Southeast men picked to win conference

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team garnered plenty of respect Tuesday as the Ohio Valley Conference preseason polls and all-conference squads were announced.

Southeast's women gained a bit more respect than in recent years but not nearly enough in relation to where coach Ty Margenthaler believes the program is headed.

That's a nutshell of what transpired for the Redhawks during the OVC's annual media day in Nashville, Tenn. Preseason voting was done by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Southeast's men were picked as the OVC West Division co-favorite along with Murray State after the Redhawks finished second behind the Racers in the division last year. Southeast actually received more first-place votes than the Racers.

Senior forward Tyler Stone, the Redhawks' two-time second-team all-OVC senior forward, was voted the conference's preseason player of the year. Junior forward Nino Johnson joned Stone on the league's 10-player preseason all-OVC squad.

"I'm quick to tell you, and I'm quick to tell our team every day that predictions are just predictions. It's not where you start, it's where you finish," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "We're glad that among our peers they think we're much more competitive now, so that's a good thing.

"It's great recognition for Tyler and Nino. They've really developed on and off the floor."

Southeast's women, after being tabbed for a last-place West Division finish a year ago, were picked fifth. Sophomore guard Kara Wright was a preseason all-OVC selection, the lone underclassmen to make the list.

"We can be picked first to last. ... It's just that, it's a preseason poll," Margenthaler said. "I really do feel in my heart we're a lot better than that. We have to go out and prove it. I feel we have a legit chance to make a run [at the top].

"I'm really happy for Kara. It's a great individual award. To be the only sophomore on that team is great for her and our program."

Nutt's Redhawks have improved the program's record during each of his four seasons as coach and last year they went 17-16 for their first winning mark since the 2004-05 team went 15-14.

Southeast recorded the program's most victories since the 2000-01 squad won 18 games and claimed a win in the OVC tournament for the third consecutive year -- a first for the program.

With four starters returning and several touted newcomers, Nutt knows expectations are high. He embraces the role of an OVC favorite.

"I think it's good for our program, it's good for our fans, it's good for recruiting," Nutt said. "We don't shy away from the expectations. We're excited about the season."

Stone enters his final season needing 32 points to reach 1,000 in his Southeast career. He was the Redhawks leading scorer last year with 15.5 points per game. He ranked eighth in the OVC in scoring, fifth in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and fifth in blocks (44).

Johnson ranked 22nd in the nation with a Southeast single-season record 84 blocks a year ago. He was the Redhawks' third-leading scorer (11.1 ppg) while leading in blocks, rebounding (8.8 rpg) and field goal percentage (.556). He was second in the OVC in rebounding and blocks while ranking third in field-goal percentage.

"Tyler and Nino are two of the better big men in our league," Nutt said. "We're looking for them to have even bigger years this season."

Southeast received 13 first-place votes and Murray State picked up the remaining 11 as both squads collected 117 total points. Voters were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Rounding out the West Division poll are Austin Peay (90 points), Tennessee-Martin (66), Eastern Illinois (58) and SIU Edwardsville (44).

Eastern Kentucky is the East Division favorite, earning 18 of a possible 24 first-place votes and a league-high 128 points.

Defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Belmont was picked second in the East with the remaining six first-place votes and 116 points, followed by Morehead State (74), Jacksonville State (72), Tennessee State (60) and Tennessee Tech (42).

"I think our conference is strong from top to bottom," Nutt said.

Like Nutt, third-year women's coach Margenthaler appears to have his team on the upswing.

Last season's Redhawks posted the program's most overall and conference wins since the 2008-09 campaign. Southeast went 11-18 overall and 5-11 in OVC play, which tied the Redhawks for ninth place, their highest finish since 2008-09.

"I feel we're ready to make a big jump this year," said Margenthaler, whose squad returned plenty of experience and has added some key newcomers. "I'm excited."

Wright was the Redhawks' No. 4 scorer (8.5 ppg), was second in assists (56) and second in blocks (15) last year while leading in field-goal percentage (.455).

Wright especially stood out during conference play, her 10.6 scoring average ranking second on the squad. She was named to the OVC's all-newcomer team.

"She had a great freshmen year and was really an impact player for us down the stretch," Margenthaler said.

Three-time defending OVC tournament champion Tennessee-Martin is the West Division favorite. The Skyhawks received 22 first-place votes and a league-high 132 points.

SIU Edwardsville nabbed the two remaining first-place votes and 103 points, followed by Eastern Illinois (85), Murray State (68), Southeast (61) and Austin Peay (42).

Defending OVC regular-season champion Tennessee Tech was picked to win the East Division with 12 first-place votes and 119 points, followed by Belmont (nine first-place votes, 115 points), Eastern Kentucky (three first-place votes, 95 points), Morehead State (66), Tennessee State (65) and Jacksonville State (32).

Tennessee-Martin senior guard Jasmine Newsome is the OVC preseason player of the year after winning the award following last season.