With the first basketball exhibition games scheduled for next week and the regular season less than two weeks away, here is a look at what the preseason basketball publications are saying about the Ohio Valley Conference.
The OVC will release its official preseason predicted order of finish and All-OVC teams (as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors) this Thursday, Oct. 29 in conjunction with the head coaches media teleconference.
Of the five publications listed below (Blue Ribbon, Athlon, Sporting News, Lindy's and Yahoo), all are available on newstands now.
Blue Ribbon Yearbook
Player of the Year: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Newcomer of the Year: Trenton Marshall, Jacksonville State
All-OVC Team
G - Wesley Channels, Austin Peay
G - Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
F - Darius Cox, Tennessee State
F - Danero Thomas, Murray State
C - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Murray State
2. Morehead State
3. Eastern Illinois
4. Austin Peay
5. Jacksonville State
6. Tennessee Tech
7. Eastern Kentucky
8. Tennessee State
9. UT Martin
10. Southeast Missouri
Athlon Sports
Player of the Year: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
All-OVC Team
G - Wesley Channels, Austin Peay
G - Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
G - Maze Stallworth, Morehead State
F - Danero Thomas, Murray State
C - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Morehead State
2. Murray State
3. Eastern Illinois
4. Austin Peay
5. Eastern Kentucky
6. UT Martin
7. Jacksonville State
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Southeast Missouri
10. Tennessee State
Sporting News
Top Player: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Top Newcomer: Trenton Marshall, Jacksonville State
Top Coach: Dave Loos, Austin Peay
All-OVC Team
G - Wesley Channels, Austin Peay
G - Marquis Weddle, UT Martin
G - Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
F - Danero Thomas, Murray State
C - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Morehead State
2. Murray State
3. Austin Peay
4. Eastern Kentucky
5. Jacksonville State
6. Eastern Illinois
7. Tennessee Tech
8. UT Martin
9. Tennessee State
10. Southeast Missouri
Lindy's
Player of the Year: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Newcomer of the Year: Shaun Pratl, Eastern Illinois
Best Shooter: Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
Best Rebounder: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Best Playmaker: Marquis Weddle, UT Martin
Best Defender: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Most Versatile: Isacc Miles, Murray State
Best NBA Prospect: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
All-OVC First-Team
G - Wesley Channels, Austin Peay
G - Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
G - Isacc Miles, Murray State
F - Danero Thomas, Murray State
C - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
All-OVC Second-Team
G - Marquis Weddle, UT Martin
G - Jeremy Bynum, Jacksonville State
G - Demonte Harper, Morehead State
F - Maze Stallworth, Morehead State
F - Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Morehead State
2. Murray State
3. Austin Peay
4. Eastern Illinois
5. UT Martin
6. Eastern Kentucky
7. Southeast Missouri
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Tennessee State
10. Jacksonville State
Yahoo College Basketball Preview
Player of the Year: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
Newcomer of the Year: Jay-R Strowbridge, Jacksonville State
All-OVC First-Team
G - Wesley Channels, Austin Peay
G - Romain Martin, Eastern Illinois
F - Danero Thomas, Murray State
F - Ivan Aska, Murray State
C - Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
All-OVC Second-Team
G - Isacc Miles, Murray State
G - Marquis Weddle, UT Martin
F - Maze Stallworth, Morehead State
F - Josh Taylor, Eastern Kentucky
F - Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Morehead State
2. Murray State
3. Eastern Illinois
4. Austin Peay
5. Jacksonville State
6. Eastern Kentucky
7. UT Martin
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Tennessee State
10. Southeast Missouri