Southeast men's basketball picked second in division, women picked 11th in OVC media poll

The Murray State men's basketball team and Belmont women's team were picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference in the league's media poll, which was released Friday.

Southeast Missouri State's men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the OVC West Division behind the Racers.

The Southeast women's team was predicted to finish 11th out of 12 teams in the conference.

The Belmont men's team was picked to win the East Division.

Murray State sophomore guard Cameron Payne, who was a first-team all-OVC selection and the Freshman of the Year last season, was voted the preseason Player of the Year.

Eastern Illinois senior forward Sabina Oroszova was selected the women's preseason Player of the Year.

The conference's preseason poll, which is voted on by head coaches and sports information directors, will be released on Tuesday during the OVC's media day.

OVC Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll

West Division

1. Murray State (22 first-place votes) -- 132 points

2. Southeast Missouri State -- 109

3. Eastern Illinois -- 68

4. Austin Peay -- 60

5. SIUE -- 57

6. UT Martin -- 36

East Division

1. Belmont (19 first-place votes) -- 127 points

2. Eastern Kentucky (1) -- 104

3. Morehead State (2) -- 97

4. Tennessee Tech -- 62

5. Jacksonville State -- 41

6. Tennessee State -- 31

OVC Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll

1. Belmont (9 first-place votes) -- 216 points

2. UT Martin (6) -- 210

3. Eastern Kentucky (4) -- 208

4. Jacksonville State (1) -- 155

5. Tennessee State -- 147

6. Tennessee Tech -- 143

7. SIUE -- 100

8. Eastern Illinois -- 99

9. Austin Peay -- 80

10. Murray State -- 74

11. Southeast Missouri State -- 65

12. Morehead State -- 63