EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Little Rock has been selected as the preseason favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference, according to a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The OVC released its preseason poll Tuesday morning at its annual Media Day.
The Trojans collected 12 first-place votes and 188 total points to claim the top spot, edging out Southeast Missouri(177 points) and SIUE, with Tennessee State rounding out the top four.
"It seems like when you get picked to win [the conference], you don't win it — and when they pick you last, you do win it," said Little Rock head coach
Darrell Walker. "That doesn't mean anything; you still have to play the games. It's always our goal to win a conference championship, and this year is no different."
Little Rock's high expectations come with the return of All-OVC standouts
Johnathan Lawson and
Tuongthach Gatkek.
Lawson was among the national leaders in minutes played last season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while leading the Trojans to the OVC Tournament semifinals. Gatkek, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year, tallied 28 blocks, 29 steals, and averaged 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
The Trojans also bolstered their roster in the offseason with key additions
Kachi Nzeh and
Braxton Bayless, both of whom were named to the OVC Preseason Players to Watch list.
Nzeh, a 6-8 junior forward, was a highly regarded Pennsylvania prep recruit who began his career at Xavier before transferring to Penn State last season. Bayless, an Iowa native and the son of former Iowa State standout Ron Bayless, arrives after stints at Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, Niagara, and Western Kentucky, where he averaged 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last year.
However, Little Rock will be without its projected starting backcourt this season. Graduate point guard
KK Robinson, who missed last season with a knee injury, suffered another setback this summer and will miss the year. His younger brother,
Kellen Robinson, also a freshman guard, will sit out the season due to a knee injury.
"I like our team," said Walker, entering his eighth season leading the Trojans. "It's tough losing a couple of players we were counting on to injury, but our length and foot speed will bother people. It's a good group of guys, and they've been fun to coach."
MBB Poll
1. Little Rock (12 first-place) 188
2. Southeast Missouri (6) 177
3. SIUE (1) 163
4. Tennessee State (1) 135
5. Lindenwood 100
Morehead State 100
7. Tennessee Tech 80
8. UT Martin 79
9. Southern Indiana (2) 67
10. Eastern Illinois 63
11. Western Illinois 57
RETURNING ALL-OVC PLAYERS
Jadis Jones, G, So. - Lindenwood
Johnathan Lawson, G, R-Sr. - Little Rock
Tuongthach Gatkek, F, Grad. - Little Rock
Brendan Terry, F, Sr. - Southeast Missouri
Aaron Nkrumah, G, Sr. - Tennessee State
MEN'S PLAYERS TO WATCH
EIU
Kooper Jacobi, F, Grad.
Zion Fruster, G, Sr.
LWU
Anias Futrell, G, Sr.
Mekhi Cooper, G, Jr.
LR
Kachi Nzeh, F, Jr.
Braxton Bayless, G, Grad.
MSU
Davion Cunningham, G, R-Jr.
Chase Dawson, G, So.
SEMO
BJ Ward, G, Jr.
Braxton Stacker, G, Sr.
SIUE
Arnas Sakenis, C, Sr.
Ring Malith, G/F, Sr.
USI
Trey Thomas, G, Sr.
Ismail Habib, G, Jr.
TSU
Khalil London, G, R-So.
Carlous Williams, F, Grad.
TTU
JaJuan Nicholls, F, Jr.
Mekhi Cameron, G, Grad.
UTM
Afan Trnka, G, Jr.
Lamine Niang, F, R-Jr.
WIU
Lucas Lorenzen, G, Jr.
Antwaun Massey,
