Tech men's basketball embarks on 100th-anniversary season with first official practice
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team officially kicked off its fourth season under the direction of head coach John Pelphrey with its first team practice of the 2022-23 campaign Monday afternoon.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's basketball team officially kicked off its fourth season under the direction of head coach John Pelphrey with its first team practice of the 2022-23 campaign Monday afternoon.
The purple and gold step into its newest season celebrating the program's 100th anniversary and carrying some momentum from last year. Tech clinched its first postseason berth since 2017-18, picking up a decisive 78-51 victory over in-state rival Austin Peay in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in the programs' final meeting as OVC opponents.
A new look to the league awaits the Golden Eagles in 2022-23, with the departures of Austin Peay, Belmont, and Murray State and the additions of Lindenwood, Little Rock, and Southern Indiana. A slate of 31 regular-season contests will challenge the Tech squad this year from day one, including the season opener at Tennessee on Monday, Nov. 7.
The Tech roster will add several new faces to the mix for this season, but also welcome back five returners from the 2021-22 squad. Back for the purple and gold are junior guard Diante Wood, junior forward Daniel Ramsey, sophomore forward Jalen Stayton, sophomore guard Bailey Gilliam, and redshirt freshman forward Isaiah Nelson-Ododa.
Two freshmen and nine transfers make up the rest of the roster this season, with a slew of experience mixed among the group. Local guard Grant Strong (Clay County HS) will join forward Jerome Beya (Sunrise Christian Academy [KS]) as the lone rookies on the squad.
Guard Ty Perry (Lafayette) and forward Jaylen Sebree (Florida Atlantic/Morehead State) make up a duo of graduate transfers set to make an impact both on the court and from a leadership standpoint. Center Nolan Causwell (Laramie County CC) and guard Brett Thompson (Mineral Area CC) represent a pair of junior college transfers with valuable minutes to add to the depth of the team.
Guards Jayvis Harvey (James Madison/Georgia Highlands College) and Erik Oliver (Laramie County CC/South Dakota) boast experience at two levels of the game and are expected to play big roles this season for the Golden Eagles. Sparta native Grant Slatten returns to the Upper Cumberland after spending his freshman year at Ole Miss, providing another weapon for Pelphrey to utilize.
Bogdan Zimonjic comes to Tech after a year at Florida Atlantic and a summer playing for his native Serbia. Marcus Lee Jr. represents the team's second manager in as many years to earn a walk-on roster spot after transferring to Tech last year from UT Southern.
Fans can get a first glimpse of the 2022-23 Golden Eagles Thursday, Oct. 27 when they host Cumberland in an exhibition contest in the Hooper Eblen Center as part of Purple Palooza. Following its season opener at Tennessee, Tech returns to Cookeville for its home opener on Thursday, Nov. 10 against Tennessee Wesleyan.
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech men's basketball are now on sale. To order, call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUSports.com.
Photos by Thomas Corhern
