Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Tabbed Top Pick In OVC Basketball Media Poll
10/17/2014 8:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OVC Release
The Murray State men's basketball team was picked as the top choice in the Ohio Valley Conference Media Poll.
Media members from around the conference were asked to participate in the first media poll in recent memory. A total of 22 media members cast votes in the poll which is a nice advance leading up to Tuesdays OVC Media Day when the preseason selections from the head coaches and sports information directors will be revealed.
The media voted Murray State sophomore Cameron Payne as their pick for OVC Preseason Player of the Year. Payne was the OVC Freshman of the Year last season in helping the Racers to the OVC West title and the CIT championship.
Murray State picked up 16 of the 22 first-place votes in the overall regular season championship category (Belmont received the other six first-place votes). The Racers were a unanimous favorite in the West Division, a title they have claimed each of the past two years. MSU picked up 132 total points to finish ahead of Southeast Missouri (109), Eastern Illinois (68), Austin Peay (60), SIUE (57) and UT Martin (36). Belmont was picked the East Division favorites in receiving 19 of the 22 first-place votes and 127 total points. Eastern Kentucky picked up one first-place vote and 104 total points while Morehead State was tabbed the East favorites by two pollsters and totaled 97 points. The East balloting was rounded out by Tennessee Tech (62), Jacksonville State (41) and Tennessee State (31).
The pollsters for the 2014-15 OVC Media Poll were: Bob Belvin, ESPN Clarksville; Jason Blanton, Morehead State Radio; Catlin Bogard, OVC Ball; Mike Bradd, Eastern Illinois Radio; Neal Bradley, Murray State Radio; Chris Brinkley, UT Martin Radio; Chris Brown, Anniston Star; Thomas Corhern, Cookeville Herald-Citizen; Craig Delk,Cookeville Herald-Citizen; James Horne, Paducah Sun; David Loos, Austin Peay Radio; Courtney Martinez,Belmont Vision; JR McHenry, JR The Bossman Show; Brian Nielsen, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier; Mike Organ, The Tennessean; Mike Parris, Jacksonville State Radio; Harry Schroeder, ValleyHoopsInsider.com; Erik Sean, Southeast Missouri Radio; Aldo Soto, Daily Eastern News; Greg Stotelmyer, Eastern Kentucky Radio; Craig Thomas, Jackson Sun; Rich Tiner, Belmont Radio.
2014-15 Media OVC Preseason Men's Predicted Order of Finish
Overall Champion: Murray State (16 first-place votes)
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
West Division
1. Murray State (22 first-place votes) - 132 points
2. Southeast Missouri - 109
3. Eastern Illinois - 68
4. Austin Peay - 60
5. SIUE - 57
6. UT Martin - 36
Preseason Player of the Year: Cameron Payne, Murray State
The Murray State men's basketball team was picked as the top choice in the Ohio Valley Conference Media Poll.
Media members from around the conference were asked to participate in the first media poll in recent memory. A total of 22 media members cast votes in the poll which is a nice advance leading up to Tuesdays OVC Media Day when the preseason selections from the head coaches and sports information directors will be revealed.
The media voted Murray State sophomore Cameron Payne as their pick for OVC Preseason Player of the Year. Payne was the OVC Freshman of the Year last season in helping the Racers to the OVC West title and the CIT championship.
Murray State picked up 16 of the 22 first-place votes in the overall regular season championship category (Belmont received the other six first-place votes). The Racers were a unanimous favorite in the West Division, a title they have claimed each of the past two years. MSU picked up 132 total points to finish ahead of Southeast Missouri (109), Eastern Illinois (68), Austin Peay (60), SIUE (57) and UT Martin (36). Belmont was picked the East Division favorites in receiving 19 of the 22 first-place votes and 127 total points. Eastern Kentucky picked up one first-place vote and 104 total points while Morehead State was tabbed the East favorites by two pollsters and totaled 97 points. The East balloting was rounded out by Tennessee Tech (62), Jacksonville State (41) and Tennessee State (31).
The pollsters for the 2014-15 OVC Media Poll were: Bob Belvin, ESPN Clarksville; Jason Blanton, Morehead State Radio; Catlin Bogard, OVC Ball; Mike Bradd, Eastern Illinois Radio; Neal Bradley, Murray State Radio; Chris Brinkley, UT Martin Radio; Chris Brown, Anniston Star; Thomas Corhern, Cookeville Herald-Citizen; Craig Delk,Cookeville Herald-Citizen; James Horne, Paducah Sun; David Loos, Austin Peay Radio; Courtney Martinez,Belmont Vision; JR McHenry, JR The Bossman Show; Brian Nielsen, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier; Mike Organ, The Tennessean; Mike Parris, Jacksonville State Radio; Harry Schroeder, ValleyHoopsInsider.com; Erik Sean, Southeast Missouri Radio; Aldo Soto, Daily Eastern News; Greg Stotelmyer, Eastern Kentucky Radio; Craig Thomas, Jackson Sun; Rich Tiner, Belmont Radio.
2014-15 Media OVC Preseason Men's Predicted Order of Finish
Overall Champion: Murray State (16 first-place votes)
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
West Division
1. Murray State (22 first-place votes) - 132 points
2. Southeast Missouri - 109
3. Eastern Illinois - 68
4. Austin Peay - 60
5. SIUE - 57
6. UT Martin - 36
Preseason Player of the Year: Cameron Payne, Murray State
Players Mentioned
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