All-OVC first team

The Ohio Valley Conference is just as important to eCougarzone.com as SIUE is. This is where we will be competing years down the road, and getting to know our competition is great, because it helps us better understand ourselves in the long run. 


Through a very unscientific process, we picked out ten different players to watch in the OVC, five on each side. The second team is coming tomorrow, and don't worry Cougar fans, there may or may not be a surprise on day two. 




Guard 1: Isaiah Canaan (Murray State)

actually taken by me!

Cannan was one of the most under-rated freshmen in the nation last season. He was the main reason Murray State escaped from Eastern Illinois in the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament last season, before the Racers beat Morehead State for the conference title. 


Vital Stats: averaged 10.4 ppg in 20.4 minutes, 50% field goal percentage, 48 % three point percentage


Cannan was just one of the pieces holding the Racers together. From the point guard spot, he was the glue. He is a flashy player and grew into something special late in the season. He scored 16 to lead Murray against Eastern Illinois in the OVC semifinals, a 55-51 victory. He scored 14 against Vanderbilt in Murray's first round upset win over Vanderbilt. Against SIUE, he went 17 and 11 in the two games respectively. Cannan is going to have a breakout year. The only part of his game he really struggles with is free throw shooting. 50 percent from the stripe isn't getting it done. 


So, why the hype? This shot against SEMO pretty much sums it up. 





Wait, did that happen!?!?


Guard 2: DeMonte Harper (Morehead State)

Without Donte Stallworth, Harper is going to need to be the Robin to Kenneth Faried's batman at Morehead State. (Spoiler alert....) As a junior, Harper was the third best scorer for the Eagles. He still won't score as much as Faried, but that is not his job. He is supposed to be the guy getting the ball to Faried, feeding it inside and scoring on the side. He was ninth in the conference with 3.2 assists per game last season, and that number will go up with his increasing role on the team. He isn't the guy to foul late either, shooting 71 percent from the line, much better than Canaan. His numbers have improved every year at Morehead. 


Vital Stats: 11.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 3.2 spg, 72% free throw percentage






Guard 3: B.J. Jenkins (Murray State)

As life goes for the Murray State Racers, nobody really stands out against the crowd as a bonafide and dominant player. Nobody from this team will get drafted into the NBA, but I am willing to bet a few NBA teams will take flyers on them and others will end up overseas. B.J Jenkins, like Canaan is one of those team-players in Murray. 


The numbers are not flashy.


Vital Stats: 10.4 ppg, 3.2 apg, 80 percent free throw percentage, 37 percent three point percentage


On OVC media day, Morehead State Head Coach Donnie Tyndall said this. 


"Miles and Jenkins were first-team all-conference (last year), and then they have Canaan, who in my opinion is the best of the three. They're the deepest, most talented team, and obviously they've got one heck of a chance to win the thing."


Murray's guard play is going to have a profound impact on how the conference pans out. Jenkins is going to be tough for SIUE to handle twice a year. 


Forward: Anthony Campbell (Austin Peay)

I went to High School with this kid. He is a year younger than me, and truth be told I have never seen him play. Wasn't into the whole High School basketball thing because I didn't have friends who wanted to go to games. It was a mistake, whatever. The Edwardsville native Campbell is quickly becoming one of the top players in the OVC, but he doesn't have much around him to help Austin Peay reach the top of the conference. Here's what I like about Campbell. He has a high school teammate, Will Triggs joining him as a freshman. It's invaluable to be able to play with someone familiar, and will help Triggs adapt to Division I basketball very easily. Having him on the team helps Campbell as well. 


Vital Stats: 15.4 ppg (4th in OVC) 5.6 rpg, 48% field goal percentage, 80 percent free throw percentage


At 6''6, you have to classify Campbell as a combo-forward/guard. He has the ability to score inside and outside and isn't afraid to shoot the basketball. He really came into his own as a sophomore last season and will be one of the best players in the OVC. He put 17 points down against Tennessee last season. 


Center: Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) 

I recognize it, Coach Forrester mentioned it in his press conference. The biggest threat in the entire OVC is this man, Kenneth Faried. He could have very easily left after last season to pursue the NBA draft, but instead, he is back for his senior season. You can always expect big things from this big man. He was second in the OVC scoring and the nations second leader rebounder. Inside the paint, there are very few players in the entire game who can compete. He was also 56th in the country in blocked shots. Against SIUE, he had 23 points. 


Vital stats: 16.9 ppg, 13 rpg, 59 % field goal percentage, 1.9 bpg


Faried is 6'8, but plays like he is 7'2, he is that good. 


The NBA is in his future, its not even a question anymore. 

Posted in: Archives,Men's basketball