The men’s basketball season has entered its third week of competition around the Ohio Valley and teams are beginning to sort out in the standings.

Tennessee Tech, Murray State and Austin Peay have all managed to remain undefeated in the conference at 2-0.

But while the season is young, all nine teams have their sights set on the “Big Dance” in March. January has brought seven more conference games to the schedule and the true sortings will happen in these few weeks.

While Tech may be the preseason favorite, Murray State and Eastern both received first-place votes and will join the quest for the crown.

Eastern won its first OVC tournament last year and made the trip to Nashville while Tennessee Tech took claim as the regular season champions with a 13-3 finish in the league.

But things may be different this year.

Every team has graduated players – some more crutial than others, teams have grown up and others have remained a young team in the league. But this conference title is still wide open for any team to take.

“I believe anyone can win it in this conference, especially with the young new teams with young guys and transfers – anybody can win it,” junior guard Craig Lewis said.

On the Ohio Valley Conference Web site, the poll states the men’s basketball championship team will be Murray State – receiving 23 percent of the votes. Tech comes in second with 17 percent while Eastern comes in with 15 percent.

But then again, how accurate is that? After all, if I get really bored, I can click away and vote until Eastern ranks first.

Tech has returned four starters while Murray State looks to continue its domination in seven of the last eight OVC championships. And while Eastern took home the trophy from the league, not only will it face the task of defending its title, but the more difficult job of filling the footsteps of key graduated players and adding in new faces to the mix.

And with all nine teams battling to be at the top of the league by February, the race has already begun to build the wins.

“I think it will be a very tight race and we need to get a snowball going right now with these three conference games in a row,” Samuels said.

The Ohio Valley Conference race is just beginning, and while most teams have just two games under their belts, it’s about to get interesting in January.