Ohio Valley Conference primer

A team-by-team glance at the Ohio Valley Conference heading into the 2007-08 season.

Austin Peay

Strengths: The Governors' biggest strength will be experience, something that should pay off during the grind of the 20-game conference schedule. All five starters return.

Weaknesses: APSU doesn't boast a ton of size. The tallest returning player is 6-foot-6 Ernest Fields.

Scouting the newcomers: The Govs feature just two freshmen on their roster, though point guard Caleb Brown could allow coach Dave Loos to feature No. 2 point guard Wes Channels more at the shooting guard spot.

Eastern Illinois

Strengths: Everything in basketball starts with the backcourt, and the Panthers have one of the OVC's best -- and will for the next two years. Guard Romain Martin was the team's leading scorer in 2006-07 and Mike Robinson was third while leading the team in assists.

Weaknesses: EIU committed 416 turnovers last year, 49 more than their opponents. Robinson is the only true point guard on the roster. Finding someone to take the pressure off Robinson against pressing defenses will help cut that number down.

Scouting the newcomers: With so many players returning, coach Mike Miller signed just two freshmen, guard Tyler Laser and center Matt Dorlack. Laser scored nearly 2,000 points in high school and could be in the mix for a starting role as the season progresses. The 6-11 Dorlack will be a role player off the bench and counted on to rebound and block shots.

Eastern Kentucky

Strengths: The Colonels were the league's top shooting team a year ago, and should be at or near the top again this season. EKU shot 46.2 percent from the field in 2006-07, and with Adam Leonard outside and Darnell Dialls in the paint, the Colonels should be a good shooting team again.

Weaknesses: EKU will not be lacking in talent, but only four returning players averaged more than 10 minutes per game last year. Getting younger players experience during the early part of the schedule will be key.

Scouting the newcomers: The EKU roster features just two true freshmen, with Justin Stommes having the best potential to contribute. Stommes, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward out of Minnesota, averaged 21 points per game as a senior in high school.

Jacksonville State

Strengths: Teams will find tough sledding inside when trying to score against Jacksonville State. Dorien Brown is already the school's leading shot blocker with more than 100 in his career, while Amadous Mbodji swatted 23 as a freshman despite missing several games because of injury.

Weaknesses: With the departure of leading scorer Courtney Bradley, and so many newcomers, the Gamecocks lack a go-to player. Someone will have to step up -- and early -- and be a team leader and scoring threat.

Scouting the newcomers: Where to start? Eight new players enter the Jacksonville State program, and at least five will probably be counted on to be major contributors. Jonathan Toles, a junior-college transfer, could be the best of the bunch. Jeremy Byrum redshirted last year and after a good offseason should be able to step in and give quality minutes at guard.

Morehead State

Strengths: The Eagles will be exceptionally young, but there is plenty of raw talent and athleticism on the floor. Speed and leaping ability should help coach Donnie Tyndall to run the type of up-tempo, pressure-heavy defensive style he prefers.

Weaknesses: Experience, experience, experience. The Eagles return just five players from last season, and the leading returning scorer, Maze Stallworth, was just the fourth-leading scorer in 2006-07.

Scouting the newcomers: One thing Tyndall added with newcomers is size. Junior-college transfers Leon Buchanan (6-foot-5) and Les Simmons (6-7) are both listed as guards and should provide tough matchups inside and out. Freshman Kenneth Faried is a 6-8 forward/center who should provide rebounding help.

Murray State

Strengths: The Racers will be able to pose matchup problems for bigger teams and at times will play five guards at once. They shoot the ball very well, and they play outstanding defense.

Weaknesses: The Racers don't have a huge inside presence, and they certainly need to improve their rebounding.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior college transfer Ivan Evans can play the three and four spots and should make an immediate impact. Junior college transfer Tarod Sanders (6-6, 250) should give the Racers immediate help in the post. Freshman Jewuan Long should provide help off the bench.

Samford

Strengths: Samford returns three starters -- post Travis Peterson and wings Curtis West and Joe Ross Merritt. The Bulldogs run the Princeton offense, which has proved to be difficult to defend. They also allowed just 60.4 points a game last season.

Weaknesses: Just three returning upperclassmen have started. The Bulldogs must replace four-year starting point guard Jerry Smith. They don't have a lot of size, and rebounding is a weakness.

Scouting the newcomers: Samford coach Jimmy Tillette typically redshirts incoming freshmen, but guards Josh Bedwell and Josh Davis and forward Matthew Friday will all see playing time.

Southeast Missouri State

Strengths: The Redhawks will have the best depth in the OVC. They also return four starters, including All-OVC performer Brandon Foust. Coach Scott Edgar had championship programs at Murray State before moving on to Duquesne, and his full-court pressure system is difficult to handle.

Weaknesses: SEMO doesn't have a lot of inside depth, and the health of center Michael Rembert is a concern. The Redhawks also need to protect the basketball better.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior forward Calvin Williams, a Colorado transfer, junior college transfer Jaycen Herin, a 6-7 forward, and 6-11, 300-pound freshman post Will Bogan will be the key additions.

Tennessee State

Strengths: The Tigers have a veteran team (four seniors and four juniors). Their 3-point shooting is adequate. TSU's backcourt can match up with any team in the OVC.

Weaknesses: The Tigers won't have as much bulk and strength inside as last year, and rebounding could be a big concern.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior college forward Stephen Evans and junior college guard/forward Emmanuel Gaiter will be key additions. Also, 7-foot center James Craft, a Wright State transfer, will be a player to watch.

Tennessee Tech

Strengths: The Golden Eagles probably have the best inside-outside duo in the league in senior guard Anthony Fisher and junior forward Amadi McKenzie. They are the only two starters returning, but TTU still returns a lot of experience.

Weaknesses: TTU doesn't have a lot of depth going into the season, and a lack of size is a concern. Road games at Florida, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Oregon State will be most difficult.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior college transfer Charles Moore will have to provide help inside, while freshman guard Jeremy Jackson has a chance to provide depth in the backcourt.

Tennessee-Martin

Strengths: UTM returns senior forward Gerald Robinson, a bruiser inside who led the team in scoring and rebounding. UTM figures to have a much-improved backcourt in 2007-08.

Weaknesses: Robinson is the only returning starter, and UTM has 11 newcomers. UTM could struggle offensively, and it has to take care of the basketball better.

Scouting the newcomers: Junior guard Lester Hudson, freshman guard Marquis Weddle and freshman forward Andres Irarrazabal could make the biggest impact.