By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fans of the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will finally get their chance to see the team in action Thursday evening, as the Golden Eagles host Bluefield College in a exhibition doubleheader with the Tech women's squad, which hosts Tennessee Wesleyan.
With tip-off scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. CT, Golden Eagles fans will be afforded the opportunity to see just that the 2014-15 season has in store. Tech welcomes several new faces to the squad this year, joining a team that made it to the quarterfinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament last spring.
Tech will open its 2014-15 regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., kicking off the new year of basketball by hosting Piedmont International.
Season tickets that will allow fans to enjoy the entire Golden Eagle home basketball schedule are on sale, with a variety of ticket options to choose from. Fans may purchase their tickets online (TTUsports.com), in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center, or on the telephone (931-372-3940).
Tennessee Tech (0-0) vs. Bluefield College (0-0)
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014
7:30 p.m. CT
Eblen Center (9,250) - Cookeville, Tenn.
The Broadcasts
TV: none
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle (Roger Ealey)
Webcast: Golden Eagle Sports Network on the OVC Digital Network (Dylan Vazzano)
Setting the Stage
The Golden Eagles finally take the hardwood for the first time in 2014-15, hosting its first exhibition contest since 2010-11. Tech defeated Carson-Newman that season, blitzing the boards and cruising to a more-than-comfortable 95-46 victory.
Tech has met up with Bluefield College seven times over the year, recording an impressive mark of 7-0 in those contests. The series began back in 1985, with Tech claiming an 84-66 win. There wasn't a rematch until 2001, with Tech claiming another victory in Eblen Center. This year's meeting marks the first between the Rams and Golden Eagles since Jan. 2, 2011.
Points have not been hard to come by for the Tech squad in the series, topping the 100-point mark four times.
What to Watch For
Back for his senior campaign is big man Dwan Caldwell. Tech's returning leader in both scoring and rebounds last season, Caldwell was force to reckon with inside the paint. In his first season in purple and gold he pulled down 5.5 rebounds per game while leading Tech with 10.7 points per game. He added 33 blocks and 22 steals, proving to be a defensive stalwart as well.
Entering his fifth season with the Golden Eagle program, senior Javon McKay brings the most experience of any Tech player to the table. Considered one of the best defenders in the league, McKay has played in 90 games in his career, including 32 of Tech's 33 contests last season. He also enters the year as the best returning free throw shooter, hitting nearly 78 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe in 2013-14.
Another senior rejoins the mix again this year, as Jordon Johnson offers as a huge weapon from beyond the arc. The guard made 18 starts a year ago, drilling 41 attempts from 3-point range.
Poised for a breakout season, junior guard Josiah Moore experienced solid success off the bench for Tech last year, averaging 7.5 points over 17.5 minutes per game.
