Golden Eagles hope to capture title, national spotlight at OVC Tournament
The Golden Eagle basketball team hopes to not only claim the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference title this weekend in Nashville, they can also grab the attention of the nation by winning the crown in front of a national TV audience on ESPNU and ESPN2.
OVC Tournament Information Page at
OVCsports.com
Men's Tournament OVC Insider Page
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team hopes
to not only claim the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference title this
weekend in Nashville, the Golden Eagles can also grab the attention
of the nation by winning the crown in front of a national TV
audience on ESPNU and ESPN2.
Friday night's semifinal game against Morehead State in the
Bridgestone Arena (formerly the Sommet Center) will be televised by
ESPNU. If the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles are able to upset the No.
2 seeded MSU Eagles, Tech would play in the title game Saturday at
7 p.m. in a game slated for ESPN2.
Golden Eagle fans can purchase tickets at the Athletic Ticket
Office in Eblen Center until noon on Thursday. After that, tickets
can be purchased at Bridgestone Arena. Tickets are $20 per session,
with a specially-priced student ticket for only $5 for Tech
students with a valid TTU ID.
To get Tech fans prepared for the game, the TTU Alumni Relations
Office is hosting a pregame event at the Big River Grille on
Broadway Avenue in Nashville. The event will be from 6 to 7:30
p.m.
Tech reached the semifinals by virtue of Tuesday night's 68-65
victory at No. 3 seed Austin Peay when sophomore Kevin Murphy
drained a game-winning 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining.
Friday's game with Morehead State will be Tech's sixth this season
against team which played last year in the NCAA Tournament,
including then-No. 1 Kansas.
The game will be a record-breaking night for guard Frank Davis. It
will be his 125th career game as a Golden Eagle and establish
another school record for the senior from Gainesville, Ga. Davis is
currently tied with Anthony Fisher for most career games at 124.
Earlier this year, Davis set the school career record for most
3-pointers made.
Tech is making its first visit to Nashville for the final rounds since the 2005-06 season, when it lost to Samford, 73-66, in the semifinals. The Golden Eagles are seeking their first appearance in the OVC championship game since falling to Austin Peay in 2002-03
The Golden Eagles have been to the finals of the OVC Tournament just three times in the past. The first was in the OVC Holiday Tournament in 1967 under coach Kenny Sidwell. Coach Jeff Lebo took Tech to the finals in 2001-02 in Louisville, losing to Murray State, 70-69. Current coach Mike Sutton had Tech in the title game in 2002-03, falling to Austin Peay, 63-57. If Tech can down Morehead State, Sutton would be the first Tech coach to get his team into the championship game twice.
With the win at APSU, Sutton recorded his 129th victory as
Golden Eagle head coach. That ties him with Frank Harrell for the
second-most victories by a men's head coach at the university.
Harrell won 129 games between 1988 and 1997, directing Tech for
nine full seasons and most of a 10th after taking over in Hawaii
after five games. Sutton is currently in his eighth season at
the Golden Eagle helm.
The all-time leader in wins is Putty Overall, who posted 164
victories during 15 seasons between 1924 and 1946.
2010 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Baketball Tournament Schedule
Semifinals - Friday, March 5
(Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, Tenn.)
Semifinal #1 - No. 1 Murray State vs. No. 4 Eastern Illinois, 6:00
p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Semifinal #2 - No. 2 Morehead State vs. No. 6 Tennessee
Tech, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Championship -
Saturday, March 6 (Bridgestone Arena - Nashville,
Tenn.)
Championship Game, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
