CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2024. Up first: The OVC Tournament.
The OVC Tournament preview had Little Rock taking it home after beating Morehead State basketball in the final, and while those two teams made it, the Eagles ended up taking home the trophy, not the Trojans.
A trio of teams (Little Rock, Morehead State, and UT-Martin) proved themselves to be in a league above the rest of the OVC, but only one could lift the trophy. That was the Eagles, who bested the Trojans in the title game, 69-55. After losing star guard Mark Freeman before the season, Morehead State rebounded, and they’re going dancing. It’s stories like this that make us fall in love with March.
CBB Review OVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Riley Minix, Morehead State
Minix has shown out as the most consistent player on this Eagles squad, and he led both teams in scoring in the championship game. The big-bodied guard put up games of 20, 26, and 26 while leading Morehead to the dance. His statline of (26-7-0) in the title game against the Trojans was the difference, and the Florida native is sure to cause headaches to whatever high-major draws the Eagles in the tournament.
CBB Review All-OVC Tournament First Team
- G: KK Robinson, Little Rock – 2 games played (14.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG)
- G: Drew Thelwell, Morehead State – 3 games played (14.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG)
- G: Kalil Thomas, Morehead State – 3 games played (17.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2. APG)
- G: Jordan Sears, UT Martin – 1 game played (34.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG)
- G: Riley Minix, Morehead State – 3 games played (24.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.3 APG)
Morehead State’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
Morehead State has an impressive overall record at 26-8. But with their best non-con win being against North Alabama and the Eagles having a KenPom rating of 119 entering Saturday night, it’s unlikely that they’ll be in a position to pull off an upset given where they’ll likely be seeded, around the 13-15 range, probably facing off against a team like Tennessee, Arizona, North Carolina, or Duke. Anything’s possible, however.