10/23/2018 10:13:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team is predicted to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference, as announced Tuesday morning at the league's annual basketball media day at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. – the site of the 2019 OVC Basketball Championships for the second season in a row.
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As voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the Gamecocks received seven first-place votes in the preseason tally. This coming just four days after being voted to finish third in the OVC's Preseason Media Poll, as well.
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In addition to the team's predicted order of finish, behind Belmont and Murray State, respectively, seniors Christian Cunningham and Jason Burnell were each named to the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team. The pair of forwards were two of 12 to receive the honor. It is Cunningham's first appearance on an all-league team, while Burnell was named to the conference's all-newcomer team last season.
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In two years under Ray Harper, Jacksonville State has reached the 20-win plateau twice, including a school Division I record 23 victories a season ago. After winning the OVC Tournament Championship in 2017, the Gamecocks advanced to the semifinals a year ago and later advanced to play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), just the second Division I national postseason tournament for the program.
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Jacksonville State begins the season Nov. 9 at Samford with a 6:30 p.m. matchup in Birmingham. The Gamecocks return to Evansville's Ford Center on Dec. 15 for a 1 p.m. game against Evansville. The OVC Basketball Championships run March 6-9 at the Ford Center.
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As voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the Gamecocks received seven first-place votes in the preseason tally. This coming just four days after being voted to finish third in the OVC's Preseason Media Poll, as well.
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In addition to the team's predicted order of finish, behind Belmont and Murray State, respectively, seniors Christian Cunningham and Jason Burnell were each named to the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team. The pair of forwards were two of 12 to receive the honor. It is Cunningham's first appearance on an all-league team, while Burnell was named to the conference's all-newcomer team last season.
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In two years under Ray Harper, Jacksonville State has reached the 20-win plateau twice, including a school Division I record 23 victories a season ago. After winning the OVC Tournament Championship in 2017, the Gamecocks advanced to the semifinals a year ago and later advanced to play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), just the second Division I national postseason tournament for the program.
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Jacksonville State begins the season Nov. 9 at Samford with a 6:30 p.m. matchup in Birmingham. The Gamecocks return to Evansville's Ford Center on Dec. 15 for a 1 p.m. game against Evansville. The OVC Basketball Championships run March 6-9 at the Ford Center.
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Points | ||
| 1. | Belmont (8 first-place votes) | 227 | |
| 2. | Murray State (9) | 221 | |
| 3. | Jacksonville State (7) | 211 | |
| 4. | Austin Peay | 188 | |
| 5. | Tennessee Tech | 135 | |
| 6. | Eastern Kentucky | 118 | |
| 7. | Eastern Illinois | 116 | |
| 8. | Tennessee State | 101 | |
| 9. | Southeast Missouri | 82 | |
| 10. | Morehead State | 78 | |
| 11. | UT Martin | 77 | |
| 12. | SIUE | 30 |
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Players Mentioned
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