As Racers Wait - OVC Advocates For NCAA Bid - Murray State University Athletics

As the Murray State Racers stay in the conversation about an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament this week, the Ohio Valley Conference is also in the spotlight as a growing basketball league.

Many observers around the nation thought Saturday's OVC Tournament championship game was one of the best that was played this season. Unfortunately for the Racers, they lost on a last-second 3-pointer to the Belmont Bruins.

The OVC and the Racers are making the case that they deserve of an at-large bid on the strength of many factors including MSU's undefeated league record (16-0) and 25-game winning streak.

Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner Beth Debauche is advocating for the Racers this week leading up to Selection Sunday.

"After witnessing the totality of this basketball season, it is clear that the top of this league is exceptional and has accomplished a great deal, including sending a record five teams to the postseason," Debauche said. "For anybody that watched our conference tournament, it should be clear that we have two very deserving teams who should be playing in the NCAA Tournament. Belmont is clearly maturing and peaking at the right time, while Murray State ran the gauntlet and went undefeated in conference play while winning 25 games in a row, a rare achievement in Division I college basketball. The impact of having two teams playing in the NCAA Tournament this season would be momentous, support the league's strategic plan and symbolize what we have long known, that the OVC has an outstanding brand of basketball."

Even in the face of defeat, the tremendous accomplishments of Murray State make for a compelling argument for the NCAA to include the Racers in the 2015 event.

Murray State finished the regular season ranked in both the Associated Press (No. 25) and the USA Today poll (No. 24). Additionally, the Racers only dropped one spot this week to No. 5 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll. The Racers had the second-longest (and 8^th longest since 2002) winning streak in the nation at 25 when it ended Saturday. MSU was also one of only three teams to run the table in their conference in going 16-0 in the OVC. The other two were Kentucky in the SEC and North Carolina Central in the MEAC.

The OVC has shown recently that they have the teams that can compete and win in the NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State won a NCAA game in 2009 and Murray State scored a win over Vanderbilt in 2010. Morehead State was at it again in 2011 defeating Louisville. The Racers' magical 2012 run saw them earn a No. 6 seed and defeat Colorado State to finish 31-2.

If the Racers don't get a bid to the NCAA, they will represent the OVC in the National Invitation Tournament.

The OVC head coaches are unified in their belief that the league can support two teams in the NCAA's. Here are comments from some of the OVC coaches.

Rick Byrd – Belmont Head Coach
"Murray State is a NCAA tournament team and not just a team that can win a game in the tournament, but can win multiple games. Any team that goes 16-0 in their conference is a major feat. I truly hope they get rewarded."

Dana Ford – Tennessee State Head Coach
"Having seen Murray State firsthand, it goes without saying that they are an NCAA Tournament team. For me, it comes down to simple math. If the committee is going to select the top 36 teams after all automatic bids have been earned, then a team currently ranked in the Top 25 should be selected. The Racers went undefeated in conference play. They have two players in Cameron Payne and Jarvis Williams who can play in any league in the country. Having spent my entire career in mid-major basketball, mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference, Murray State is just as good, if not better, than the past MVC teams that made NCAA Tournament runs. If it is a question that they should be one of the 36 at-large selections, then the fact that they are in the Top 25 makes it a no-brainer that they should be in the Tournament."

Jeff Neubauer – Eastern Kentucky Head Coach
"Murray State had an outstanding season, it is incredibly difficult to go undefeated in any conference. Their 25 game winning streak caught the attention of the nation. Murray State's recent history shows that they are capable of advancing in the NCAA Tournament."

Heath Schroyer – UT Martin Head Coach
"Murray State is a legitimate top-25 team – I have a lot of respect for that program. Steve does an unbelievable job and they have really good players. I've been in the Mountain West Conference for a long time and they would finish in the top-two or three in that league for sure – they're that good. They're physical, imposing and they have everything you need to be successful. The brand of Murray State is everything that I thought it was and more before I got to UT Martin."

Jay Spoonhour, Eastern Illinois Head Coach
"The team they were at the end of the year is unquestionably deserving of being in the field. Their early season losses came when they were without some important pieces. Not only do I think they are good enough to be in, I think they are a Sweet 16 team once they get in there."

Sean Woods - Morehead State Head Coach.
"Murray State put together an incredible season, and I think they are worthy of an at-large bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The Ohio Valley Conference continues to get stronger every year, and this is one of those seasons when I feel like our league deserves two bids. In my opinion, Murray State has a future NBA player and two or three others who will have a chance to play professionally. The Racers won 25 consecutive games and were one of just three Division I teams to run the table in conference play. Both are amazing feats when you consider the depth of our league and how much parity there is across the country. I congratulate Belmont on winning the highly-competitive 2015 OVC Tournament and wish Murray State the best of luck on Selection Sunday."

Steve Prohm – Murray State Head Coach
"I want to thank the coaches of our league and Commissioner Beth DeBauche this week for their support," Prohm said. "I'll continue to be an advocate for the OVC as well."

Murray State University Athletics

As Racers Wait - OVC Advocates For NCAA Bid

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