Around the Ohio Valley – Feb. 18

Austin Peay – The Governors were selected by the OVC office as the preseason favorite in baseball polls last week, and four APSU players were named to the preseason All-OVC team, including seniors Michael Blanchard and Zach Toney, junior Reed Harper and sophomore Jordan Hankins. Austin Peay, last year’s regular season champion, received seven of the nine possible first place votes in the poll, beating out second-place picked Jacksonville State by six votes. For the full poll results, visit this link on OVCSports.com.

Eastern Illinois – Both the men’s and women’s Panther cross country teams were recognized for their scholarly efforts by the USTFCCCA this week by earning All-Academic Team honors. The EIU men posted a team GPA of 3.47 and ranked 15^th out of 147 recognized teams. The women’s team posted a team GPA of 3.39. Also earning All-Academic honors from the OVC were Southeast Missouri on the men’s side and Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State and Morehead State on the women’s. Congrats to all the runners!

Eastern Kentucky – Four Colonel football players were named to the All-Commonwealth Collegiate team last week, an honor given to the best collegiate football players in the state of Kentucky. Lineman Anthony Brown, running back Matt Denham, defensive back Patrick McClellan and linebacker Ichiro Vance will be honored on June 15 by the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, which selects the All-Commonwealth team. EKU will look to defend its share of the OVC title beginning on Sept. 1 versus Purdue.

Jacksonville State – The OVC champion Gamecock rifle team had yet another solid performance at a tune-up match in Fairbanks, Alaska this week, and is competing at the NCAA Sectional qualifier today. At the match in Fairbanks, JSU finished second with an aggregate score of 4648 (2307 in smallbore and 2341 in air rifle), finishing second to Alaska by only 15 points and topping Nebraska.

Morehead State – Former Eagle basketball player, current Denver Nugget standout and Twitter sensation Kenneth Faried was selected as 2011 Kentucky Sportsman of the Year this week by the state’s media. During his time at MSU, Faried was named OVC Player of the Year twice and Defensive Player of the Year three times, and set an NCAA record for career rebounds with 1,673. He also became the first Eagle to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Congrats, Kenneth!

Murray State – The Racers’ efforts to bring ESPN broadcasting legend Dick Vitale to campus have paid off: Dickie V will be in Murray tonight to call the Racers’ BracketBusters game when the 14^th-ranked men’s basketball team takes on 21-ranked Saint Mary’s. Today’s game marks the first time two top-25 teams have played at the CFSB Center, and the game sold out before Dickie V even announced his visit. Good luck Racers!

Southeast Missouri – Redhawk senior baseball player Trenton Moses continues to rake in the preseason awards; after being named OVC Preseason Player of the Year, Moses was named a Second Team Preseason All-American by CollegeBaseballInsider.com. The award is well-deserved as Moses, a third baseman, hit .395 last season with 11 home runs and 53 RBI’s last season and was named OVC Player of the year.

SIUE – Freshman Marten Jonsson is leading the way for the Cougars on the tennis court so far this season, with a perfect 5-0 record at No. 1 singles. His most recent victory came this past week with a victory over Joe Flanagan from Saint Louis, and he has also defeated foes from IUPUI, Wright State, Northern Illinois, and IPFW. Jonsson is also 4-1 in doubles with his partner Jacob Tanulanond, losing only to Wright State on Jan. 21.

Tennessee State – Junior TSU basketball player Robert Covington was named Mid-Major National Player of the Week by College Sports Madness this week after a solid week against opponents Murray State, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. In TSU’s win over Murray State (the Racers’ only loss so far this season), Covington dropped 17 points with 8 rebounds, followed up with 16 points and 2 rebounds against TTU and then scored 28 points with 12 rebounds against Jacksonville State.

Tennessee Tech – Kevin Murphy, a senior men’s basketball player at TTU, has been named a finalist for the 2012 Lou Henson Player of the Year award, which is given to the best player mid-major men’s player in Division I. The award is selected through both fan voting and the CollegeInsider.com selection committee. Murphy leads the OVC in scoring this season, averaging 20.4 points per game. Also nominated from the OVC for award is Murray State’s Isaiah Canaan. To vote for the Henson Award, click here.

UT Martin – Skyhawk equestrian senior Caroline Cramer won the consolation bracket last week at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. After falling short to Georgia’s Carly Anthony by five points in the first round, Cramer came roaring back to defeat riders from Oklahoma State, Sacred Heart and SMU to take the consolation bracket. The No. 10-ranked Skyhawks returned to action today at Fresno State to take on their hosts and No. 9 TCU.

Get To Know Your OVC Men's Basketball Coaches - Part 7 (What Would You Be Doing If You Weren't Coaching Basketball)

At the 2011 OVC Basketball Media Day, OVC intern Olivia Walter sat down with the men's basketball coaches to ask them some questions. Each week during the conference season we will feature a different question. This week the question is "What would you be doing if you were not coaching basketball?"

OVC Insider presented by Taco Bell - Episode 19

Episode No. 19 of our weekly show about the happenings of the Ohio Valley Conference is now online. The show is hosted by OVC interns Olivia Walter and Patrick Robinson.

Get To Know Your OVC Men's Basketball Coaches - Part 6 (Favorite OVC Memory)

At the 2011 OVC Basketball Media Day, OVC intern Olivia Walter sat down with the men's basketball coaches to ask them some questions. Each week during the conference season we will feature a different question. This week the question is "What is your favorite memory from coaching in the OVC?"

OVC Insider presented by Taco Bell - Episode 18

Episode No. 18 of our weekly show about the happenings of the Ohio Valley Conference is now online. The show is hosted by OVC interns Olivia Walter and Patrick Robinson.

This week we look at some rifle highlights, a look ahead to the UTM/EIU women's basketball game this weekend and some baseball thoughts.

Around the Ohio Valley - Feb. 9

Austin Peay: The Governors’ men’s and women’s tennis teams were predicted to have strong finishes in the OVC Preseason Poll this week. Both were picked to finish second in the conference as teams. In the individual polls, two Governors, sophomore Jasmin Ademovic and senior Vanja Tomic, were picked as the preseason favorites for both the men’s and women’s sides. Ademovic was named men’s Freshman of the Year last season, while Tomic is a two-time women’s first team All-OVC pick. For the full team and individual polls, visit OVCsports.com.

Eastern Illinois: Last weekend, Eastern Illinois unveiled its renovations to Lantz Arena, an area which has been renamed the Baker/Warmoth Hall of Champions. Included in the renovations are a new hall of fame area complete with touch screen profiles of Panther Hall of Fame members, an updated ticket office and concessions area and new trophy cases. The Baker/Warmoth Hall of Champions is named for EIU notables Coach Merv Baker and Walt Warmoth.

Eastern Kentucky: The Lexington Legends preseason caravan made a stop at EKU on Wednesday, bringing with it former Colonel baseball standout Josh Anderson. Anderson, who formerly played for the Legends during his rise to MLB, holds the single-season records for hits, runs, singles and stolen bases at EKU, and was a two-time first team All-OVC selection. The Legends’ caravan included a chance for fans to win Legends tickets and gear, meet the Legends mascot and several current Colonel players.

Jacksonville State: Head JSU softball coach Jana McGinnis received a surprise honor at the Gamecocks’ annual Softball Fan Day last Sunday. The street adjacent to University Field in Jacksonville, formerly named Rudy Abbott Circle, was renamed for McGinnis as Jana McGinnis Lane. McGinnis was presented with the honor by JSU president Dr. William Meehan, athletics director Warren Koegel and Calhoun County Commissioners J.D. Hess and Rudy Abbott as recognition for her 18 years as head coach.

Morehead State: Catherine McDaniel was named assistant softball coach for the Eagles last week by head coach David Williams. McDaniel comes to Morehead after a phenomenal career at Florida Gulf Coast, where she has the fourth-best ERA and third-most strikeouts in program history. Says Williams: “Catherine’s enthusiasm and knowledge are great additions to the program as we head into the season.”

Murray State: With the Racers’ hugely successful men’s basketball season so far, the Murray State community is hoping to bring ESPN legend Dick Vitale to campus for the Racers’ Feb. 18 game against St. Mary’s. Students and fans are encouraged to join the Bring Dickie V to Murray campaign by utilizing social media. And with videos like this coming out of Murray, we don’t really know how Dickie could say no:

Southeast Missouri: Former Redhawk football star Dan Connolly made his mark on the highest stage in football last Sunday, playing in Super Bowl XLVI as a lineman for the New England Patriots. A four-time All-OVC pick, Connolly has started on the line for the Patriots for the last three seasons. Southeast’s sports information department got a chance to talk with Connolly before the big game last week. For the full interview, check out this link.

SIUE: Junior Panther women’s basketball player Raven Berry was named OVC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in three games last week. She has eight double-doubles on the season, and is only 49 points away from 1,000 on her career. The Panthers currently sit in third place in the conference.

Tennessee State: Former TSU track star John Moon was named the head coach for the USA men’s track and field team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships. Moon, who won the national championship in the 100-yard dash and set a world record during his time at TSU, receives the honor after serving in various coaching roles for over 40 years. The World Indoor Championships will be held in Istanbul, Turkey on March 9-11. Moon currently serves as the head cross country coach at Seton Hall University.

Tennessee Tech: Golden Eagle men’s basketball player Kevin Murphy continues to receive recognition for his 50-point performance against SIUE last week. Murphy was voted Capital One Cup Impact Performance of the Week by a national audience through ESPN.com, beating out the likes of Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson. His 50 points is the highest single-game mark in Division I so far this season, and highlights from the game have been featured on networks around the nation.

UT Martin: After last week’s We Back Pat initiative held by the UT Martin basketball programs, Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt expressed her gratitude to her alma mater by posting a thank you video. Check it out here:

Get To Know Your OVC Men's Basketball Coaches - Part 5 (H.O.R.S.E.)

At the 2011 OVC Basketball Media Day, OVC intern Olivia Walter sat down with the men's basketball coaches to ask them some questions. Each week during the conference season we will feature a different question. This week the question is "Who would win a game of H.O.R.S.E. - You or one of your players?"

Around the Ohio Valley – Feb. 2

Austin Peay: Three former Governors, two athletes and one coach, were named to the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame last Saturday. The athlete inductees include former All-American running back Jay Bailey, who holds the Governors’ single-season rushing record, and former basketball player Ashley Haynes, who recorded both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. Former volleyball coach Cheryl Holt was also inducted; she led the Lady Govs to 19-straight OVC tournament appearances during her 23-year career. Holt also served as head tennis coach, head softball coach and assistant basketball coach during her time at APSU.

Eastern Illinois: Former Panther Tony Romo will return to EIU on February 14 to participate in the annual Athletic Director’s Gala. The theme for this year’s event is “The Heart of a Champion”, and will honor the 25-year career of Panther football coach Bob Spoo. Romo, the current starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, played for Spoo and is a 2002 EIU alumnus. For more information on this event, see this link on EIUPantherClub.com.

Eastern Kentucky: Texas Ranger’s pitcher Derek Holland helped kick off the Colonels 2012 baseball season this past weekend, serving as the guest speaker at the annual Diamond Legacy Dinner. Holland spoke specifically about his World Series experiences, and also stressed the importance of individuality and education. Also honored at the dinner were junior Colonel baseball players Chase Greene and Shaun Ball, who were recognized for their hard work in the offseason.

Jacksonville State: The JSU men’s golf team’s season is underway, and the Gamecocks were also recognized this week by the OVC office. In the OVC preseason poll, JSU is ranked first, after receiving 7 out of 9 first place votes. The Gamecocks won their third OVC title last season, setting a Championship record for team single round score with 280 (-8). For the full preseason polls for both men’s and women’s golf, visit this link on OVCSports.com.

Morehead State: Two Eagle softball players were honored by College Sports Madness this week in the preseason selection. Senior outfielders Kayla Brill and Sam Woodall were both named to the OVC Preseason All-Conference Second Team after solid junior seasons. Brill posted a .312 batting average with 43 hits and nine home runs, while Woodall batted .337 with 64 hits. For the full preseason selections, visit CollegeSportsMadness.com.

Murray State: The 2012 OVC rifle championships will be held this coming weekend at UT Martin, and the Racers look to take their third-straight conference title and return to the NCAA tournament. Two 2011 OVC honorees will lead Murray State this weekend: junior Kaitlin Cleven was named Air Rifle MVP last season, while fellow junior Kyle Donnan will look to return to the Smallbore First Team.

Southeast Missouri: The highly anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the OVC, Southeast and no. 9 Murray State, is finally happening tonight at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky. The game, which is being broadcasted by ESPNU, is the 63^rd meeting between the 7-2 (OVC) Redhawks and the undefeated Racers. Tickets for the event sold out this afternoon.

SIUE: Former Cougar Alicia DeShasier will be into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame this coming May, one of five in this year’s class. DeShasier was a softball and track and field standout at SIUE, is in the top five in school history in almost every statistical category in softball, and competed in the 2007 Division II National Championships in the javelin. She went on to claim the gold medal in javelin in last year’s Pan American Games.

Tennessee State: Junior women’s basketball player Jasmin Shuler has been named this week’s Boxtorow National Player of the Week and will be featured on the national radio talk show From the Press Box to Press Row this Saturday. Shuler, who is averaging 15 points per game for the Tigers, dropped a career-high 38 against Morehead State on January 19. From the Press Box to Press Row can be heard Saturday at 8am on WFSK-FM 88.1 in the Nashville metro area.

Tennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles’ own Molly Heady was named 2012 Capital One Academic All-District First Team after posting a perfect 4.0 GPA in all of her semesters at Tennessee Tech. Heady, a sophomore women’s basketball player, was the only women’s basketball player to be selected from the OVC and one of only eight to have a perfect 4.0 in all Division I. On the court, Heady ranks third in both scoring and rebounding averages. Congrats, Molly!

UT Martin: The Skyhawks are doing their part to honor one of their most famous alumni, University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt. The basketball doubleheader against Murray State on Saturday, Feb. 4 has been dubbed We Back Pat night, with fundraising efforts including t-shirts and bracelets to raise money for the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, which funds research and treatment of Alzheimer’s. Summitt, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia last year, played basketball at UT Martin prior to her successes in her coaching career with the Volunteers.

OVC Insider presented by Taco Bell - Episode 17

Episode No. 17 of our weekly show about the happenings of the Ohio Valley Conference is now online. The show is hosted by OVC interns Olivia Walter and Patrick Robinson.

This week we look at the BracketBusters matchups, Kevin Murphy's 50-point game and a look at the Rifle Championship.