NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There's been a major upset in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball before a game has even been played.

For the first time in as long as OVC officials can remember, perennial power Tennessee Tech was not picked at or near the top of the conference's preseason poll.

But veteran coach Bill Worrell didn't expect anything different after the Eagles were tabbed for fourth place in the nine-team league during Tuesday's OVC media day at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

"I'm surprised we were picked so high," Worrell said.

That's because the defending co-champion Eagles, who went 22-8 overall and 13-3 in the league last season for their 15th OVC title, return no starters for the first time in 26 years. Among the graduated is three-time OVC player of the year Janet Holt.

"Right now we're wearing nametags so we can learn everybody's names," Worrell said. "Even the players we have back didn't play that much last year."

While few expect the Eagles to give up their elite status without a fight, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State are expected to be the conference's top contenders.

Austin Peay (19-12, 9-7) is the overwhelming preseason favorite based on voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors. The Govs, defending OVC Tournament champions, received 13 first-place votes. They are led by three-time all-OVC guard Brooke Armistead, the league's preseason player of the year.

"It's a nice sign of respect for our program, but our players know it doesn't really mean anything," said Govs coach Susie Gardner, whose team was fourth in the regular season last year. "I think several teams can win it."

Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State tied for the second spot as they grabbed the remaining first-place votes, three for the Colonels and two for the Eagles.

Eastern Kentucky (23-8, 13-3) claimed a share of its fourth OVC regular-season title last year, but returns just two starters.

"We had a great team last year," Colonels coach Larry Joe Inman said. "This year is a tremendous rebuilding year, but we hope for a great year. Our expectations are always the same."

Morehead State (21-8, 10-6) is coming off its most successful season in 20 years after placing third in the conference. The Eagles are led by all-OVC first-team forward Tasha Gales.

"We do believe we are legitimate contenders, but the conference is wide open," Eagles coach Laura Litter said.

Southeast Missouri State University, which has the league's only new coach in B.J. Smith, was picked fifth, the same spot it finished in last year.

The Otahkians (16-12, 8-8) return just two starters, including leading scorer Lori Chase, a senior forward who made the preseason all-OVC first team. But Smith is counting on a host of newcomers to threaten the league's elite.

"In all honesty, I was a little surprised we were picked that high," Smith said. "I truly believe our talent is good enough to be very successful in the OVC. But I've never sat on the bench in our conference so I don't really know what to expect."

Eastern Illinois (7-21, 6-10), Murray State (11-17, 5-11) and Tennessee-Martin (8-20, 6-10) all tied for sixth in the preseason poll, followed by Tennessee State.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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