austin peay
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Govs start OVC run with Eagles
December didn't treat Austin Peay very well, and in many ways made the team question its abilities.
After starting with two OVC wins, the Govs were dragged down by a four-game losing streak, the final two of which were the worst they had played all season. They ended the losing drought with a convincing win over Oakland City.
"That's usually what December is about, trying to get ready for conference play," Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. "We played a number of very good teams. I think December taught us a lot about our team and where we need to improve, and hopefully we'll be able to put that to use in our conference games."
So did the Govs learn anything from it's "December Swoon?"
"We learned we had to respect the game," forward Drake Reed said. "We learned we had to do the extra things. We had to come in and shoot extra and lift weights when no one is around, and do the small things that championship teams do."
Now reality is smacking Austin Peay (6-6, 2-0 OVC) in the face with the resumption of the OVC season.
The back-to-back regular season champs begin their quest for a third-straight title tonight against a confident and similarly league-undefeated Morehead State (5-8, 2-0 OVC) squad tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Dunn Center.
"This is where the championship starts. Every game is what's going to determine who's going to win the championship," guard Wes Channels said. "We have to look at every game like it's the championship game, like it's the game that will get us over the hump at the end of the year."
The Govs have gone 3-0 to start conference play just three times this decade (2000-01, 2003-04 and 2007-08)
Not a sure thing
Austin Peay is 21-1 at home against OVC teams during its back-to-back run.
The only team to claim victory in the hallowed halls of the Dunn Center in that time is Morehead State, who actually swept the Govs during the 2006-07 season.
While the favor was returned last season, APSU is wary of the Eagles.
Simply, the only way a team wins the OVC is by winning at home.
"One of the more disappointing things to me about December is we lost a couple of games at home. That's a little concerning to me," Loos said. "We've told them over and over again, you've got to protect yourself at home if you're going to contend for a championship. Morehead is one of the teams who have come in here and beat us. They play with swagger."
About Morehead State
The Eagles are led by third-year coach Donnie Tyndall. Leon Buchanan, a 6-foot-5 junior, and 6-8 freshman Kenneth Faried average 12.6 points a game and lead Morehead State in scoring. They are joined by the 11.5 points put in by 6-4 junior Maze Stallworth.
The Eagles got the OVC going with home wins over UT Martin and Murray State. They also have non-conference wins over Drake, Central Florida and East Tennessee State.
The Govs and MSU have one common opponent, Louisville. APSU fell to the Cards 94-75 while Morehead State lost 79-41.
December didn't treat Austin Peay very well, and in many ways made the team question its abilities.
After starting with two OVC wins, the Govs were dragged down by a four-game losing streak, the final two of which were the worst they had played all season. They ended the losing drought with a convincing win over Oakland City.
"That's usually what December is about, trying to get ready for conference play," Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. "We played a number of very good teams. I think December taught us a lot about our team and where we need to improve, and hopefully we'll be able to put that to use in our conference games."
So did the Govs learn anything from it's "December Swoon?"
"We learned we had to respect the game," forward Drake Reed said. "We learned we had to do the extra things. We had to come in and shoot extra and lift weights when no one is around, and do the small things that championship teams do."
Now reality is smacking Austin Peay (6-6, 2-0 OVC) in the face with the resumption of the OVC season.
The back-to-back regular season champs begin their quest for a third-straight title tonight against a confident and similarly league-undefeated Morehead State (5-8, 2-0 OVC) squad tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Dunn Center.
"This is where the championship starts. Every game is what's going to determine who's going to win the championship," guard Wes Channels said. "We have to look at every game like it's the championship game, like it's the game that will get us over the hump at the end of the year."
The Govs have gone 3-0 to start conference play just three times this decade (2000-01, 2003-04 and 2007-08)
Not a sure thing
Austin Peay is 21-1 at home against OVC teams during its back-to-back run.
The only team to claim victory in the hallowed halls of the Dunn Center in that time is Morehead State, who actually swept the Govs during the 2006-07 season.
While the favor was returned last season, APSU is wary of the Eagles.
Simply, the only way a team wins the OVC is by winning at home.
"One of the more disappointing things to me about December is we lost a couple of games at home. That's a little concerning to me," Loos said. "We've told them over and over again, you've got to protect yourself at home if you're going to contend for a championship. Morehead is one of the teams who have come in here and beat us. They play with swagger."
About Morehead State
The Eagles are led by third-year coach Donnie Tyndall. Leon Buchanan, a 6-foot-5 junior, and 6-8 freshman Kenneth Faried average 12.6 points a game and lead Morehead State in scoring. They are joined by the 11.5 points put in by 6-4 junior Maze Stallworth.
The Eagles got the OVC going with home wins over UT Martin and Murray State. They also have non-conference wins over Drake, Central Florida and East Tennessee State.
The Govs and MSU have one common opponent, Louisville. APSU fell to the Cards 94-75 while Morehead State lost 79-41.
