Coach Rosamond attends OVC Media Day
The 2016-17 season is edging closer, and as Kim Rosamond and the Golden Eagle squad prepares for their first tip of the season, Coach Rosamond takes a break to meet with the other league men and women’s head coaches at Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Media Day on Wednesday to discuss their upcoming seasons with the media.
By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The 2016-17 season is edging closer, and as Kim Rosamond and the Golden Eagle squad prepares for their first tip of the season, Coach Rosamond takes a break to meet with the other league men and women's head coaches at Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Media Day on Wednesday to discuss their upcoming slates.
It will be a new regime for the Tennessee Tech squad this year, as head coach Rosamond takes on her first head coaching position with the Golden Eagles. Rosamond joins the Purple and Gold team after serving for nine years as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt University, and is excited to put her mark on the Tech women's basketball program.
"We are working on instilling our core values of accountability, respect, positive attitude, and relentless effort in our players," head coach Rosamond remarked. "We want to compete in everything we do, whether it is on the court or in the classroom."
Rosamond spoke a lot about how important a role the community will play for the team this upcoming season, taking a quote from former Tennessee women's basketball coach and legend Pat Summit saying, "You win with people."
"We want to build relationships with not only our teammates, but the campus and commuity as well," Rosamond said. "If we want the people to invest in us, we have to invest in them."
The 2016-17 All-OVC team, Preseason OVC Player of the Year, and predicted order of finish were also announced at Wednesday's gathering. In a vote amongst the league's head women's basketball coaches and sports information directors, the reigning OVC Tournament Champions, Belmont, were predicted to win the 2016-17 title.
The Bruins received 21 first-place votes and 241 total points, while the 2015-16 regular season title winners, UT Martin, were selected to finish second garnering one first-place nod and 220 total points. Eastern Kentucky picked up two first-place votes and 190 points, while being selected to place third. SIUE is selected to finish fourth with 160 points, while Murray State and Southeast Missouri came in tied at fifth, each earning 146 points. Tennessee State was predicted to place seventh with 138 points, while Jacksonville State was selected eighth with 90 points. Rounding out the poll are Austin Peay (82), Morehead State (75), Tennessee Tech (70), and Eastern Illinois (26).
The Golden Eagle's regular season begins on Nov. 11 with a matchup versus Wright State slated for 6 p.m. Tech will then open conference play on the road at Southeast Missouri with a 7:15 p.m. start set on Dec. 29.
2016-17 OVC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by OVC Head Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
Order of Finish (Points)
1. Belmont (21 first-place votes, 241)
2. UT Martin (1 first-place vote, 220)
3. Eastern Kentucky (2 first-place votes, 190)
4. SIUE (160)
t5. Murray State (146)
t5. Southeast Missouri (146)
7. Tennessee State (138)
8. Jacksonville State (90)
9. Austin Peay (82)
10. Morehead State (75)
11. Tennessee Tech (70)
12. Eastern Illinois (26)
(* Schools were not allowed to rank their own team. 11 points awarded for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2016-17 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team
(Selected by OVC Head Basketball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
Jalen O'Bannon, Eastern Kentucky
Ke'Shunan James, Murray State
Kylee Smith, Belmont
Jayda Johnson, Tennessee State
Sally McCabe, Belmont
Darby Maggard, Belmont
Jessy Ward, UT Martin
Bri Mitchell, Southeast Missouri
Brianna McQueen, Morehead State
I'mani Davis, Tennessee State
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Jalen O'Bannon, Eastern Kentucky
