Tech’s womens basketball team is predicted to finish fifth this season, up six spots from the Ohio Valley Conference predictions just one year ago.
“Last year we were a brand new staff,” Kim Rosamond, Tech’s head coach, said. “We’ve raised our expectations. We’ve raised our standards.”
Rosamond said she does not believe preseason polls carry much weight for the actual interpretation of a team, but that it is still an honor.
“This is just preseason predictions,” Rosamond said. “It means nothing, but to make that jump in just 12 months, is a compliment to our returning players, for the returning players, our work we did last year and the foundation that was laid.”
Belmont University is predicted to win this year’s OVC title, with Southern Illinois-Edwardsville placing second and UT-Martin third.
Tech is returning six players and bringing on nine new faces.
“We have an opportunity to be much deeper,” Rosamond said. “Last year, we only had 10 active players on the roster. This year, we have a full 15. It isn’t just quantity, its quality at every position. We have a lot of competition at every position that will pay dividends because every spot is up for grabs, and we are competing every day.”
One of those six returning faces is Yaktavia “Shug” Hickson, who was named to the preseason Women’s All-OVC Team.
“Shug is very deserving,” Rosamond said. “It is a great honor for her, but Shug would be the first one to say ‘we are trying to build as a team and get ready for the start of the season’.”