SEMO women picked 5th in OVC hoops media poll; men picked 5th in West Division

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Rekha Patterson talks to the crowd during Redhawks Madness on Tuesday, Oct. 18. 2016 at the Show Me Center. (Trent Singer)

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference media poll, which was released Friday. The men's team was tabbed to finish fifth in the West Division.

Belmont was predicted as the favorite to win both the men's and women's championships. The defending OVC Tournament champion Bruins received 10 first-place votes on the women's side, with UT Martin picking up four first-place votes. Eastern Kentucky was picked third, while SIU Edwardsville was picked fourth.

On the men's side, Belmont received 12 first-place votes in the East Division, followed by Tennessee State in second and Morehead State, which received a pair of first-place votes, in third. The favorite in the West Division was Murray State, which garnered all 14 first-place votes. Defending OVC tourney champion Austin Peay was picked second in the division, followed by Eastern Illinois in third. The Bruins received nine overall first-place votes.

The media chose Belmont senior forward Evan Bradds as the OVC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, while Eastern Kentucky senior forward Jalen O'Bannon and Murray State junior forward Ke'Shunan James were picked as Co-OVC Women's Basketball Preseason Players of the Year.

Men's media poll

Overall champion: Belmont (9 first-place votes)

East division

1. Belmont - 82 (12 first-place votes)

2. Tennessee State - 64

3. Morehead state - 62 (2)

4. Eastern Kentucky - 35

5. Tennessee Tech - 32

6. Jacksonville State - 19

West division

1. Murray State - 84 (14 first-place votes)

2. Austin Peay - 60

3. Eastern Illinois - 56

4. UT Martin - 45

5. Southeast - 28

6. SIUE - 21

Women's media poll

1. Belmont - 164 (10 first-place votes)

2. UT Martin - 151 (4)

3. Eastern Kentucky - 136

4. SIUE - 124

5. Southeast - 101

6. Murray State - 99

7. Austin Peay - 73

8. Tennessee State - 71

9. Jacksonville State - 56

10. Tennessee Tech - 49

11. Morehead State - 48

12. Eastern Illinois - 20