Get To Know a College Basketball Mid-Major: Ohio Valley Conference

The Ohio Valley Conference, a mid-major athletic association in American college basketball, presented an overview of its member institutions and competitive objectives across both men's and women's divisions in the spring of 2023, aiming to increase visibility for schools that often compete in the shadow of power conferences. The OVC represents a collection of universities primarily located in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States, including states like Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. Founded in 1948, the conference has established itself as a competitive breeding ground for basketball talent, with several programs achieving notable success in NCAA Tournament play despite their mid-major status. For both men's and women's basketball, the OVC provides a platform for student-athletes to showcase their skills while pursuing academic excellence, with member institutions ranging from larger universities to smaller liberal arts colleges. In recent years, the conference has seen increased attention as mid-major programs continue to challenge traditional powerhouses in non-conference matchups and during March Madness, with teams like Belmont, Murray State, and Morehead State developing reputations as 'giant killers' capable of upsetting higher-seeded opponents in tournament play.