House (Channel 81) in Indianapolis, Ind. – Live at 6 p.m. Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at 6 p.m. Central.

DirecTV -- Live at 6 p.m. Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at 6 p.m. Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 6 p.m. Central on channel 748.

*--Will only clear if Evansville defeats Missouri State on March 4 and advances.

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #4 at 8:30 p.m. Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Tape-delay at 2:30 a.m. Central on March 6.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus (alternate channel) – Live at 8:30 p.m. Central.

Comcast and Bright House (Channel 81) in Indianapolis, Ind. – Live at 8:30 p.m. Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central.

DirecTV -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 8:30 p.m. Central on channel 748.

Saturday, March 6 -- Semifinal #1 at 1:30 p.m. Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Indiana -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central.

DirecTV -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 1:30 p.m. Central on channel 748.

Saturday, March 6 -- Semifinal #2 at 4 p.m. Central

Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 4 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Indiana -- Live at 4 p.m. Central.

Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 4 p.m. Central.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Live at 4 p.m. Central.

Metro Sports -- Live at 4 p.m. Central.

DirecTV -- Live at 4 p.m. Central on channel 671.

Dish Network -- Live at 4 p.m. Central on channel 418.

AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 4 p.m. Central on channel 748.

STATE FARM MVC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TALENT ASSIGNMENTS

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #1 at Noon Central

Mitch Holthus (PBP), Mac McCausland (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #2 at 2:30 p.m. Central

Dan McLaughlin (PBP), Charlie Spoonhour (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #3 at 6 p.m. Central

Mitch Holthus (PBP), Mac McCausland (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Friday, March 5 -- Quarterfinal #4 at 8:30 p.m. Central

Dan McLaughlin (PBP), Charlie Spoonhour (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Saturday, March 6 -- Semifinal #1 at 1:30 p.m. Central

Dan McLaughlin (PBP), Charlie Spoonhour (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Saturday, March 6 -- Semifinal #2 at 4 p.m. Central

Dan McLaughlin (PBP), Charlie Spoonhour (Analyst), Scott Warmann (Host), Tom Ackerman (Sideline)

Women's OVC Tournament is Set

The OVC Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket is set in stone with Eastern Illinois winning the top seed.

Like the men's tournament the top four seeds host first-round games on Tuesday, March 2 with the winners advancing to the semifinals in Nashville.



First Round - Tuesday, March 2 (Campus Sites)
*All times Central

(8) Tennessee State @ (1) Eastern Illinois, TBA
(7) Murray State @ (2) Morehead State, 4:30 pm
(6) Tennessee Tech @ (3) Austin Peay, TBA
(5) Eastern Kentucky @ (4) UT Martin, 7:00 pm

Men's OVC Tournament is Set

CAPE GIRADEAU (KFVS) - Everything it set for next weeks Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.

Murray State (17-1) secured the overall number one seed after clinching the school's 21st redgular season OVC Title last week with a victory over SEMO. The Racers open tournament play hosting eighth seeded Tennessee State.

Southeast Missouri State and UT Martin did not qualify for the Tournament.

The winners of Tuesday's games advance to the semifinals in Nashville March 5th & 6th.

First Round - Tuesday, March 2 (Campus Sites)
*All times Central

(8) Tennessee State @ (1) Murray State, 7:00 pm
(7) Jacksonville State @ (2) Morehead State, 6:30 pm
(6) Tennessee Tech @ (3) Austin Peay, 7:30 pm
(5) Eastern Kentucky @ (4) Eastern Illinois, 7:30 pm

Semifinals - Friday, March 5
*All times Central

Semifinal #1 - 6:00 pm (ESPNU)
Semifinal #2 - 8:00 pm (ESPNU)


Championship - Saturday, March 6
*All times Central

Championship Game, 7:00 pm (ESPN2)

Show Me Sellout

Only days remain until the Redhawks regular season finale...It's Saturday night the 27th hosting Austin Peay. Southeast is making a push to pack the building...calling it the Show-Me-Sell Out.

The Show Me Center holds just over seven thousand people and as of Sunday night five thousand tickets have been sold.

The last time the show me center was sold out for a redhawks game... over ten years ago... february 12th 2000.

I remember it well... it was an NCAA Tournament-like atmosphere with the Murray State Racers winning 77-60. The Redhawks (Indians at the time) did not lose again until falling to LSU in the first round of the Big Dancein Salt Lake City.

I hope the Show Me Sell Out is a huge success and it helps energize SEMO basketball fans.

With the young raw talent on the roster and additions in key areas I honestly believe the programs fortunes will drastically improve under head coach Dickey Nutt.

The team has been fun to watch all season and I'm already looking forward to next season.

Changes To OVC Hoops Tournament?

If this is true I say it's about time.

--- --- ---
News from the Ohio Valley Conference... According to a release sent out late Sunday night OVC officals will hold a press conference Monday morning in Nashville to announce changes to mens and womens Conference basketball tournament. The changes will not effect the upcoming tournament.

According to a reliable source we can expect the entire tournament to be held in Nashville which would eliminate opening round games at campus sites.

The tournament would move from two days to four days in the Music City and be played at the Municipal Auditorium.

Todd Richards will have much more on the announcement Monday on Heartland News.