Littleford Preseason Favorite, OVC Teams, Players Chosen

Shae Littleford is a 2023-24 preseason favorite for the OVC women's basketall teams this season.

In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Tennessee Tech has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Golden Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.

TTU picked up 16 of 22 first-place votes in picking up 196 points. Little Rock picked up five first-place votes and was voted second (184) while Eastern Illinois got the other first-place vote and was tabbed third (157). UT Martin was fourth (135) and followed by Southeast Missouri (125), Southern Indiana (104), SIUE (89), Tennessee State (75), Morehead State (64), Western Illinois (49) and Lindenwood (32). 

This season marks the first for Western Illinois who became official members on July 1 and pushed membership to 11 squads. This season teams will play an 18-game Conference schedule.

The 2023-24 OVC Preseason Women's Basketball Team was headlined by Preseason Player of the Year Maaliya Owens. Last season the Tennessee Tech graduate student averaged 14.9 points/game while knocking down a school-record 92 3-pointers in leading the Golden Eagles to the OVC Tournament Championship and a NCAA Tournament victory over Monmouth.

Overall, nine different schools were represented on the Preseason Team which included 13 individuals.

Jim and Karen Littleford's daughter Shae of UT Martin was chosen for the women's team. It's the second straight year the Skyhawk guard has been named to the Preseason All-OVC squad.

She was named 2023 All-OVC Second Team, averaging 13 points, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She scored 20-plus points in six games.

2023-24 OVC Women’s

Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Tennessee Tech (16 first-place votes) – 196 points

2. Little Rock (5) - 184

3. Eastern Illinois (1) - 157

4. UT Martin - 135

5. Southeast Missouri - 125

6. Southern Indiana - 104

7. SIUE - 89

8. Tennessee State - 75

9. Morehead State - 64

10. Western Illinois - 49

11. Lindenwood - 32

2023-24 Preseason All-OVC Women’s Basketball Team

Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Maaliya Owens, Tennessee Tech

Veronica Charles, Morehead State

Anna Deets, Western Illinois

Jaliyah Green, Southeast Missouri          

Tia Harvey, Little Rock

Faith Lee, Little Rock

Shae Littleford, UT Martin

Macy McGlone, Eastern Illinois

Miah Monahan, Eastern Illinois

Maaliya Owens, Tennessee Tech

Meredith Raley, Southern Indiana

KK Rodriguez, SIUE

Vanessa Shafford, Southern Indiana

Anna Walker, Tennessee Tech

Men's OVC Favorites

In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men’s basketball coaches and communication directors, Morehead State has been picked the preseason favorites for the 2023-24 season. It marks the second-straight year the Eagles have been tabbed the favorites.

The Eagles picked up 20 of 22 first-place votes (teams could not vote for themselves); Tennessee State picked up the other votes.  MSU tallied 200 points and was followed by SIUE (162), who was picked second. Tennessee State (153) was picked third and followed by UT Martin (149), Southeast Missouri (124), Tennessee Tech (120), Little Rock (85), Western Illinois (80), Southern Indiana (63), Lindenwood (40) and Eastern Illinois (34).

This season marks the first for Western Illinois who became official members on July 1 and pushed membership to 11 squads. This season teams will play an 18-game Conference schedule.

The 2023-24 OVC Preseason Men’s Basketball Team was headlined by Preseason Player of the Year Mark Freeman, who was named 2022-23 OVC Player of the Year at the conclusion of last season. The fifth year Morehead State guard averaged 15.0 points and 3.7 assists/game in leading the Eagles to the OVC Regular Season Championship and a NIT victory over Clemson.

Overall, seven different schools were represented on the Preseason Team which included 12 individuals.

2023-24 OVC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Morehead State (20 first-place votes) – 200 points

2. SIUE - 162

3. Tennessee State (2) - 153

4. UT Martin - 149

5. Southeast Missouri - 124

6. Tennessee Tech - 120

7. Little Rock - 85

8. Western Illinois - 80

9. Southern Indiana - 63

10. Lindenwood - 40

11. Eastern Illinois - 34

2023-24 Preseason All-OVC Men’s Basketball Team

Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Mark Freeman, Morehead State

Keenon Cole, Lindenwood

KK Curry, UT Martin                               

Marcus Fitzgerald Jr., Tennessee State

Mark Freeman, Morehead State

DeAntoni Gordon, Little Rock

Jayvis Harvey, Tennessee Tech

Kinyon Hodges, Tennessee State

Damarco Minor, SIUE

Jordan Sears, UT Martin

Ray’Sean Taylor, SIUE

Drew Thelwell, Morehead State

Shamar Wright, SIUE