NCAA Basketball Conference Tournament Breakdown: The Ohio Valley Conference

Dates:  March 2-5

Bracket:  The Ohio Valley Conference

Sites:  The entire four-day tournament will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

Television:  Semifinals on ESPNU, Championship on ESPN2.

Tourney Fact:  The top two seeds receive a double-bye into the semifinals.  Teams seeded third and fourth receive a bye into the quarterfinals. 

Favorites:  Murray St. (23-7, 14-4) and Morehead St. (22-9, 13-5) are undoubtedly the favorites to reach the championship game.  The Racers and Eagles split the regular season series, but Murray St. won the most recent contest 70-62 on Feb. 24.  Morehead St. features Kenneth Faried, one of the best rebounders in the country.

Best of the Rest:  Austin Peay (19-12, 13-5) beat both Murray St. and Morehead St. during the regular season and figures to be a factor in the tournament.  The Governors will need great play from TyShwan Edmondson to have a shot at the conference championship.

Sleeper:  Tennessee Tech (18-11, 12-6) has been on a roll, winning their last five.  Don’t be surprised if Kevin Murphy and the Golden Eagles pull off an upset and reach the finals.

Also, check out other conference tournament breakdowns: Big South Conference, Horizon League, Atlantic Sun and Patriot League.