CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Austin Peay State University men’s basketball is looking to pick up where it left off last season, heading into the 2020-21 campaign.

After posting a (21-12, 14-4) record a year ago, the Governors have since been tabbed as the preseason favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference.

APSU received nine first-place votes in the OVC Men’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll last Thursday, and deservedly so due to a wealth of talent at head coach Matt Figger’s disposal.

Figger answered questions Tuesday at OVC Media Day via Zoom regarding the hype surrounding the Gov program.

“I’m excited that we’re actually here doing a press conference and we’re not talking about postponing the season and everything,” Figger said. “We do have half of a new roster, but we have enough returning that I think the chemistry and the nucleus is pretty good. The games aren’t won on paper though, I can tell you that.”

Player to watch: Terry Taylor

Senior forward Terry Taylor was selected to the Preseason All-OVC team and named OVC Preseason Player of the Year for the second time in his Governor career.

Taylor averaged 21.8 points and 11.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game last season.

The Bowling Green, Kentucky, native was also the only player in the country to lead his conference in both scoring and rebounding a year ago.

“I’m selfish of him because I want us to have a full season without cancellations, so he can walk away with any accolade he can possibly have,” Figger said of his star player. “The NCAA has granted him an extra year of eligibility, and Terry is a young kid. God-willing, when his career is finished at Austin Peay, he’s going to have his jersey hanging up in the rafters and be one of the all-time OVC greats.”

Returning strong

Austin Peay will not have the services of Eli Abaev who averaged 27.8 minutes per game last season after the forward left for Florida Gulf Coast, but will return its starting backcourt in Carlos Paez and Reginald Gee.

The Governors have also had a tremendous influx of talent during the offseason headlined by Georgia transfer Mike Peake and Oklahoma transfer Corbin Merritt.

On Tuesday, Figger revealed that every incoming player has been deemed eligible to play this upcoming season.

“Firstly, every kid on the roster is eligible,” Figger said. “Everybody who was seeking waivers have all been cleared by the NCAA.”

Figger discussed the pluses and minuses of putting together a rotation with such a deep team and how he will approach minute distribution.

“I told my guys in a huddle not too long ago that they have to make my job hard,” Figger said. “Last year, my job was easy as far as handing out playing time because I felt like we had six or seven guys I could depend on. I hope that I can play all 13 guys this season. Every day is just about consistency in practice. That’s where you earn your minutes.”

Player to watch: Jordyn Adams

Taylor was joined on the Preseason All-OVC team by reigning OVC Freshman of the Year Jordyn Adams. Both players declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, but have since withdrawn and returned to campus to continue their collegiate playing career.

After flying under the radar a bit last season despite being a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, Adams will likely have many backcourts gunning for him in 2020-21.

According to the standout sophomore, Adams is looking forward to the challenge.

“I just embrace it,” Adams said on combating the pressure. “If they come at me, I’m going to come right back. I just love basketball and competing against other people.”

What’s next

Austin Peay will kick off their 2020-21 campaign Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. at the #BeachBubble Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Governors are slated to take on Omaha in their first game and will then face the winner of Indiana State and ECU in game two.

“The only thing right now that is set in stone is that we’re playing three games God-willing in Fort Myers,” Figger said of the scheduling this upcoming season. “Outside of that, it’s still a work in progress and it hasn’t been easy to find opponents to fill out this schedule.”