After finishing fifth last season, the Tech men’s basketball team is picked to finish in the same place this year.
“I think the preseason polls don’t really matter,” Steve Payne, head coach, said. “Year after year it has shown that no one really knows what they’re talking about. Every team develops new and every team is different.”
Tech was picked to finish eighth last season and finished three spots ahead, but Payne believes they are right in the thick of things.
"Last year in the league we were right there,” Payne said. “All I can tell you is I believe we will be right there again this year. I believe we'll have a great chance to impact the Ohio Valley Conference race.”
Belmont was chosen first in the poll, collecting all first place votes. Jacksonville State came in second and Murray State was chosen third.
Tech finished fifth with 137 points.
Senior guard Aleksa Jugovic was Tech’s only selection to the All-OVC preseason team.
"A.J. is very deserving of this honor," Payne said. "He works extremely hard, he is a very motivated player, he's great to coach and just a pleasure to be around. It is obvious to me that he's one of the top 10 to 12 players in this league.”
