Men’s Basketball
The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced its 2020-21 men’s basketball regular season schedule today, which features an expanded 20-game slate that runs from December through February.
Games will remain on the Thursday and Saturday format, with the exception of the league-wide Wednesday, Dec. 30 matchups to avoid playing on New Year’s Eve. Teams will follow approved safety protocols established in partnership with the NCAA’s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball and OVC guidance as it evolves based on science.
In order to give teams flexibility to complete their non-conference schedules, schools were given discretion to schedule their two games with their OVC “travel partner” separately. The Skyhawks will tentatively face Southeast Missouri at home on Dec. 12 before making the trip to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to face the Redhawks on Dec. 18.
UTM then travels to Jacksonville State on Dec. 30 before hosting Belmont on Jan. 2. A brief two-game road swing to Music City follows with matchups at Tennessee State (Jan. 7) and at Belmont (Jan. 9).
The Skyhawks return home to face Austin Peay on Jan. 14 and Murray State on Jan. 16 before heading to the Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State during the following week on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively.
A season-long four-game homestand follows, as UTM will play host to Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28), SIUE (Jan. 30), Jacksonville State (Feb. 4) and Tennessee Tech (Feb. 6).
The short trek to Austin Peay (Feb. 11) and Murray State (Feb. 13) is next on the docket before the final two home games of the season are set for Feb. 18 against Morehead State and Feb. 20 against Eastern Kentucky.
The OVC regular season concludes the following week as the Skyhawks head back on the road to take on SIUE on Feb. 25 and Eastern Illinois on Feb. 27.
Eight teams will advance to the 2021 OVC Championship tournament, which will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana for the fourth consecutive year. The first round will take place on Wednesday, March 3 and will be followed by the quarterfinals on March 4, the semifinals on March 5 and the championship finals on March 6.
UTM’s non-conference schedule is currently being finalized and will be announced soon.
2020-21 OVC Men’s Basketball Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 12 – Southeast Missouri
Friday, Dec. 18 – @ Southeast Missouri
Wednesday, Dec. 30 – @ Jacksonville State
Saturday, Jan. 2 – Belmont
Thursday, Jan. 7 – @ Tennessee State
Saturday, Jan. 9 – @ Belmont
Thursday, Jan. 14 – Austin Peay
Saturday, Jan. 16 – Murray State
Thursday, Jan. 21 – @ Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, Jan. 23 – @ Morehead State
Thursday, Jan. 28 – Eastern Illinois
Saturday, Jan. 30 – SIUE
Thursday, Feb. 4 – Jacksonville State
Saturday, Feb. 6 – Tennessee Tech
Thursday, Feb. 11 – @ Austin Peay
Saturday, Feb. 13 – @ Murray State
Thursday, Feb. 18 – Morehead State
Saturday, Feb. 20 – Eastern Kentucky
Thursday, Feb. 25 – @ SIUE
Saturday, Feb. 27 – @ Eastern Illinois
Women’s Basketball
The OVC has announced its women’s basketball conference schedules for the 2020-21 season.
To help address issues associated with the delayed start date and be responsive to a desire to provide additional contests within the geographic region, the schedules increased from 18 to 20 conference games for the 2020-21 season. Overall teams will play every OVC team once and nine schools twice.
In order to give teams flexibility to complete their non-conference schedules, schools were given discretion to schedule their two games with their “travel partner” separate from the remainder of the conference schedule. One of those two games must be scheduled before the holiday break and the other can be scheduled any time during the basketball season.
“Our athletics directors explored a number of scheduling options designed to address the scheduling challenges we may face due to the pandemic,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “Ultimately, they decided to adopt schedules that increase the opportunity for conference competition while staying true to our traditional conference scheduling structure and pattern.
“Our intention is to play as close to a typical conference schedule as possible, but we stand ready to address scheduling challenges and modify the schedule during the course of the season should the facts warrant. I am grateful to our OVC leaders for their dedication, foresight and commitment to our student-athletes.”
The 2021 OVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is scheduled for March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. It marks the fourth year in a row the event will be held at the venue.
Teams will follow approved safety protocols established in partnership with the NCAA’s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball and OVC guidance as it evolves based on science.
The full 2020-21 schedule – including non-conference matchups – will be released at a later date.
2020-21 UT Martin OVC Women’s Basketball Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 19 | @ Southeast Missouri
Wednesday, Dec. 30 | @ Jacksonville State
Saturday, Jan. 2 | Belmont
Thursday, Jan. 7 | @ Tennessee State
Saturday, Jan. 9 | @ Belmont
Thursday, Jan. 14 | Austin Peay
Saturday, Jan. 16 | Murray State
Thursday, Jan. 21 | @ Eastern Kentucky
Saturday, Jan. 23 | @ Morehead State
Thursday, Jan. 28 | Eastern Illinois
Saturday, Jan. 30 | SIUE
Monday, Feb. 1 | @ Southeast Missouri
Thursday, Feb. 4 | @ Jacksonville State
Saturday, Feb. 6 | Tennessee Tech
Thursday, Feb. 11 | @ Austin Peay
Saturday, Feb. 13 | @Murray State
Thursday, Feb. 18 | Morehead State
Saturday, Feb. 20 | Eastern Kentucky
Thursday, Feb. 25 | @ SIUE
Saturday, Feb. 27 | @ Eastern Illinois
Wednesday, March 3 | OVC Tournament First Round
Thursday, March 4 | OVC Tournament Quarterfinals
Friday, March 5 | OVC Tournament Semifinals
Saturday, March 6 | OVC Tournament Championship
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