Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year explained

Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Description:the most outstanding basketball player in the Ohio Valley Conference
Country:United States
Year:1963
Holder:Riley Minix, Morehead State

The Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual award given to the Ohio Valley Conference's (OVC) most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1962–63 season.

Fifteen players in OVC history have claimed more than one player of the year award, the most recent of whom was Terry Taylor in 2020 and 2021. Among the repeat winners, only one—Clem Haskins of Western Kentucky—has been a three-time player of the year. Haskins achieved the feat from 1965 through 1967.

Both of the schools with the most awards left the OVC in 2022. Murray State, which has dominated the award's selection, with its players having received the award 21 times (which at the Racers' departure was equal to the total of the next three programs on the list), joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Second-place Austin Peay, with eight awards, joined the Atlantic Sun Conference. Among schools remaining in the OVC after 2022, Morehead State has the most awards with eight. Five current OVC members have yet to produce a winner, but three (Lindenwood, Little Rock, Southern Indiana) played their first OVC seasons in 2022–23 and Western Illinois played its first OVC season in 2023–24. The only pre-2022 member without a winner is SIU Edwardsville. Among former members, the only one that was a member during the award's existence that did not have a winner is East Tennessee State.

Three ties have occurred for player of the year: 1976, 1983 and 2013. No OVC Men's Basketball Player of the Year has ever been selected as any national player of the year.

Key

†Co-Players of the Year
Awarded a national player of the year award:
Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79)
UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present)
John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present)
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the OVC Player of the Year award at that point

Winners

SeasonPlayerSchoolPositionClassReference
1962–63Morehead StatePG[1]
1963–64Murray StateF[2]
1964–65Western KentuckySG[3]
1965–66 (2)Western KentuckySG
1966–67 (3)Western KentuckySG
1967–68Western KentuckySG / SF[4]
1968–69Murray StateSF[5]
1969–70Western KentuckyC[6]
1970–71 (2)Western KentuckyC
1971–72Murray StateSF[7]
1972–73 (2)Murray StateSF
1973–74Austin PeayPG[8]
1974–75Middle TennesseePF[9]
1975–76†Western KentuckyPG[10]
Middle TennesseeC
1976–77Austin PeaySF[11]
1977–78 (2)Austin PeaySF
1978–79Eastern KentuckyF[12]
1979–80Murray StatePF[13]
1980–81Middle TennesseePF[14]
1981–82 (2)Middle TennesseePF
1982–83†Murray StateSF[15]
AkronSG
1983–84 (2)AkronSG[16]
1984–85Tennessee TechF[17]
1985–86AkronSF[18]
1986–87Morehead StatePF[19]
1987–88Murray StateSG[20]
1988–89 (2)Murray StateSG
1989–90Murray StatePF[21]
1990–91 (2)Murray StatePF[22]
1991–92Morehead StateSF[23]
1992–93Tennessee StateC[24]
1993–94 (2)Tennessee StateC[25]
1994–95Murray StateSG[26]
1995–96 (2)Murray StateSG
1996–97Austin PeaySF[27]
1997–98Murray StatePG / SG[28]
1998–99Southeast Missouri StateC[29]
1999–00Murray StatePG[30]
2000–01Austin PeaySF / SG[31]
2001–02Eastern IllinoisSG[32]
2002–03Morehead StatePG / SG[33]
2003–04Murray StateSF[34]
2004–05Tennessee TechC / PF[35]
2005–06SamfordPF[36]
2006–07Austin PeaySF[37]
2007–08UT MartinPG[38]
2008–09 (2)UT MartinPG[39]
2009–10Morehead StatePF / C[40]
2010–11 (2)Morehead StatePF / C
2011–12Murray StatePG / SG[41]
2012–13† (2)Murray StatePG / SG[42]
BelmontSG
2013–14BelmontSF[43]
2014–15Murray StatePG[44]
2015–16BelmontPF[45]
2016–17 (2)BelmontPF[46]
2017–18Murray StatePG[47]
2018–19Murray StatePG[48]
2019–20Austin PeayPF[49]
2020–21 (2)Austin PeayPF
2021–22Murray StatePF[50]
2022–23Morehead StatePG[51]
2023–24Morehead StateSF[52]

Winners by school

School (year joined)WinnersYears
Murray State (1948)211964, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1983†, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2013†, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022
Austin Peay (1962)81974, 1977, 1978, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2020, 2021
Morehead State (1948)81963, 1987, 1992, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2023, 2024
Western Kentucky (1948)71965, 1966, 1967, 1968†, 1970, 1971, 1976†
Belmont (2012)42013†, 2014, 2016, 2017
Middle Tennessee (1952)41975, 1976†, 1981, 1982
Akron (1980)31983†, 1984, 1986
Tennessee State (1986)21993, 1994
Tennessee Tech (1949)21985, 2005
UT Martin (1992)22008, 2009
Eastern Illinois (1996)12002
Eastern Kentucky (1948)11979
Samford (2003)12006
Southeast Missouri State (1991)11999
East Tennessee State (1958)0—
Jacksonville State (2003)0—
Lindenwood (2022)0—
Little Rock (2022)0—
SIU Edwardsville (2008)0—
Southern Indiana (2022)0—
Western Illinois (2023)0—

Notes and References

  1. News: Harold Sergent Is Player of the Year . . . March 24, 1963 . 18. Newspapers.com. February 7, 2024.
  2. News: Jim Jennings Named Player Of Year In OVC . The Mayfield Messenger . . March 7, 1964 . 5. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  3. News: Haskins Named Top Player . . . March 10, 1967 . 42. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  4. News: Chapman Is OVC Player Of Year . . . March 12, 1968 . 9. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  5. News: Viden And Luther Cop OVC Honors . . . March 9, 1969 . 36. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  6. News: Jim McDaniels named OVC Player of Year . Johnson City Press . . March 12, 1971 . 13. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  7. News: Les Taylor Tabbed OVC Player Of Year . . . March 22, 1973 . 4. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  8. News: Fly Williams Is Named OVC Player Of The Year . . . March 20, 1974 . 3. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  9. News: Sorrell Named OVC Player Of Year . The Messenger . Madisonville, Kentucky . March 12, 1975 . 13. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  10. News: Western's Britt Named Co-MVP In Ohio Valley . The Messenger . Madisonville, Kentucky . March 26, 1976 . 9. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  11. News: 'Otis' No. 1 in OVC . The Messenger . Madisonville, Kentucky . March 3, 1978 . 9. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  12. News: All-OVC team . . . March 1, 1979 . 34. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  13. News: Owen. Hugh. Win Was A First For Gary Hooker . . . March 11, 1980 . 12. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  14. News: Beck named OVC Player of the Year . . . March 1, 1982 . 10. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  15. News: Green shares top award, Oakley misses by a point . The Paducah Sun . Paducah, Kentucky . March 8, 1983 . 15. Newspapers.com . February 7, 2024.
  16. News: Jakubick OVC Player of the Year . . . March 5, 1984 . 31. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  17. News: OVC names top players and coaches . . . March 2, 1985 . 22. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  18. News: Akron junior named OVC player of year . . . March 4, 1986 . 12. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  19. News: Colonels Defeat No. 2 Zips . . . March 7, 1987 . 14. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  20. News: Martin is OVC Player of Year again . Courier Journal . Louisville, Kentucky . March 3, 1989 . 15. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  21. News: Jones, Moorehead Are OVC's Players Of Year . The Leaf-Chronicle . Clarksville, Tennessee . March 6, 1990 . 14. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  22. News: Hale Jr.. Monte. Racers edge MTSU out for NCAA bid . . . March 8, 1991 . 9. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  23. News: Morehead's Roberts OVC Player of Year . Lexington Herald-Leader . Lexington, Kentucky . March 3, 1992 . 21. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  24. News: Wood. Tom. Rogers kept hangin' in . . . March 17, 1993 . 17. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  25. News: Wood. Tom. Will it only get better? . The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee . March 13, 1994 . 172. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  26. News: Brown, Luther receive OVC's top honors . The Daily News . Bowling Green, Kentucky . March 1, 1996 . 10. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  27. News: APSU basketball star to speak at youth day activities . The Leaf-Chronicle . Clarksville, Tennessee . March 22, 1997 . 23. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  28. News: Bailey. Rick. Mayes makes up for slow start as Murray cruises . Lexington Herald-Leader . Lexington, Kentucky . March 1, 1998 . 27. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  29. News: Coleman. Anthony. SEMO's Eley receives attention from NBA . The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee . March 1, 1999 . 65. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  30. News: Murray's Reese picked as OVC Player of Year . Courier Journal . Louisville, Kentucky . March 3, 2000 . 28. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  31. News: Link. Dave. Hassell nets honorable-mention . The Leaf-Chronicle . Clarksville, Tennessee . March 14, 2001. 15. Newspapers.com . February 8, 2024.
  32. News: Domercant named mid-major All-American . Mattoon Journal Gazette . . March 8, 2002 . 11. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  33. News: All-conference teams (men): 2003 All-OVC . Courier Journal . Louisville, Kentucky . March 7, 2003 . 40. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  34. News: Murray's Victor wins OVC honor . . . March 5, 2004 . 13. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  35. News: Wright. Tom. Govs–Tech in OVC semifinals a yearly ritual . The Leaf-Chronicle . Clarksville, Tennessee . March 4, 2005 . 13. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  36. News: Cronin receives OVC coaching honors . The Paducah Sun . Paducah, Kentucky . March 2, 2006 . 13. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  37. News: Austin Peay leads All-OVC selections . The Mayfield Messenger . Mayfield, Kentucky . March 2, 2007 . 6. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  38. News: Hudson awarded . The Jackson Sun . Jackson, Tennessee . March 7, 2008 . 29. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  39. News: Borenstein. Matthew. UTM's Hudson earns national honor . The Jackson Sun . Jackson, Tennessee . March 31, 2009 . 11. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  40. News: Morehead State's Faried repeats as top OVC player . Mattoon Journal Gazette . Mattoon, Illinois . March 2, 2011 . 9. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  41. News: Canaan picks up more All-America honors . The Paducah Sun . Paducah, Kentucky . March 28, 2012 . B5. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  42. News: Canaan shares OVC top player with Clark . The Paducah Sun . Paducah, Kentucky . March 5, 2013 . B1. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  43. News: Belmont player, coach get national recognition . The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee . March 31, 2014 . C2. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  44. News: Murray State dominates OVC awards . . . March 4, 2015 . B2. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  45. News: Bradds earns district honors . . . March 10, 2016 . 16. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  46. News: Organ. Mike. Belmont coaches, players earn most of OVC's top annual awards . The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee . March 1, 2017 . C6. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  47. News: 'A lot of toughness for the Racers' . . . March 14, 2018 . 22. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  48. News: Marlowe. Ed. Top awards kind to Murray State . . . March 6, 2019 . B2. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  49. News: Robinson. George. Taylor's career at Austin Peay was bittersweet . The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee . March 6, 2021 . B3. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  50. News: Williams & McMahon named to OVC's top honors . The Paducah Sun . Paducah, Kentucky . March 2, 2022 . B1. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  51. News: Player to watch: Mark Freeman . . . March 15, 2023 . C2. Newspapers.com . February 10, 2024.
  52. News: Drummond. Cameron. Transfer Riley Minix leads Morehead State into NCAA Tournament . Lexington Herald-Leader . Lexington, Kentucky . March 20, 2024 . B8. Newspapers.com . June 24, 2024.

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