Defending OVC Tournament champion Austin Peay is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2003-04 OVC men’s basketball crown in a preseason poll of OVC head basketball coaches and sports information directors.

UTM was picked to finish sixth in the OVC with 91 points.

Austin Peay received 16 first-place votes and 198 points to finish ahead of Morehead State, with whom the Governors shared the 2002-03 OVC regular-season title.

Morehead State was chosen second, earning three first-place votes and 172 points, while perennial OVC contender Murray State claimed the remaining first-place vote to finish third with 163 points.

Rounding out the preseason picks were Southeast Missouri, Tennessee Tech, UTM, new OVC member Samford, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, new OVC member Jacksonville State and Tennessee State.

Austin Peay returns all five starters from a squad that recorded the program's second-highest win total with a 23-8 record. Three of those players are preseason all-conference selections after earning All-OVC honors a year ago.

Morehead State is coming off its most successful campaign in 20 years after posting a 20-9 record and winning a school-record 13 conference games. Three starters return for the Eagles, two of whom are preseason all-conference picks.

Three starters also return for Murray State, who is under new management this season as former Cincinnati and Louisville assistant Mick Cronin takes over the reins of one of the league’s most storied programs.

The Skyhawks, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Bret Campbell, return three experienced players from last year's team. Among the returning players is the OVC’s Newcomer of the Year last season, Earl Bullock, from Lineville, Ala.

Bullock averaged 16 points per game and climbed to the top of the Skyhawks’ career ladder for three-pointers made in a single season and career.

Among the other returnees for the Skyhawks are junior Jeremy Kelly and senior Kenan Asceric.

Campbell has added several newcomers to the roster to help out the three veterans.

The Skyhawks open their season Nov. 17 and 18 in the Guardians Classic at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.

The Skyhawks will meet San Francisco at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and then play either Western Illinois or Southwest Missouri Nov. 18.

On the women’s side, Southeast Missouri is the favorite to win the 2003-04 OVC Women’s Basketball Crown in a preseason poll of the OVC women's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

The Otahkians, with 188 points, edged out the defending champs, Austin Peay, by six points. Southeast Missouri received 10 first place votes, while the Lady Govs had nine.

UTM was picked to finish seventh.

Eastern Kentucky, racking up 167 points and one first-place vote was picked to finish in third place, while Tennessee Tech, receiving two first place votes and 147 points, was selected to take fourth place.

Rounding out the poll are Morehead State (106 points), Eastern Illinois (100 points), UTM (98 points), Jacksonville State (80 points), Murray State (58 points), Tennessee State (45 points), and Samford (39 points).

Southeast Missouri is coming off its most successful season since becoming a member of the OVC in 1991. The Otahkians ended last season 11-5 in the conference, 19-11 overall, and runners-up in the conference tournament.

Southeast Missouri will be returning four of five starters including the 2002-03 Newcomer of the Year, Kenja White. Austin Peay won its third consecutive regular season and tournament title. The Lady Govs posted a 16-0 conference record and were 27-3 overall. APSU will have three of its starters coming back for the 2003-04 campaign under the direction of new coach Andy Blackston.

UTM finished last year’s conference race with a 9-7 worksheet and a 13-16 overall mark. The team defeated Morehead State in the first round of the OVC tournament and advanced to the league’s final four in Nashville’s Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The Skyhawk women are led by seniors Torre Thomas, Lindsey Mazzetti and Julie Young, a 6-1 post player from Clarksville, Tenn.

The Skyhawks open their season Nov. 22 against visiting Kentucky Wesleyan in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Season tickets are on sale now. For more information about season tickets call (731) 587-7685.