By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Just over two weeks remain before the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will tip off in Atlanta, Ga. for the 2016-17 regular season opener at Georgia Tech, and head coach Steve Payne made it be known at the annual Ohio Valley Conference Media Day that the Golden Eagles are ready to roll.
"Media Day is always an exciting time because it means we're just that much closer to the start of the regular season and playing basketball," head coach Steve Payne said. "I get that special feeling on the first day of classes, the first day of practice, and Media Day because each gets us one step closer to what we ultimately are working for; the start of the season."
Tech will be led by a healthy mix of veterans and newcomers in 2016-17, highlighted by Preseason All-OVC selection Aleksa Jugovic. The junior guard represents the Golden Eagles' returning leader in scoring, assists, steals, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and minutes. The Leskovac, Serbia native enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign last season, averaging 12.1 points per game while ranking in the top five in the league in both 3-point shooting (42.0 percent) and free throw shooting (86.5 percent).
"A.J. was a huge part of our team last year and important to the success we had last season," Payne explained. "Over the summer and the fall, we discussed how big of a jump it takes to go from basically the third option on offense and roughly 12 points per game to adding those four or five points and being the number one option. It's a hard jump to make, but he won't have to do that all on his own. We have a lot of other guys that will help.
"He works extremely hard, he's wonderful to coach and any recognition he gets, he deserves. A.J. is definitely capable of being a leader on our team and I look forward to seeing how he competes once again this season."
In a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors, Tech was selected to finish fourth in East Division behind OVC favorite Belmont, Tennessee State and Morehead State. Last season, the Golden Eagles tied with both Tennessee State and Morehead State for second place in the division, earning the fifth seed in the OVC Tournament after tiebreakers.
"There are a lot of really good teams in the East Division," Payne said. "There's not much you can do but to keep fighting and try and claw your way to the top. The four best records in the league last year were all in the East. There are a lot of very talented players in our division – and the West is good as well – but particularly in our division, the talent level is top notch across the board.
"There are no easy outs and it really doesn't matter where you're picked. Tennessee State was picked sixth last year and ended up tying with us and Morehead for second. I'm excited about the OVC and coaching in the OVC. It's a great league and it will be very challenging as it always is. We hope to have the best fans and the best home court advantage in the league."
2016-17 Preseason All-OVC Men's Basketball Team
Taylor Barnette, Belmont
Evan Bradds, Belmont
Antonius Cleveland, Southeast Missouri
Cornell Johnston, Eastern Illinois
Bryce Jones, Murray State
Aleksa Jugovic, Tennessee Tech
Wayne Martin, Tennessee State
Nick Mayo, Eastern Kentucky
Tahjere McCall, Tennessee State
Xavier Moon, Morehead State
Josh Robinson, Austin Peay
Preseason Player of the Year: Evan Bradds, Belmont
2016-17 Preseason OVC Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
Overall OVC Champion: Belmont (16 first-place votes)
Other Teams Receiving Overall First-Place Votes: Tennessee State (6), Eastern Kentucky (1), Morehead State (1)
East Division
1. Belmont (16 first-place votes) – 126 points
2. Tennessee State (6) – 106
3. Morehead State (1) – 98
4. Tennessee Tech – 62
5. Eastern Kentucky (1) – 60
6. Jacksonville State - 40
West Division
1. Murray State (21 first-place votes) – 131 points
2. Eastern Illinois – 95
3. Austin Peay (2) – 88
4. UT Martin (1) – 82
5. SIUE – 54
6. Southeast Missouri – 42
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
