COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 3, 2004) — The 2004-2005 basketball season opens at Tennessee Tech next week with the first of two exhibition games, and the regular season gets underway later this month with both the men’s and women’s teams expected to provide plenty of excitement this winter.

The women’s team is picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference while the men’s team has been projected for fourth place. Meanwhile, the two best players in the league will be playing in Eblen Center, according to the preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.

Senior Willie Jenkins and junior Emily Christian have each been voted the preseason OVC Players of the Year.

Jenkins leads coach Mike Sutton’s Golden Eagles into action on Tuesday, Nov. 9, for an exhibition game against Vasda USA beginning at 7 p.m. in Eblen Center.

On Monday, Nov. 15, coach Bill Worrell’s Golden Eaglettes will host Cumberland University in an exhibition game at 7 p.m.

Both exhibition contests are included in the 2004-2005 season tickets, which are on sale at the Eblen Center ticket office or by calling 372-3940.

The regular season opens Friday, Nov. 19, when the women host East Tennessee at 7 p.m. That’s followed by a women’s game on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. against Florida Atlantic University, and a doubleheader on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The women host UAB at 5:30 p.m.., and the men entertain Virginia Intermont afterward.

--Rob Schabert
This information posted 03 November 2004