Mid-South Conference Tournament – Quarterfinal Preview

2021 Mid-South Tournament Bracket

Opening Round

February 22nd

6) Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (14-8, 9-7) def. 11) Bethel (Tenn.) (9-11, 3-11) 100-66 Box Score

7) Pikeville (Ky.) (11-11, 9-10) def. 10) Campbellsville (Ky.) (9-15, 7-14) 84-74 Box Score

8) Cumberland (Tenn.) (9-12, 8-11) def. 9) Life (Ga.) (9-10, 5-10) 70-67 Box Score

#12 Lindsey Wilson – Forfeit @ Martin Methodist

Quarterfinals

February 28th – (Bowling Green)

Noon 1) Shawnee State (Ohio) (23-2, 18-1) vs. 8) Cumberland (10-12) Live Stats Live Video

2:30 p.m. 4) Cumberlands (Ky.) (17-8, 11-8) vs. 5) Martin Methodist (15-8, 11-8) Live Stats Live Video

5 p.m. 2) Georgetown (Ky.) (15-6, 12-6) vs. 7) Pikeville (12-11) Live Stats Live Video

7:30 p.m. 3) Thomas More (Ky.) (14-8, 12-8) vs. 6) Freed Hardeman (15-8) Live Stats Live Video

Semifinals

March 1st-(Bowling Green)

Finals

March 2nd- (Bowling Green)

League Notes:

The top seed: #6 Shawnee State
NAIA Locks: Shawnee State, Georgetown
NAIA Bubble Teams: Cumberlands, Thomas More
Best chances to win this tournament: Shawnee State, Georgetown, Thomas More, Cumberlands
Possible sleeper: Freed Hardeman

KEY PLAYERS:

EJ Onu 6’11 – Shawnee State: 17.53ppg, 7.7rpg, 3.96blg

Several of the scouts we have talked with think that EJ has the best pro ceiling of anyone in the NAIA right now. Hard to disagree when the big fella has been so good on both sides of the ball this season. EJ has developed so much over the past couple years and is one of the best players in the NAIA.

Kyran Jones 6’5 – Georgetown: 17.62ppg, 12.6rpg

Kyran is a walking double-double. While the Tigers haven’t been as dominant as years past, Kyran has really filled the shoes of former NAIA NPOY Chris Coffey, pretty well. He’s got a huge motor and seems to snag every rebound!

Tevin Olison 6’4 – Cumberlands (KY) 23.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.48apg, 1.56spg

Olison is one of the best scorers in the NAIA. When he has it turned on, you could argue that he is one of the best players in the NAIA. He has been Mr. Clutch in his career making big play after big play, in big time games. He won’t shy away from the moment in the MSC Tourney!

KEY TEAMS:

#1 Shawnee State – One and James Jones have led the Bears to 19 straight wins. This is a team that is tough to score on and tough to stop. One of the best teams in the NAIA.

#2 Georgetown – Limping into the tournament a bit, but if they come in fully healthy it’s hard to pick against a Chris Briggs led team. He will have his guys tournament ready!

#4 Cumberlands – A very talented group with one of the leagues best in Tevin Olison! This group was a Top 10 NAIA team at one point. Have been inconsistent, but have the tools to play with anyone!

UPSET SPECIAL:

#6 Freed Hardeman – It was a bit of a rough stretch in the middle of the season for this FHU crew, but they seemed to have righted the ship and have some momentum headed into the MSC Tournament. They have one of the best guards in the country in Kortland Martin and have good complimentary pieces in Wanya King and John Musslewhite. They are capable of pulling off the upset!

Quarterfinal Round Game Notes:

Noon 1) Shawnee State (Ohio) (23-2, 18-1) vs. 8) Cumberland (10-12) Live Stats Live Video

Season series tied 1-1

Oddly enough, it was this Cumberland team who dealt Shawnee State it’s last loss of the season. That was December 3rd and SSU has now riffled off 20 straight wins. Shawnee ended up beating Cumberland by 28 in January. EJ Onu and James Jones are so good and this Shawnee State defense is tough to score on.

2:30 p.m. 4) Cumberlands (Ky.) (17-8, 11-8) vs. 5) Martin Methodist (15-8, 11-8) Live Stats Live Video

Season series tied 1-1

This Cumberlands team has some really good wins on the year. Unfortunately, they also have some bad losses. They can play with anyone and Tevin Ollison is one of the best players in the country when he wants to be. They can win the MSC Tournament when they are playing well. Martin Methodist started off the year red hot, went through a midseason lull, but have now won 3 of it’s last 4 headed into the MSC Quarterfinals. They have a trio of scorers who are tough to guard if they are on. This should be a good afternoon matchup.

5 p.m. 2) Georgetown (Ky.) (15-6, 12-6) vs. 7) Pikeville (12-11) Live Stats Live Video

Georgetown 2-0

Crazy to see these old rivals and two NAIA Powerhouse programs meet up in the Quarterfinals. Georgetown has owned the rivalry over the past couple years, but come into the tournament limping a bit as they have lost 3 of their last 5 games. Kyran Jones is a great young player for Georgetown and he’s about as consistent as you can be. If they are going to win the MSC Tournament though, it’s the supporting cast that are going to have to play more consistent. UPike will battle in this one, but for them it comes down to the defensive end of the floor and if they can get enough stops to win games!

7:30 p.m. 3) Thomas More (Ky.) (14-8, 12-8) vs. 6) Freed Hardeman (15-8) Live Stats Live Video

Season series tied 1-1

Both teams actually won on the others home floor. This is such a great matchup, because both teams have a lot of talent and are pretty evenly matched. Freed is on a 4 game win streak coming into the quarterfinals, with one of those wins being a five point win at Thomas More. Thomas More snapped a four game losing streak by going to Georgetown and getting a win in the last game of the regular season. Both teams have the firepower to make a run at this title, but both will have to play really well to do it.

OTHER NOTES:

– Tournament Page: 2020-21 MSC Men’s Basketball Tournament

– Teams who play tonight will be reseeded after tonight’s games.

Best Quarterfinal Round Game: #3 Thomas More vs #6 Freed Hardeman.

Our Pick To Win It: Shawnee State – Winners of 19 straight games, hard to pick against them. They are so big, and so good on both ends of the floor. Even if they get beat in the MSC Tournament, they are one of our favorites to win a National Title this season!