SEMO men's basketball picked fourth in West, women's team 12th in OVC preseason poll

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team was predicted to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference West Division and the Redhawks women's team was picked 12th in the conference's preseason poll.

The poll, which was released Tuesday morning during OVC media day in Nashville, is voted on by OVC coaches and sports information directors.

Southeast junior guard Antonius Cleveland was named to the preseason all-OVC team. Cleveland averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season.

Belmont, the defending OVC tournament champion, was picked as the favorite to win the East Division and overall OVC title. The Bruins received 22 first-place votes (132 points). Morehead State was picked second in the East and received one first-place vote.

Eastern Kentucky (88), Tennessee Tech (67), Jacksonville State (52) and Tennessee State (48) rounded out the East.

Defending regular-season champion Murray State was picked to win the West with 15 first-place votes and 125 points. UT Martin was second in the West with nine first-place votes and 115 points. Eastern Illinois was third with 88 points and Southeast had 7.

Austin Peay was fifth (57) and SIU Edwardsville sixth (35).

Belmont received 21 first-place votes for the overall title. UTM received two and Murray State had one.

Bruins senior Craig Bradshaw was named the OVC's preseason player of the year.

On the women's side, SIU Edwardsville was predicted to win the 12-team conference. The Cougars received 10 first-place votes and 226 points.

Defending OVC regular-season champion UT Martin received 10 first-place votes and 213 votes to come in second in the poll.

Belmont was third with three first-place votes and 202 points. Tennessee State received the final first-place vote and had 168 points for fifth. Jacksonville State was fourth with 176 points.

EKU (122), Morehead (11), Austin Peay (109), Eastern Illinois (88), Murray State (71), Tennessee Tech (62) and Southeast (33) rounded out the poll.

SIUE's Shronda Butts was picked the OVC's preseason player of the year.

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Men's basketball predicted order of finish

Overall OVC Champion: Belmont (21 first-place votes)

Other Teams Receiving Overall First-Place Votes: UT Martin (2), Murray State (1).

East Division

1. Belmont (22 first-place votes) -- 132 points

2. Morehead State (1) -- 105

3. Eastern Kentucky -- 88

4. Tennessee Tech -- 67

5. Jacksonville State -- 52

6. Tennessee State -- 48

West Division

1. Murray State (15 first-place votes) -- 125 points

2. UT Martin (9) -- 115

3. Eastern Illinois -- 88

4. Southeast Missouri State -- 72

5. Austin Peay -- 57

6. SIU Edwardsville -- 35

Preseason All-OVC men's basketball team

Alex Anderson, UT Martin

Trae Anderson, Eastern Illinois

Brent Arrington, Morehead State

Craig Bradshaw, Belmont

Evan Bradds, Belmont

Antonius Cleveland, Southeast Missouri State

Chris Horton, Austin Peay

Twymond Howard, UT Martin

Cornell Johnston, Eastern Illinois

Jeffery Moss, Murray State

Preseason Player of the Year: Craig Bradshaw, Belmont

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Women's basketball predicted order of finish

1. SIU Edwardsville (10) -- 226

2. UT Martin (10) -- 213

3. Belmont (3) -- 202

4. Jacksonville State -- 176

5. Tennessee State (1) -- 168

6. Eastern Kentucky -- 122

7. Morehead State -- 111

8. Austin Peay -- 109

9. Eastern Illinois -- 88

10. Murray State -- 71

11. Tennessee Tech -- 62

12. Southeast Missouri State -- 33

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Preseason All-OVC women's basketball team

Tiasha Gray, Austin Peay

Shronda Butts, SIUE

Destany McLin, Jacksonville State

Samaria Howard, Tennessee Tech

Shameekia Murray, Eastern Kentucky

Michaela Hunter, Eastern Kentucky

Ke'Shunan James, Murray State

Shay Steele, Morehead State

Sally McCabe, Belmont

Jessy Ward, UT Martin

Preseason Player of the Year: Shronda Butts, SIU Edwarsdville