The more things change in the Ohio Valley Conference, the more they stay the same.

The year is different, the players are new and the OVC has coaches in their first season at the helm, but the two powerhouses have come out of the blocks fast once again.

The defending OVC champions and NCAA Tournament participant Austin Peay hasn’t played a league game at home but is undefeated in a trio of OVC games in the 2003-2004 season.

Austin Peay allows its opponents more than 60 points per game and have held opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field.

After defeating Southeast Missouri 52-48 in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Governors head coach Dave Loos said what every other coach in the OVC already knew.

“Our defense is becoming this team’s trademark,” Loos said. “To hold a team like this to 48 points really says a lot.”

The Governors are currently not projected to win the OVC by major news organizations but will be receiving national attention on television.

This will occur when Austin Peay travels to Morehead State this Saturday. The conference matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 1 p.m.

The national public also took notice of Loos’ crew when his experienced team went into Rupp Arena and lost to nationally-ranked Kentucky by eight points. The 61-53 defeat to a Southeastern Conference powerhouse put Austin Peay on the map this season.

ESPN college basketball analyst Joe Lunardi projects the Governors as a 15th seed in his weekly “Bracketology” section.

“I was pretty proud at the effort of our guys,” Loos said in the post game press conference. “I thought we executed well on defense.”

Morehead State expects a sellout crowd at the 6,500 seat Johnson Arena when the conference favorite comes to town.

The projected winner of the OVC by CBS Sportsline is the Murray State Racers. Head coach Mitch Cronin has his team out to a 10-2 record and 2-0 in conference play.

ESPN has the Racers in its Mid-Major Top 10 poll, and CBS has Murray State as the 14th seed its projected NCAA Tournament bracket this week.

The Racers have wins over two large conference foes in TCU and Southern Miss along with a win against a solid mid-major in Southern Illinois.

One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on the one matchup between Austin Peay and Murray State at the Dunn Center February 14th because, like always, this game looks to have major conference importance.