OTAHKIANS FITTED FOR CELLAR

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen wasn't surprised to see his team picked to finish dead last in the Ohio Valley Conference this season.

He just hopes the Otahkians will be able to prove all the so-called experts wrong.

"In 19 years as a coach, this is the first time I've been picked last in any conference or any tournament," said Arnzen during Wednesday's OVC Media Day at the Nashville Arena. "But I absolutely expected it, when you look at returning people and how the teams did last year.

"But I don't think we're a last-place team. Even though we were a last-place team last year, I felt like we were in every game. We just found ways to lose. This year we have to find ways to win."

The Otahkians had by far their worst season ever under Arnzen last year, going 5-21 overall and a last-place 3-15 in the OVC.

Eastern Kentucky, which captured the OVC regular-season and tournament titles last year, is expected to repeat that performance in 1997-98 according to the poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors that was revealed Wednesday.

The Lady Colonels were a near-unanimous selection, picking up 17 first-place votes.

Eastern Kentucky went 24-6 overall and 16-2 in OVC play last year to set a school record for victories. The Lady Colonels also made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

With three starters and eight letterwinners back, it's no surprise the Lady Colonels are picked to lead the OVC pack. They placed two players on the all-OVC preseason first team in senior forward Laphelia Doss and senior guard Chrissy Roberts.

"Last year we had a lot of great players that were willing to give of themselves," said Eastern Kentucky coach Larry Inman. "We know everybody will be shooting for us this year. It's tough to get there (to the top), but it's a whole lot tougher to stay there."

Perennial conference power Tennessee Tech, which went 18-11 last year and reached the title game of the OVC Tournament for the 13th time in the past 14 seasons, earned the other three first-place votes and was chosen second in the poll.

The Golden Eaglettes return eight letterwinners and four starters, led by 6-foot-2 sophomore center Diane Seng, the 1996-97 OVC Freshman of the Year and the 1997-98 OVC preseason player of the year. Seng averaged 22.2 points per game last year and led the nation in field-goal percentage at an incredible 67.8 percent.

Austin Peay, which tied for second place last season, was chosen third, followed by Middle Tennessee, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, Murray State, Tennessee-Martin, Morehead State and Southeast Missouri.

Sizing up the OVC, Arnzen said, "Eastern Kentucky is potentially the best ballclub and Tech is close behind. After that, I don't think there's a whole lot of difference, particularly with the last six teams."

The league will have two new head coaches this year. Stephany Smith takes over at Middle Tennessee after serving as a Lady Raiders' assistant the past five years. Laura Litter comes to Morehead State after compiling a 203-55 record the past eight seasons at Sullivan College in Kentucky.

Joining Doss, Roberts and Seng on the all-OVC preseason first team are senior forward Amanda Behrenbrinker of Austin Peay and senior forward Barbara Gorbova of Eastern Illinois.

Southeast Missouri senior guard/forward Jamie Koester, who averaged a team-high 15.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season, made the preseason second team.

PRESEASON POLL

Men

1. Murray St. (18) 162

2. Tenn. (2) 130

3. Austin Peay 120

4. Middle Tenn. 119

5. Eastern Ill. 101

6. SE Missouri 80

7. Tenn. Tech 58

8. Eastern Ky. 50

9. Tenn.-Martin 45

10. Morehead St. 35

Women

1. Eastern Ky. (17) 160

2. Tenn. Tech (3) 147

3. Austin Peay 114

4. Middle Tenn. 107

5. Eastern Ill. 97

6. Tenn. St. 78

7. Murray St. 74

8. Tenn.-Martin 47

9. Morehead St. 41

10. SE Missouri 35