Monday, December 1, 2008

OVC on the rise?

VMI ... the three letters that bring a groan from every Kentucky basketball fan. The Keydets went into Rupp Arena a little over two weeks ago and blistered the Wildcats from 3-point range in a 111-105 win that left the UK faithful stunned.

The Keydets crashed hard on Saturday, falling 95-67 at Jacksonville State, which has been the Ohio Valley Conference's surprise team this season.

Actually, the OVC — at least some parts of it — was a pleasant surprise in November. Murray State hammered Western Kentucky 89-61, only to watch the Hilltoppers respond with wins over Southern Illinois and Louisville, and beat Indiana State on the road.

Austin Peay has already won at Belmont (three straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a one-point loss to Duke last year) and Georgia Southern, which owns a road win over Houston. Eastern Kentucky, which hosts the Racers on Thursday night, won a tournament at Fairliegh Dickinson over the weekend, beating a decent Akron team by 12 in the final.

The Sagarin Ratings have the OVC currently ranked 20th among the 32 Division I leagues, the best it's been in a couple of years.

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