After closing out the regular season on a seven-game win streak, the UT Martin Skyhawks look to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) tournament and the list of potential opponents.
The Skyhawks could face of against MSU, SUIE or EIU on March 8. As the tournament progresses, the Skyhawks’ schedule will become more set in stone. Potential opponents post March 8 include eighth seed Southern Indiana, fifth seed Tennessee State, fourth seed Eastern Illinois and first seed Little Rock.
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (USI), 8-23
Led by head coach Stan Gouard, since 2020, the Screaming Eagles are the eighth best offense in the OVC at 68.7 PPG (points per game) and have the seventh scoring defense in the OVC at 72.8 PPG allowed.
USI is led on the court by Jeremiah Hernandez (OVC first team). The 6-foot-4 junior guard averages 17.2 PPG (f fth in OVC), 3.3 rebounds per game (RPG), 1.8 assists per game (APG) and 1.5 steals per game (SPG) for the Screaming Eagles. Other contributors include 6-foot-6 sophomore forward A.J. Smith, averaging 14.2 PPG and 9.1 RPG (fourth in OVC) and 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Jack Campion, averaging 6.5 PPG and 3.9 APG (fourth in OVC). T e Skyhawks played USI once this season, winning 77-68.
Tennessee State Tigers (TSU), 17-14
Led by head coach Brian “Penny” Collins since 2018, the Tigers are the fourth-best offense in the OVC at 73.0 PTS and have the f fth scoring defense in the OVC at 71.5 PTS allowed. TSU is led on the court by Kinyon Hodges. T e 6-foot-2 senior guard averages 10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.9 SPG (second in OVC). Other contributors include 6-foot-6 senior guard Christian Brown (second team OVC), averaging 12.6 PPG, and 6-foot-11 senior center Jason Jitoboh, averaging 9.8 PPG and 2.9 blocks per game (BPG) (f rst in OVC). T e Skyhawks played TSU twice, sweeping the series against the Tigers.
Western Illinois Leathernecks (WIU), 20-11
Led by first-year head coach Chad Boudreau, the Leathernecks are the seventh best offense in the OVC, at 69.5 PPG, and have the second scoring defense in the OVC, at 71.5 PPG allowed.
WIU is led on the court by Drew Cisse (OVC Defensive Player of the Year and first team OVC). The 6-foot-11 senior center averages 8.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG (first in OVC), 2.4 assists and 2.0 BPG (second in OVC). Other contributors include 6-foot-1 junior guard Ryan Meyers (second team OVC), averaging 13.4 PPG, and 6-foot-5 junior guard James Dent Jr., averaging 11.4 PPG. The Skyhawks played WIU twice, splitting the series 1-1 against the Leathernecks.
UA Little Rock Trojans (UALR), 20-11
Led by head coach Darrell Walker since 2018, the Trojans are the second best offense in the OVC at 77.9 PPG and have the sixth scoring defense in the OVC at 72.8 PPG allowed.
UALR is led on the court by dynamic duo K.K. Robinson and Jamir Chaplin (both named to the OVC first team). Robinson is a 6-foot senior guard who averages 15.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 4.3 APG (third in OVC). Jamir Chaplin is a 6-foot-5 senior guard who averages 14.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.2 SPG. Another important player is 6-foot-10 senior forward Makhel Mitchell, averaging 9.7 PPG and 2.3 BPG. The Skyhawks played UALR twice, splitting the series 1-1 against the Trojans.
