At the beginning of the season, I had doubts about the Eastern men’s basketball team. Who will help Henry Domercant carry the load on offense? What will the Panthers do if Domercant gets hurt? What if Henry isn’t able to carry the team like he did last year? (Sense a theme?)

Well the Panthers have answered almost all my questions. J.R. Reynolds, despite some early struggles, can be Eastern’s second threat and freshman Josh Gomes is a catalyst off the bench. Fortunately, Domercant has not been injured this season, but when he limped off the court during the second half of Eastern’s second meeting with Morehead State, the Panthers responded by overcoming and taking the lead from the Eagles. My final question seems moot with the way Domercant has played this season. He’s on pace to finish in the top five in the nation in scoring for the third season in a row, which would put him in the company of NBA greats Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Bill Bradley and Oscar Robertson.

Now most of my questions are answered, I think the Panthers might be able to win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Currently the Panthers are the soul possessor of fourth place in the OVC, which would mean if the season ended today, they would get to host a first round tournament game in Lantz Arena where they have lost only twice all year. Of late, Eastern seams unbeatable in Lantz Arena. The Panthers have won their last five games at home and their last two home wins came against the first and second place teams in the conference, Morehead State and Austin Peay.

If the Panthers could get a first-round win in the conference tournament, I don’t see why they can’t win it all.

As the fourth seed, Eastern would face the No. 1 seed in the second round of the OVC Tournament. Morehead has a one-and-half-game lead over Austin Peay.

Eastern matches up well with Morehead. At Morehead, Eastern lost by just four and defeated the Eagles by six in Lantz Arena. With no home court advantage, the edge should go to the team with more experience, and with five seniors on this year’s team, experience is with the Panthers.

Austin Peay has not had its way with the Panthers either. The Governor needed overtime to beat the Panthers in Clarksville, Tenn.

The only question left to be answered is, how well can the Panthers play against Tennessee Tech?

The Golden Eagles were one of two teams to defeat the Panthers in Lantz this season, the other is Murray State. Tech handed Eastern an eight-point loss Jan. 30 and the two teams meet against March 1 for the regular season finale.

The Panthers should pick up another win before they play Tech because they face the black sheep of the OVC, Tennessee State.

Defeating the Golden Eagles at Nashville, Tenn., would guarantee the Panthers home court advantage for the first round of the OVC Tournament, and prove they have the potential to go all the way in the OVC Tournament