Coaches vs. Cancer “Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend,” a collaborative initiative of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Cancer Society (the Society), is slated this weekend.

Participating NABC-member coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their usual game attire during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the Society and the fight against cancer. As well, fans are encouraged to wear sneakers to games to demonstrate their support.

“The disease doesn’t care who it hits,” Tennessee State head coach Cy Alexander said during Tuesday’s Ohio Valley Conference teleconference. “This is a very serious disease.”

Alexander knows many who have died from cancer, including legendary women’s basketball Kay Yow. Yow died on Saturday after battling breast cancer.

“We will certainly dress appropriately for the Coaches vs. Cancer game,” Alexander said.

By lacing up sneakers with their suits, participating coaches nationwide will spotlight the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, everyone can take daily steps to reduce their risk of the disease.

For those who do not smoke and control their weight, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk.

Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for many forms of cancer, including breast, prostate and colon cancers and may account for 20 percent of cancer deaths in women and 14 percent in men.

“It’s a great program for college basketball,” Morehead State head coach Donnie Tyndall said.

Tyndall said raising an event for cancer awareness means a little bit more to him since it’s close to him.

Govs still at the top

Austin Peay (12-7, 8-2 OVC) is still atop the league despite graduating three of its five starters from last season.

The Govs graduated Second Team All-OVC guard Derek Wright, 2007 Second Team All-OVC honoree Fernandez Lockett and Todd Babington, who averaged 11.5 points last season.

The Govs have only lost to Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.

“If anyone is surprised by Austin Peay, then they haven’t been paying attention to the OVC,” Eastern Kentucky Jeff Neubauer said during Tuesday’s coaches’ teleconference. “They’re a very talented team, and coach (Dave) Loos has built a consistent program.”

The Govs have 18 regular season league titles with four league tourney titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances.

“We felt we had some quality players coming back,” Loos said. “Confidence is the key.”

This includes senior forward Drake Reed, who was a First-Team All-OVC selection, last season. Reed, one of the two returning starters, is averaging 19.8 points a game.

Channels, who only started six games last season, is averaging 18.3 points a game this season. He averaged only 10.9 a game last season.

“Wes has progressed from kind of a supporting role in our lineup into a leadership role and go-to-guy,” Loos said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”

Skyhawks still on a roll

Tennessee Martin has won six straight games and 12 of its last 13 games.

“We’re getting good balance out of our team,” UTM head coach Bret Campbell said during the teleconference.

This includes senior guard Lester Hudson, junior guard Delrico Lane and senior forward Olajide Hay.

“I’m very pleased with the direction we’re going, but things can change very, very quickly, and we got to face the next three games on the road,” Campbell said.

In the past six games, the Skyhawks have won by more than double figures each time.

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

OVC Men’s Basketball Standings

Team / OVC / Overall

Austin Peay / 8-1 / 12-7

Morehead State / 7-2 / 11-10

UT Martin / 7-3 / 14-6

Murray State / 5-4 / 10-9

E. Illinois / 5-4 / 8-11

E. Kentucky / 4-5 / 11-9

Tennessee Tech / 4-5 / 10-9

Tennessee State / 4-5 / 6-13

Jacksonville State / 2-7 / 8-10

Southeast Missouri / 0-10 / 3-18

Junior guard T.J. Marion tries to maintain possession of the ball during the Jan. 17 game against Morehead State in Lantz Arena. The Panthers beat Morehead State, which as of Tuesday afternoon, was second in the league. (Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern New

(more…)