Tech favored to repeat as OVC champ

Tennessee Tech coach Jeff Lebo doesn't know if his team is prepared to handle the pressure that comes from being the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball championship.

But he knows one thing: he'd rather be in that position than the alternative.

"It's a new situation and we'll have to handle the expectations," said Lebo. "But I would rather have it that way than the other way."

The Golden Eagles have not been in this position for a long time. Until winning the OVC regular-season title last year, they had not captured the league crown since 1985.

But the bullseye is squarely on the Eagles this season as Lebo's emerging squad returns many of its key players from a year ago.

Tech received 13 of a possible 16 first-place votes (teams are not allowed to pick their own finish) in a recent poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

"I think it's a nice compliment to our program that we're picked No. 1," Lebo said. "But it really doesn't mean anything. This is a tough league. Every year, top to bottom, anything can happen on a given night. That's what's fun about our league."

The Eagles certainly aren't expected to have an easy time of things as several teams are expected to seriously contend.

Murray State, which has won or shared seven of the last eight OVC regular-season titles, received four of the five other first-place votes and was picked second. Last year the Racers saw their amazing streak of reaching the OVC Tournament championship game for 11 straight seasons end.

"We have talent, but Tennessee Tech has the best team in the league and they should be picked first," said Murray coach Tevester Anderson. "I think top to bottom the league will be the best since I've been here."

Eastern Illinois nabbed the final first-place vote and was picked third after capturing its first OVC Tournament title last season.

Morehead State was picked fourth, followed by Austin Peay, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State.

Last year was a banner one for the OVC as, for the first time in the conference's 53-year history, five teams won 17 or more games. The OVC also boasted four of the nation's top 15 scorers -- including two of the top three -- and had two players (Austin Peay's Trenton Hassell and Eastern Illinois' Kyle Hill) selected in the NBA draft.

Only time will tell if the OVC approaches its accomplishments of last season.

The following is a look at the league's squads in their predicted order of finish. Last year's overall and conference records are in parentheses.

TENN. TECH (20-9, 13-3)

Despite losing all-conference forward and leading scorer Larrie Smith, the Eagles are deep and experienced, led by perhaps the OVC's premier backcourt.

Junior Leigh Gayden, who averaged 13.4 points per game last year and shot 40 percent from 3-point range, will direct the squad from the point. He'll be teamed up with junior Brent Jolly (12.8 ppg), who set an OVC record by hitting 93 percent of his free throws a year ago while shooting 38 percent from beyond he arc.

Gayden, who was also one of the league's top assist men at four a contest, and Jolly were both third-team all-OVC last season.

The Eagles return two other starters in senior forwards DeAntoine Beasley (8.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Joey Westmoreland (6.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

Sophomore swingman Jason Harrell (8.9 ppg) was a big weapon off the bench as a freshman while the Eagles are also counting heavily on junior forward Damien Kinloch, a transfer from South Carolina.

"I like our team," Lebo said. "We have to replace a very good player in Larrie Smith, but this is the first time since I've been here that we have experience. Good experience in the backcourt is a key for us."

MURRAY ST. (17-12, 11-5)

The Racers lost sensational forward Isaac Spencer, who was one of the OVC's premier players for four years, but they shouldn't be hurting in the talent department.

The other four starters return and that's not even counting senior guard Justin Burdine (15.3 ppg, 40-percent 3-point shooting) and sophomore forward Antione Whelchel (11.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg), who both did their considerable damage primarily coming off the bench. Burdine was a third-team all-league pick last year as he ranked 10th in the conference in scoring. Whelchel was third in the OVC in rebounding.

Returning regulars are junior guard Chris Shumate (12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 46-percent 3-point shooting), junior guard Kevin Paschel (5.1 ppg), sophomore swingman Cuthbert Victor (6.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and 7-foot sophomore center Andi Hornig (5.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Shumate was second in the league in 3-point percentage and Hornig ranked second in blocked shots with 51.

The Racers were also looking for good things from redshirt freshman forward Jamar Avant, who was considered one of the nation's top 100 high school players and among the premier performers in Illinois two year ago. But Avant was recently suspended from the team after being charged with sending two e-mailed bomb threats. His status for the season is up in the air.

E. ILLINOIS (21-10, 11-5)

Coach Rick Samuels' Panthers must replace the nation's No. 2 scorer -- Kyle Hill -- along with underrated point guard Matt Britton.

But having Henry Domercant (22.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 44 percent 3-point shooting) back is a good place to start. The sophomore swingman was the nation's fourth-leading scorer last season -- and No. 2 in the league behind Hill -- as he was runner-up in the OVC Player of the Year voting. He is this year's conference preseason Player of the Year.

The Panthers return two other starters in 6-11 senior center Jan Thompson (3.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and senior forward Todd Bergmann (5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg).

A host of reserves from last year, led by sophomore forward Jesse Mackinson (5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg), will battle for positions, along with several newcomers.

"Finding replacements for Kyle Hill and Matt Britton will be difficult, but we've got a good nucleus of kids back," Samuels said.

MOREHEAD ST. (12-16, 6-10)

The Eagles continue to improve under coach Kyle Macy and this year they are finally considered a serious conference threat.

Four returning starters are led by sophomore swingman Ricky Minard (16.7 ppg. 4.8 rpg, 40 percent 3-point shooting), last season's OVC Freshman of the Year as he made second-team all-league honors. Minard was eighth in the conference in scoring as a rookie.

Other starters back are senior forward Kyle Umberger (13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), junior point guard Marquis Sykes (7.2 ppg, OVC-best 5.3 apg, 40 percent 3-point shooting) and junior center Iker Lopez (4.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Umberger was a third-team all-OVC choice last year.

Two other players who saw considerable action last year are junior guard Chez Marks (6.9 ppg) and sophomore forward David Aliu (5.8 ppg).

AUSTIN PEAY (22-10, 10-6)

The Governors of coach Dave Loos must face life without Trenton Hassell, which certainly won't be easy. Hassell, the 2000-01 OVC Player of the Year, earned All-American honors and is now with the Chicago Bulls.

Austin Peay lost three other starters, but the Govs' cupboard is not totally bare, thanks to senior guard Nick Stapleton (17.8 ppg), a second-team all-league pick last season when he was the OVC's seventh-leading scorer.

After Stapleton, however, there is precious little experience. Sophomore forward Adrian Henning (3.6 ppg) was a part-time starter last year. No other returning player averaged as many as two points a contest.

"We lost 53 points and 25 rebounds per game, but we do return Nick Stapleton, who when all else fails can break you down and create a play," said Loos. "My biggest concern is to find somebody to put the ball in the basket besides Stapleton."

TENN.-MARTIN (10-18, 5-11)

The Skyhawks have made steady progress in two years under coach Bret Campbell and, with four starters among nine letterman returning, there is plenty of optimism coming out of the Martin camp.

Leading the returnees is senior forward Brian Foster (13.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), last season's OVC Newcomer of the Year who also made second-team all-conference as he shot 52 percent from the field to rank fourth in the league.

Other returning regulars are junior swingman Okechi Egbe (13.2 ppg), senior center Jeremy Sargent (9.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and senior guard Michael Jackson (7.0 ppg). Sargent was the OVC's leading shot-blocker last season with 52 and he ranked fifth in rebounding.

"We are excited," said Campbell. "I think you're going to see good things from Tennessee-Martin basketball."

SE MISSOURI (18-12, 8-8)

Coach Gary Garner's Indians have been one of the OVC's top programs the last three years, going a combined 62-28 with one championship and one runner-up finish.

But the Indians, who have just one senior, face a major rebuilding challenge this season after losing their top four scorers from a year ago. They return only five players and just one of those was a full-time starter.

The long returning regular is junior forward Drew DeMond (5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who was third in the OVC in blocked shots a year ago with 48.

Junior forward Tim Scheer (6.8 ppg), junior center Daniel Weaver (4.0 ppg) both broke into the starting lineup late last year while sophomore swingman Damarcus Hence (3.1 ppg) and senior forward Monte Gordon (3.2 ppg) also return, although he is ineligible until the second semester.

A host of newcomers are expected to either start or play quite a bit, including junior guards Kenny Johnson and Demetrius King, sophomore guard Justin Smith, freshmen guards Derek Winans and Brett Hale and freshman center Adam Crader. Smith is ineligible until the second semester.

E. KENTUCKY (7-19, 1-15)

Travis Ford's first EKU squad finished in the OVC cellar and just two starters return, but Ford has some newcomers whom he thinks will make a difference.

Starters back are senior guards Spanky Parks (13.4 ppg) and Clinton Sims (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg). The only other returning players are senior forward Chris Carswell (4.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and sophomore center Tim Volpenhein (3.2 ppg), who has been battling injuries and may not be able to play this year.

Expected to make an immediate impact are two transfers: junior guard Shawn Fields from Georgia and sophomore forward Jon Bentley from Marshall.

"We're better than last year but how much better I don't know," said Ford. "There are a lot of ifs about this team."

TENN. ST. (10-19, 7-9)

Second-year TSU coach Nolan Richardson III returns just two starters and only six players in all.

Heading up the list of returnees are senior forward Kyle Rolston (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and sophomore guard Garrett Richardson (11.4 ppg). Richardson led the league in steals with 2.2 a contest while Rolston was fifth in field-goal shooting at 50 percent. But no other returning player averaged as many as three points per game.

The Tigers will be looking from immediate contributions from several newcomers, including four junior-college transfers.