RACERS A UNANIMOUS CHOICE TO RETAIN TITLE

Led by four returning starters, Murray State's Racers are expected to win yet another Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball championship.

Murray State, which last year won both the league regular-season and tournament titles, is a unanimous choice to capture its

12th OVC regular-season crown in the past 13 years.

The Racers received all 18 possible first-place votes in a recent poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors (teams are not allowed to pick their own finish).Southeast Missouri, the team that gave the Racers the most trouble last season, and Austin Peay each received one first-place vote and tied for second in the preseason poll.

Southeast Missouri lost three times to Murray State last season, including twice on buzzer-beaters, the final one coming in the championship game of the OVC Tournament. Still, the Indians became the first OVC team other than the Racers to ever win 15 league games.

Virtually all of the league's coaches believe the overall race for the championship will be much more competitive than last season, when Murray State and Southeast Missouri engaged in a two-team race."I think the OVC will be much tougher from top to bottom this season," said Southeast Missouri's Gary Garner, last season's OVC Co-Coach of the Year. "Last year the records really fell off after Murray State and us, but I don't think that will be the case this year."Murray has to be the favorite, no doubt about it. They're the defending champion and they have four starters back. But I think four or five teams can give them a run for their money. I think it will be a great race."Said Murray State's Tevester Anderson, who shared the league's top coach award with Garner, "I hope we can defend our championship, but it will be a very tough road."Following is a look at the OVC squads, in the order they were picked to finish. Last year's overall and conference records are in parentheses.

Murray State (27-6, 16-2.

It's little wonder that the Racers, who won their third straight OVC Tournament championship last year, are heavily favored to repeat both their titles.

MSU returns a load of talent, led by two of the league's premier players in forward Isaac Spencer and point guard Aubrey Reese.

Spencer, the OVC Preseason Player of the Year, was a first-team all-OVC choice last year when he led the Racers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Reese, earned first-team all-OVC honors and was the MVP of the league tourney last season as his miraculous shot at the buzzer beat Southeast Missouri and sent the Racers to the NCAA Tournament. Reese averaged 14.7 points, five rebounds and 4.9 assists per game a year ago.

Joining Reese in the backcourt is Marlon Towns (8.4 ppg), who led the Racers with 48 3-pointers, although Towns has been suspended for the first six games of the season for disciplinary reasons. Joining Spencer up front is second-team all-OVC pick Rod Murray (12.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg).Aaron Page (2..5 ppg) and Justin Burdine (1.8 ppg) provide depth at guard while Ray Cunningham (4.5 ppg) adds depth up front. The Racers do have a question mark at center, however.

The Racers enter the season with the nation's longest home-court winning streak, 43 games."With four starters back, we should be as strong at those positions as we were last year," said Anderson, in his second season as the Racers' boss. "But our post position will not be as strong."Southeast Missouri (20-9, 15-3.

The Indians had a breakthrough season last year, their second under Garner, setting school records for overall and conference wins as a Division I member and reaching the OVC Tournament championship game for the first time.

While the Indians, who lost OVC Player of the Year Bud Eley to graduation, return just two starters and four lettermen, Garner believes the talent level on this season's team could be even higher.

Southeast welcomes back three players in the frontcourt, led by returning starting forwards Roderick Johnson (12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 56-percent shooting) and Mike Branson (10.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Johnson made the OVC all-newcomer team last year while Branson earned OVC all-tournament honors.

Also back is center Brian Bunche (3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg), who backed up Eley last season, and point guard Fred Abraham (2.9 ppg), who is academically ineligible for the first semester.

What Garner really believes gives the Indians plenty of promise although he emphasizes it could take a while for that promise to be delivered is a highly-regarded recruiting class that features five junior-college transfers, all of whom figure to see plenty of playing time.

Point guard Michael Stokes led his team to the juco national tournament while shooting guard Antonio Short was a second-team juco All-American. Shooting guard Amory Sanders, swingman Emmanuel McCuthison and center Nya Jones should also all contribute.

Adding even more depth will be forward Drew DeMond, who sat out last season with an injury, along with freshmen forwards Tim Scheer and DeMarcus Hence.

Austin Peay (11-16, 9-9.

The Governors struggled early last season but won four of their last six games to finish in the top half of the OVC standings for the sixth year in a row.

With 10 returning letterman including two of the league's most talented players veteran coach Dave Loos is hoping the Govs will be a factor in this year's race.

The Govs will be led by one of the league's top backcourt combinations in Trenton Hassell and Nick Stapleton.

Hassell did just about everything for the Govs last season, leading the squad in scoring (17.8 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg), assists (3.8 apg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg) as he earned first-team all-OVC honors and was named the league's Newcomer of the Year.

Stapleton (13.6 ppg) was named to the OVC all-newcomer team after shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. Adding depth in the backcourt is J.J. Halliburton (1.2 ppg).The Govs are hurt by the fact forward James Stewart (8.8 ppg) will miss the season with a knee injury. Loos could have three newcomers starting up front as touted juco transfers Joe Williams, Theanthony Haymon and Curtis Harris are all being counted on, along with Mike Head (3.6 ppg), who started 17 games at center last year.

Middle Tennessee (12-19, 9-9) The Blue Raiders have posted three straight third-place OVC finishes and they are expected to contend once again as coach Randy Wiel tries to blend seven returning lettermen with several juco transfers.

MTSU's strength figures to be up front, where all three starters return. Cedrick Wallace (12.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) earned OVC all-newcomer team honors last year, Lee Nosse (10.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) has developed into one of the league's top center and Dale Thomas (7.3 ppg, 58-percent shooting) has been solid.

Adding depth up front are Ellious Swanigan (3.4 ppg) and Johnny Cobb (1.7 ppg), along with newcomers Fernando Ortiz, who starred for the Puerto Rican national team last summer, and Vanderbilt transfer Iiro Tenngren.

The backcourt has plenty of question marks, but one less if 3-point specialist Freddie Martinez (12.3 ppg two years ago) has recovered from knee surgery that forced him to miss last season.

Tennessee Tech (12-15, 8-10.

Under rookie coach Jeff Lebo, the Golden Eagles were one of the surprise teams in the league last year and, with four returning starters and some talented newcomers, Tech is expected to continue its resurgence.

The Eagles will be led by one of the OVC's top backcourts in Josh Heard and Corey Hemphill, who both earned second-team all-OVC and all-newcomer team honors.

Heard led the squad in scoring (16.6 ppg) and was one of the nation's top perimeter shooters with 98 3-pointers. Hemphill was the only OVC player to rank in the top 10 in scoring (15.9 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg).Back at forward is Joey Westmoreland (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg), who scored in double figures in 11 of the Eagles' final 12 games last season, while DeAntoine Beasley (5.1 ppg) should provide depth.

In the post, Eric Akins (4.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Adonis Hart, who missed last season with an injury, are expected to share time.

Among the top newcomers are guards Trey Ferguson, who originally committed to Indiana, and Brent Jolly, a two-time Mr. Basketball in Tennessee.

Eastern Illinois (13-16, 8-10.

The Panthers return seven lettermen and two starters from a team that was up and down last year, posting three winning streaks of three or more games and three losing skids of four or more games.

Coach Rick Samuels, beginning his 20th season at EIU, should have a team that is strong from beyond the arc. The Panthers hit a school-record 221 3-pointers last year and return two of their top marksmen in guard Kyle Hill (16.6 ppg, 63 3-pointers) and forward Marc Polite (14.3 ppg, 74 3-pointers).Transfer Matt Britton is expected to take over at point guard while Michael Forrest (5.1 ppg) adds backcourt depth.

Up front, Merv Joseph (6.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) started several games while John Smith (7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Luke Sharp (3.4 ppg) should also be key contributors.

Morehead State (13-15, 9-9) The Eagles posted one of the biggest turnarounds in the country last season, going from 3-23 to 13-15 and moving up from 10th to third in the OVC standings.

Third-year coach Kyle Macy hopes to build on that success with a roster that includes five players who started eight or more games last season, although the Eagles will no doubt miss leading scorer Erick Brown, who was one of the nation's top freshman last year but transferred to Louisville.

MSU was 15th in the nation in 3-point percentage (38.3 percent) last year and returns its top two perimeter shooters. Brad Cleaver (15.4 ppg, 4.8 apg) hit 41 percent from 3-point range while Brett Bohanan (11.4 ppg) shot an OVC-best 44.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Returning regulars up front are Scott Charity (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Kyle Umberger (9.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) while Jeremy Webb (6.3 ppg) adds depth.

Several newcomers also figure into Macy's plans.

Tennessee State (12-15, 9-9.

After being picked to finish among the league's top teams for the past several seasons, the Tigers are not nearly as highly regarded this year.

Still, despite veteran coach Frankie Allen having only eight scholarship players, the Tigers return two players who have earned all-conference recognition and they'll be counting on several newcomers.

TSU will be led by sharpshooting guard Jamie Roberts (17.6 ppg, 81 3-pointers), who earned second-team all-OVC honors last year after finishing fourth in the league in scoring and ranking 10th nationally in 3-pointers per game.

Joining Roberts in the backcourt will be Kevein Samuel (12.8 ppg two years ago), who was academically ineligible last season.

Returning at center is Ralph Martin (4.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg).Eastern Kentucky (3-23, 2-16.

Coming off a dismal season, third-year coach Scott Perry has basically cleaned house. The Colonels return just three players but will be counting on several touted recruits to try and turn things around.

EKU's top returnee is guard Whitney Robinson (17.8 ppg, 77 3-pointers), who ranked third in the league in scoring as a freshman and made the OVC all-newcomer team. Robinson's scoring average was fifth-best among all freshmen in Division I.The Colonels' other returning starter is forward Darick Mattox (10.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Keanan Weir (3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) provides depth up front.

Among the top new players Perry will be counting on are guards John White, Lavoris Jerry and Will Morris, along with center Sam Hoskin.

Tennessee-Martin (8-18, 5-13.

Changes abound at UTM, where former Austin Peay assistant Bret Campbell takes over the program. He's brought in 10 new players and promises to install a more up-tempo attack.

While the Skyhawks don't return many players from last year, they have a strong floor leader in point guard Andrae Betts (10.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.2 apg), who established himself as one of the OVC's better point guards as a freshman.

The only other returnee is wing Steve Jordan (1.8 ppg).Among the many newcomers Campbell will be counting on are guard Steve Sensabaugh; forward Hayden Prescott, who averaged 18 points per game at Eastern Utah JC; and posts Dexter Webb, Byron Benton and Lee Williamson.