By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
2014-15 Tennessee Tech Men's Basketball Schedule
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fun and exciting times are ahead for fans of the Tennessee Tech basketball programs as eight home doubleheaders highlight a very challenging schedule for the 2014-15 men's basketball season.
With Ohio Valley Conference play kicking off with the new year on Jan. 1, Golden Eagle fans will get plenty of bang for their buck as eight home contests will be part of basketball doubleheaders. Included in that slate of double action are contests against OVC rivals Murray State, Austin Peay, UT Martin, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Tennessee State and Belmont, as well as an exhibition double dip with the men taking on Bluefield College.
Three games against 'Power Five Conference' schools, a trip down south to the bayou and a once again brutal Ohio Valley Conference schedule also awaits the 2014-15 edition of the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team as head coach Steve Payne announced the slate awaiting the Golden Eagles this season.
With trips to Alabama, Tennessee and Southern California, as well as a tournament in New Orleans hosted by Tulane, the Tech squad will have more than its fair share of tests during the non-conference portion of its 2014-15 schedule.
"This is one of the tougher schedules we've had in awhile," Payne said. "It's always exciting when you go play teams like Tennessee, Alabama, and USC. This is the second straight year we get to go play in a tournament, and those are always memorable for our guys as well."
The Golden Eagles open the season on Thursday, Nov. 6 with an exhibition game against Bluefield College, followed by the regular-season opener on Nov. 14 when Tech hosts Piedmont International.
The Tech squad will then get its first taste of the road as the team heads way out west for a battle in Los Angeles against USC on Nov. 17. The contest will mark the program's first trip to the state of California since facing Cal in 1988.
"I think the USC trip will be rewarding," Payne explained. "We always try to take our seniors back close to home, so the USC trip will be good for Dwan Caldwell and give him a chance to play in front of his family and friends. Charles Jackson is from Sacramento, but it still gives him a chance to play back close to home. That will be neat for those guys."
Two SEC teams are on the docket in December, as Tech will travel to Tuscaloosa on the 13th for a weekend match-up with the Crimson Tide. The contest will mark the third different SEC opponent in as many years for the Golden Eagles and the first meeting against Alabama since the 1999-2000 season.
December 19 marks a trip to Knoxville for the Golden Eagles as they take on Tennessee for the second straight season and for the 22nd time overall.
"Being an hour-and-a-half from Knoxville, getting the chance to play Tennessee is always great," Payne said. "A lot of our fans are both Tech fans as well as Tennessee fans, which makes it even more fun for them. I know our guys enjoyed that last year. Going to Alabama and facing a second SEC team will be a challenge, but I know our guys like to play teams of that caliber and truly enjoy those trips."
The contest at Tennessee is just one of four non-conference, in-state battles on tap for the Golden Eagles in 2014-15. For the first time in 14 years, Tech will face off against Chattanooga, hosting the Mocs in the Eblen Center on Nov. 22.
Other in-state rivalries that continue this season include a home contest on Dec. 3 against Lipscomb and a road game in Johnson City against East Tennessee State on Feb. 16.
"With the road trips we have planned and then the in-state rivalry games against East Tennessee State, Lipscomb and Chattanooga, we're going to have a challenge," Payne said, "but I think we are also going to have a good time. Each of our in-state competitors is picked to finish well in their respective leagues, which will just add to the toughness of it all. I think people have wanted to see us match-up with Chattanooga again for a long time now and we're hoping that it will be the start of a long-term series between our two programs."
Another highlight for the 2014-15 slate is a tournament hosted by Tulane, beginning with a home contest against Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 24. Two days later, the Golden Eagles return the trip against the Lions, heading down to Hammond, La. on Nov. 26. The tournament will conclude on Nov. 30 when the Tech squad visits the Big Easy for a game with the Green Wave.
Other non-conference opponents include the University of North Florida (UNF), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), and Hiwassee College.
"It's going to be a fight day-in and day-out," Payne expressed, "and I think that our non-conference schedule will help prepare us for league play and for this fight. We've got to be good every day and at all times. There are no easy wins. We have to compete every day and our players know that."
As always, the Ohio Valley Conference will prove to be full of tough challenges and exciting contests. The Golden Eagles kicks off league action Jan. 1, hitting the road and heading north for a duel with Eastern Illinois. Other road contests for Tech in the OVC include trips to SIUE, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State, Belmont, Jacksonville State, Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.
"We're going to be very challenged," Payne stated. "The league's going to be very good again. Our league has gotten tougher every year and I expect it to be even better this season. When you look at the number of pro players it's turning out and the number of wins it's turning out and how it's performed in the NCAA Tournament the past few years, the OVC has never been stronger. I know we've had some glory days in this league, but I truly believe it's never been stronger than it's been these past few years."
In addition to the seven conference doubleheaders, the Golden Eagles will also play a home game versus Morehead State.
"I think all of our games will be exciting," Payne added. "We love to play at home, especially with our midweek games and when we can get a good crowd here in the Eblen Center. Our guys like playing in this building and we've had a lot of success here."
Something fun, new and action-packed will greet fans attending games in the Eblen Center this season with the installation of a large video board and new digital scoreboards. The video board will provide highlights, replays and other video content for basketball games this season and add to the already electric atmosphere in the arena.
"I think for the fan experience that it's just a really neat thing," Payne said of the new video board. "It's a major improvement for the Tennessee Tech fan experience and for the Eblen Center. We hope everyone will come out. I think the board moves us into that 'next level' of atmosphere and I hope everyone will come out early and support us right away. We look forward to having a great year and we hope to have a lot to put up on that board and a lot to celebrate."
The new system includes four primary 12-by-15 foot video displays, four corner displays, and 28- and 20-foot diameter, full-color upper and lower video rings. The main displays are major updates to the previous fixed-digit center-hung scoreboard installed in the mid-1980s. Additionally, the Eblen Center upgrades will include a new 40-foot wide, full-color digital scorer's table, four 6-by-10 foot fixed digit scoreboards, as well as shot clocks, game clocks and locker room clocks.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2013-14 Golden Eagle home schedule in Eblen Center. Visit or call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center (931-372-3940) to order tickets or for additional information.
