By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team getting set to kick off its season on November 25, the Ohio Valley Conference released its preseason projections and all-conference team on Friday, based on the voting of the league's coaches and sports information contacts.
The Golden Eagles were projected to finish fourth, in what could be a hotly-contested battle for the top five spots in the league. UT Martin, with 22 first-place votes, were tabbed as the preseason favorite, while Belmont and reigning OVC tournament champ Southeast Missouri were voted second and third.
Following Tech in fourth, Eastern Illinois was in fifth. The rest of the order saw Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, SIUE and Tennessee State in succession.
In addition to the prognostication, the league's all-preseason team was announced with senior guard Kesha Brady earning a nod among the 11-player squad.
"Kesha is one of the most explosive guards in the OVC," said Tech head coach Kim Rosamond. "She is one of the best players in our league at getting to the rim as well as the free-throw line, and her ability to offensive rebound is key for our team. Last season, she really improved her consistency from the 3-point line, and I believe this season she can use her experience and maturity to be a difference-maker on the defensive end."
If anyone needs proof as to why the Golden Eagles are expected to be in the hunt for the OVC title, all one has to see is the sheer amount of the experience on the 2020-21 squad and that starts at the top with the senior class – Brady, Jordan Brock, Abby Buckner, Megan Clark and Mackenzie Coleman.
"This is a special senior class of five young women who have changed our program in such a positive way," said Rosamond. "They are a group that came here committed to returning Tech women's basketball to a championship level, and they have certainly put us in a position to be in the championship hunt this season. This program is in a much different place than when they arrived four short seasons ago."
The Golden Eagles are two seasons removed from one of the best turnarounds in the NCAA and the momentum has continued to build. With the team aiming to add another banner to the Hooper Eblen Center rafters, Rosamond is excited to get her Tech team back out on the court.
"This is an experienced, veteran basketball team that has a lot of pieces to the puzzle returning as well as some solid newcomers," Rosamond said. "I have loved being back on the court with this team the last two months. They are tough, driven and hungry, and every day we get to coach them is truly a gift.
"There will be many things out of our control this season, but we will choose to show up every day, make the most of every opportunity to grow as individuals and as a team, and have a grateful heart to play a game we love with people we love."
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech basketball are available and seating will be limited in accordance to NCAA and OVC guidelines. To reserve your seats, call (931) 372-3940, visit TTUsports.com or drop by the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
