2017–18 Austin Peay Governors basketball team explained

Mode:	Basketball
Year:	2017–18
Team:	Austin Peay Governors
Conference:	Ohio Valley Conference
Short Conf:	OVC
Record:	19–15
Conf Record:	12–6
Hc Year:	1st
Asst Coach1:	Rick Cabrera
Asst Coach2:	Dalonte Hill
Asst Coach3:	Sergio Rouco
Champion:	Coach John McLendon Classic champions
Bowl Result:	Quarterfinals

The 2017–18 Austin Peay Governors men's basketball team represented Austin Peay State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Governors, led by first-year head coach Matt Figger, played their home games at the Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tennessee as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. They finished the season 19–15, 12–6 in OVC play to finish in third place. They defeated Eastern Illinois in the quarterfinals of the OVC tournament before losing in the semifinals to Belmont. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Louisiana–Monroe in the first round, a game referred to as the Coach John McLendon Classic, and received a second round bye before losing in the quarterfinals to UIC.

Previous season

The Governors finished the 2016–17 season 11–19, 7–9 in OVC play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They failed to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

On March 2, 2017, head coach Dave Loos announced his retirement. He had been undergoing cancer treatment during the season, and had taken a medical leave in January 2017, missing four games.^[1] He finished with a 27 year record of 420–410. On April 3, South Carolina assistant Matt Figger was hired as the new head coach of APSU.^[2]

Preseason

In a vote of conference coaches and sports information directors, Austin Peay was picked to finish in 11th place in the OVC.^[3]

After five years of divisional play in the OVC, the conference eliminated divisions for the 2017–18 season. Additionally, for the first time, each conference team will play 18 conference games.

Schedule and results

|-!colspan=9 style=| Exhibition|-!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular Season|-!colspan=9 style=| Ohio Valley Conference regular season|-!colspan=9 style="|Ohio Valley Conference tournament|-!colspan=9 style="|CIT

Notes and References

1. OVC all-time wins leader Dave Loos to retire . Austin Peay Athletics . March 2, 2017 . March 2, 2017.
2. News: Matt Figger officially named Austin Peay basketball coach. Autumn. Allison. The Tennessean. Nashville. April 3, 2017. July 18, 2017.
3. Web site: Belmont Picked As 2017-18 OVC Men's Basketball Favorites; Murray State's Stark Tabbed Preseason Player of the Year. Ohio Valley Conference. 6 February 2018.