October 21, 2014

Basketball teams learn of projected fate at annual OVC Media Day in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech and the other basketball teams around the league learned Tuesday exactly what the rest of the league thinks about them when the Ohio Valley Conference hosted its annual Media Day.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech and the other basketball teams around the league learned Tuesday exactly what the rest of the league thinks about them when the Ohio Valley Conference hosted its annual Media Day at the Music City Sheraton Hotel.

In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head basketball coaches and sports information directors, Murray State has been picked the preseason favorite for the 2014-15 men's race while Belmont is the top choice to win the title in the women's race. The Tech men are picked fourth in the OVC East Division, while the Golden Eagle women are pegged for fourth palce overall. The women's race was not determined by divisions this year.

Men's Race

Murray State, who has won a league-best 23 OVC regular season championships, picked up 15 of 24 first-place votes in being picked the overall regular season champion. The Racers were also tabbed the West Division favorites, picking up 22 of 24 first-place votes in that category, while two-time defending regular season champion Belmont was picked the East Division favorites.

Tennessee Tech begins year number four under head coach Steve Payne and also got the benefits of a summer foreign tour when the Golden Eagles played five games in the Dominican Republic (compiling a 4-1 record). The team welcomes seven newcomers this season but has experience back in senior center Dwan Caldwell, who led the team in scoring (10.7/game) and blocks (33) a season ago, and senior swingman Javon McKay who is the program’s most experienced player, having played 91 games in a Golden Eagle uniform.

The 2014-15 Golden Eagle season kicks off with an exhibition contest on Thursday, Nov. 6 against Bluefield College in Eblen Center.

[Photo at left: Jim Davis talks with TV reporters, including Rudy Kalis of WSMV TV]

Women's Race

Belmont has been picked to win the 2014-15 Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball title in the preseason poll. The Bruins earned 224 points, including 14 first-place votes, while UT Martin is selected to finish second with 203 points garnering three-first place nods. Jacksonville State picked up two first-place votes and 189 points for a predicted third place finish. Tennessee Tech is selected to finish fourth with 169 points.

The Golden Eagles are in their third season under veteran head coach Jim Davis. Tech features seven returnees and will be bolstered by five talented newcomers who could have an immediate impact on the lineup. Among the reteunees are forward T'Keyah Williams (9.2 ppg/5.9 rpg) and center Candace Parson (10.4 ppg/6.4 rpg) in the frontcourt. The backcourt returns Hannah Goolsby (9.0 ppg) and Catherine Taylor (4.6 ppg).

The women's season also kicks of on Thursday, Nov. 6, with an exhibition game against Tennessee Wesleyan in Eblen Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. It's the first of eight doubleheaders on the 2014-15 Tech schedule.

2014-15 Preseason OVC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
Overall OVC Champion: Murray State (15 first-place vote)

East Division
1. Belmont (16 first-place votes) – 125 points
2. Morehead State (4) – 103
3. Eastern Kentucky (4) – 102
4. Tennessee Tech – 71
5. Jacksonville State – 52
6. Tennessee State - 40

West Division
1. Murray State (22 first-place vote) – 132 points
2. Southeast Missouri (2) – 109
3. SIUE – 77
4. Austin Peay – 70
5. Eastern Illinois – 64
6. UT Martin 40

2014-15 Preseason All-OVC Men’s Basketball Team
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Cameron Payne, Murray State

NAME, SCHOOL
Jarekious Bradley, Southeast Missouri
Craig Bradshaw, Belmont
Reece Chamberlain, Belmont
Chris Horton, Austin Peay
Cameron Payne, Murray State
T.J. Sapp, Murray State
Myles Taylor, UT Martin
Corey Walden, Eastern Kentucky
Angelo Warner, Morehead State
Jarvis Williams, Murray State

2014-15 Preseason OVC Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Belmont (14 first-place votes) - 224
2. UT Martin (Three first-place votes) - 203
3. Jacksonville State (Two first-place votes) - 189
4. Tennessee Tech - 169
5. SIUE - 152
6. Tennessee State (Two first-place votes) - 144
7. Eastern Kentucky (Three first-place votes) - 138
8. Eastern Illinois                - 92
9. Murray State - 83
10. Southeast Missouri - 73
11. Austin Peay - 71
12. Morehead State – 40

2014-15 Preseason All-OVC Women’s Basketball Team
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Jordyn Luffman, Belmont

NAME, SCHOOL
Jordyn Luffman, Belmont
Sabina Oroszova, Eastern Illinois
Candace Morton, Jacksonville State
Almesha Jones, Morehead State
Chelsea Hudson, Tennessee State
Ashia Jones, UT Martin
Destany McLin, Jacksonville State
Tiasha Gray, Austin Peay
Keiona Kirby, Murray State
Tierny Austin, SIUE