Racers Picked 1st OVC West - Moss All-OVC Preseason - Murray State University Athletics

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Picked 1st OVC West - Moss All-OVC Preseason

10/20/2015 9:23:00 AM | Men's Basketball

2015-16 Murray State Schedule I OVC Basketball

The Murray State Racers were picked second in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll at the annual media day activities in Nashville at the Music City Sheraton Hotel.

The Racers and new head coach Matt McMahon received 15 first place votes to be the top pick in the OVC West Division. Even with the heavy graduation losses that took away four starters, the Racers were selected first in their division. Voting came from the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

The Coach Matt McMahon era on June 8 after the Racers experienced a sudden change when Coach Steve Prohm took the job at Iowa State. McMahon became the 16th Coach in MSU history on June 9 after helping the Racers to 104 wins and a pair of OVC championships in the last four seasons. A talented quartet has graduated, including Cameron Payne to the NBA. However, MSU goes into the season with confidence even though they have eight players that will be wearing the Murray state uniform for the first time. Jeffery Moss is a senior and on the All-OVC Preseason team. He'll wear No. 2 this season after wearing No. 31 in his first three.

The Racers need to replace 72 percent of its scoring from last season and 64 percent of its rebounding. Justin Seymour, Kedrick Flomo and Wayne Langston expect to step into larger roles. Gee McGhee is ready after sitting last season as a transfer from Chattanooga. Texas transfer Damarcus Croaker is a go, as is junior college champion Bryce Jones. Forward A.J. Patty is from Vincennes JC and Terron Gilmore is back for his senior season. MSU welcomes a talented group of freshmen, including Charles Brown, Chad Culbreath and Brion Sanchious.

Much has changed since the Racers were last on the hardwood March 25 when Old Dominion's Trey Freeman threw in a miracle 3-pointer to win 72-69 in the National Invitational Tournament quarterfinals. The loss kept the Racers from advancing to the semifinals in New York City and it ended an amazing season for the Racers (29-6) that included their 24th OVC regular season title, a 25-game win streak and another top-25 ranking.

The Racers open their 91st season on Friday (Nov. 13) when they host the Harris-Stowe Hornets. MSU has an exhibition game (Nov. 5) at home against the Freed-Hardeman Lions.

The 2015-16 season will see the NCAA implement several rule changes. The shot clock is now 30-seconds, five seconds shaved off since last season. The number of timeouts each team can use in the second half has been cut from four to three and calling timeouts within 30 seconds of a media timeout has been outlawed. The arc under the basket has been moved out from three feet to four. Other changes include: coaches will no longer allowed to call timeouts during a live ball (with few exceptions) and teams will get just 10 total seconds to advance the ball past half court instead of resetting the clock on a stoppage. The time a coach has to sub in a player after one has fouled out has been reduced from 20 seconds to 15. Officials now have the authority to use replay reviews for shot clock violations on made baskets and players may also be called out for faking fouls. Teams may now dunk as much as they want in warmups.

2015-16 OVC Preseason Poll
East
1. Belmont (22 first-place votes) 132
2. Morehead State (1) 105
3. Eastern Kentucky (1) 88
4. Tennessee Tech 67
5. Jacksonville State 52
6. Tennessee State 48
West
1. Murray State (15 first-place votes) 125
2. UT Martin (9 first-place votes) 115
3. Eastern Illinois 88
4. Southeast Missouri 72
5. Austin Peay 57
6. SIUE 35
Six points awarded for a first-place vote, five for second, etc. Coaches and SID's could not vote for their own teams.Overall OVC Top Pick: Belmont (22 1st-place votes) Other Teams Receiving Overall First-Place Votes: Murray State (15), UT Martin (9), Eastern Kentucky (1), Morehead State (1)

2015-16 OVC Preseason Team
Alex Anderson, UTM, G, 5-11, Sr.
Trae Anderson, EIU, G, 6-4, Sr.
Brent Arrington, MOR, G, 6-3, Sr.
*Craig Bradshaw, BEL, G, 6-3, Sr.
Chris Horton, APSU, C, 6-8, Sr.
Twymond Howard, UTM, F, 6-6, Sr.
Jeffery Moss, MUR, F, 6-4, Sr.
Evan Bradds, BEL, F, 6-7, Jr.
Antonius Cleveland, SEMO, G, 6-6, Jr.
Cornell Johnston, EIU, G, 5-7, So.
* OVC Preseason Player of the Year