Both Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois have clinched first-round home games, but the majority of the remaining teams in the Ohio Valley Conference are still seeking a place tournament berth.

Samford (18-6, 11-3 OVC), who is third in the league, is also guaranteed a tournament berth. Even if the Bulldogs lose their remaining five games, they will clinch at least the No. 8 spot because they will not finish with more than 10 losses.

Morehead State (7-16, 5-9) is a half-game ahead of ninth-place Tennessee Tech (6-19, 5-10). Morehead State has lost twice to first-place Southeast Missouri this season and has also lost twice to the second-place Panthers.

“I really didn’t know and didn’t have expectations (of the league),” first-year Eagles’ head coach Mike Bradbury said.

Last season Bradbury was able to see Southeast Missouri when the Redhawks played No. 3 seed Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. The 14th-seeded Redhawks lost in the first round against the Sooners, 74-60.

“Outside of them, everybody has a chance to win,” Bradbury said.

Tennessee Tech head coach Amy Brown has similar thoughts.

“No team needs to be taken lightly in the conference,” Brown said. “It’s anybody’s game on any given night.”

Coaches across the league are more concerned about making the conference tournament and finishing in the top eight.

“We control our own destiny,” Brown said about the Golden Eagles. “You’ve got to take care of yourself. You take it one game at a time. You just hope things align.”

The Golden Eagles are currently on the outside looking in as they sit in ninth place in the league. TTU has made every postseason conference tournament since 1982.

Bottom teams show prowess

OVC teams have between four and six league games remaining before the conference tournament and, if they want to pull some upsets, they need to win against some teams at a higher ranking in the conference.

Tennessee-Martin (5-10, 2-13) has proven it can hang with the top of the conference. The Skyhawks defeated second-place Eastern Illinois, 66-64, on Jan. 10. The Skyhawks also defeated TSU 73-57 on Feb. 7.

Even first-place SEMO lost to fifth-place Tennessee State, 61-49, on Dec. 6. The Lady Tigers defeated 10th-place Austin Peay on Monday night, 70-69 in the final four seconds.

“Last night, they showed they could stay with it,” TSU head coach Tracee Wells said.

Samford head coach Mike Morris also recognizes the play of Austin Peay.

“Austin Peay played very well,” Morris said. “Their post players are tough and tough for us to handle.”

Samford needed overtime to beat the Lady Governors, 65-56, on Feb. 9.

Coaches excited for Thursday’s game

Coaches around the league are excited for a big match in the conference between first-place SEMO and second-place Eastern Illinois.

SEMO will play the Panthers at 5 p.m. on Thursday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

“It’ll be a very good game to watch,” Tennessee-Martin head coach Tara Tansil said. “It will definitely be determined by who stays out of foul trouble.”

Morris recognizes the importance of the game for his third-place Bulldogs.

“That’s going to be a great game,” Morris said. “Eastern’s a talented team. It’s going to be a fun race.”

Breakouts:

Thursday, February 14

Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri* – 5 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State* – 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Morehead State at Samford* – 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

UT Martin at Tennessee Tech* – 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Murray State at Tennessee State* – 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Saturday, February 16

Morehead State at Jacksonville State* – 2 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Eastern Kentucky at Samford* – 4 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Southeast Missouri at UT Martin* – 4 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Tennessee Tech at Austin Peay* – 5:15 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Eastern Illinois at Murray State* – 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.