Austin Peay Governors
Ohio Valley (21-11, 16-4)
Seed: #8
West Region
Big Wins:
12/2 Tennessee Tech (77-70), 12/9 at Eastern Kentucky (59-57), 12/20 Middle
Tennessee State (64-63)
Bad Losses:
11/25 at Arkansas State (70-77), 2/1 at Murray State (68-77), 2/24
Morehead State (77-82)
Coach:
Dave Loos
Probable
Starters:
Derek Wright,
Junior, Guard, 8.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.1 spg
Todd Babington,
Junior, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 1.3 apg
Kyle Duncan,
Sophomore, Guard, 4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Drake Reed,
Sophomore, Forward, 16.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Fernandez
Lockett, Junior, Guard, 11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Landon Shipley,
Sophomore, Guard, 8.9 ppg, 1.6 apg
Wes Channels,
Freshman, Guard, 7.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
J.P. Felder,
Sophomore, Center, 2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Duran Roberson,
Freshman, Center, 2.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
Austin Peay
ranks in the top three in all major shooting categories in the Ohio Valley
Conference. While the frontcourt bolsters that number, the trio of
starting guards are good outside shooters. Junior Todd Babington is a
three-point specialist and rarely journeys inside the arc. He can score over
20 a game when he is on, but Babington can find himself well under
double-digits as well.
Defense has
always been the mantra of Coach Dave Loos, and Derek Wright and Kyle Duncan
are shut down defenders. Wright, a 5-9 point guard, averages 2.1 steals per
contest and has developed into a solid floor leader for the Governors.
Duncan is not an effective scorer, but is a good rebounder and his defense
makes him a key player on the floor.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
Wright is 5-9
and the rest of the starters are listed at 6-5. That is good size on the
wings, but not so good up front. Not surprisingly, Austin Peay has trouble
in the rebounding department. Forwards Fernandez Lockett and Drake Reed are
the two leading scorers on the team, but the post offense is pretty much
non-existent, especially against teams with a quality big man or two.
Lockett can use his athleticism to get on the glass and Reed is a good
offensive rebounder, but that will not help much against a 7-footer.
Who To
Watch:
The Govs have a
couple good options off the bench in Landon Shipley and Wes Channels.
Shipley averages 8.9 points per game and can score in bunches from beyond
the arc. While not much of a shooter, Channels is another great defender and
will use his quickness to get to the basket.
By the
Numbers:
Scoring
Offense: 70.6 (137th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring
Defense: 66.8 (121, 6)
Field-Goal
Percentage: 45.0 (143, 3)
Field-Goal
Defense: 44.5 (202, 6)
Free-Throw
Percentage: 68.3 (190, 4)
Rebound Margin:
-0.4 (200, 7)
Assists Per
Game: 13.3 (178, 6)
Turnovers Per
Game: 13.2 (73, 2)
Joel’s
Bracket Says: First Round loss to Air Force
▪
NIT
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