Season Outlook

PREVIEW

SEASON OUTLOOK

Brad Korn, the newest head coach in the Ohio Valley Conference, takes center stage for his first head coaching position in a world of unknowns.

Korn is the seventh head coach in SEMO’s NCAA Division I era and was officially hired on Mar. 23, 2020 when the University was transitioning to telework because of a global COVID-19 pandemic.

Unable to meet with his players in person until the start of the Fall semester and still not able to recruit since he first started the job, Korn has been powering through all the challenges and uncertainties while preparing his team for the upcoming 2020-21 campaign.

“It’s probably not the ideal time to be a first-time head coach in the middle of a pandemic and recruiting dead period,” said Korn. “At the same time, this has always been a dream of mine and Southeast Missouri feels like this is where I’m supposed to be. I don’t ever take anything for granted.”

The first SEMO roster Korn has to work with includes one returning starter, six returnees and seven newcomers. Five new transfers join the Redhawks, as well.

The Redhawks have a combination of size, skill, and athleticism that Korn believes will play well into the overall versatility of his club.

“I think we’ve got a lot of unknowns, but I also think we can surprise some people,” said Korn. “The thing I have enjoyed about this group initially is their maturity level. They are picking up things quickly and that is allowing us to focus on what we really need to focus on. I think fans can look forward to a versatile team both offensively and defensively.”

In a guard-heavy league like the OVC, Korn says SEMO will likely play with a four-guard lineup. At the forefront, is sophomore point guard DQ Nicholas (Atlanta, Ga.), the team’s only returning starter.

Nicholas played in 30 games and logged 19 starts as a true freshman last season. He ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 7.6 points per contest, knocked down 18 three-pointers and shot 73.9 percent (65-of-88) at the free throw line. Nicholas ranked second on the team in assists (50) and third in steals (22).

“DQ can do a lot of different things. He’s not just a point guard. He can get off the ball and is a catch-and-shoot player with a great burst,” said Korn. “DQ is really starting to understand and learn the game, and that’s a positive. He can defend his position and has all the tools to be a dynamic player.”

Redshirt-junior Chris Harris (Antioch, Ill.), redshirt-sophomore Jordan Love (Durham, N.C.), junior

Eric Reed, Jr. (Baton Rouge, La.)

and redshirt-junior Nana Akenten (Bolingbrook, Ill.) will also be in the mix between the one and three guard spots.

Harris returns from a knee injury that limited him to two games a year ago. He was SEMO’s leading scorer with 15.5 points per game at the time of his injury. Harris was later granted a medical hardship and is full strength heading into this season.

“Chris is another backcourt guy who can handle the basketball and make great passes off ball screens,” commented Korn. “He reads coverages well and has had a nice preseason.”

Love saw action in 25 games and made four starts, averaging 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds last season.

“Jordan is an intelligent offensive basketball player who can pass the ball well,” added Korn. “He is a talented guy with the basketball.”

Nicholas, Harris and Love give SEMO a three-headed monster at the point guard position and all three can play any of the three guard spots.

Reed, Jr. is another who can contribute at the point if the need arises. He started 30 games and averaged a team-best 15.5 points per contest at Howard College in 2019-20. Reed, Jr. ranked second on the team with 70 assists and 44 steals.

“Eric has enough physical strength to bring the ball up the court and slide over to the point guard spot,” said Korn. “I feel comfortable with all four of these guys playing there.”

Akenten, who sat out the 2019-20 campaign after transferring to SEMO from Big Ten Conference member Nebraska, is a big hybrid guard who can play the three and four. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28 games during his previous season of competition in 2018-19.

“Nana brings elite athleticism, shooting and experience to our roster,” quoted Korn. “We are looking for big things from him when he returns to the court this year.”

Junior Nygal Russell (Houston, Texas) is a big-bodied guard who can be a power guy.

Russell has the best 3-point field goal percentage of any returnee from last year’s squad. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds, rated third on the team in assists (42) and made 23 three-pointers in 28 games and seven starts.

“Nygal is physical and has that ability to play the two, three or four,” said Korn. “He is also strong enough to front the post at the five.”

SEMO complements its strengths at the first four positions in its lineup with a good blend of size and skill underneath.

Perhaps, the Redhawks could have another three-headed monster with senior Darrious Agnew (6’8”, 220, Starkville, Miss.), junior Nate

Johnson (6’9”, 250, Broward

County, Fla.) and redshirt-senior

Nolan Taylor (6’7”, 260, Keller,

Texas) on the block.

“The five is so important. I like our size and skill, and feel pretty good with where we are at there,” said Korn.

Agnew participated in 22 games and started five contests in 2019-20. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Johnson spent the last season at Seminole State College in Oklahoma. He was his team’s top scorer and rebounder with a near double-double 12.3 points and nine

SEASON OUTLOOK

PREVIEW

rebounds a game. Johnson also led the team in field goal percentage (.577) and blocks (25).

“Nate is finding his way and understanding how low he has to play,” commented Korn. “He continues to improve and has an unbelievable touch around the rim.”

Taylor was limited to 14 games at Cal Poly due to injury a year ago. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in those contests.

“Nolan has a huge wide body and is skilled on the block. He is a good passer and can make that 15-footer,” said Korn.

Senior Manny Patterson (F, Chicago, Ill.), senior Evan Morrison (F, Lee’s Summit, Mo.), junior Parker Long (G, Sikeston, Mo.) and freshman Dylan Branson (G, St. Louis, Mo.) complete the 2020-21 roster.

Patterson played the last three seasons at Horizon League member Green Bay. He started 24 of 33 games and averaged 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 2019-20.

Morrison appeared in 17 games off the bench after joining the team as a walk-on.

Long played his freshman year at NCAA Division II affiliate Maryville University. He led the Saints with 13.1 points per game and dished out 100 assists for nearly four per contest (3.9).

And, Branson comes to SEMO from Mehlville High School, where he helped the Panthers claim a pair of Class 5 District titles. He averaged 16 points, six rebounds and six assists as a senior.

Schedule

Southeast Missouri will play a 27-game schedule with 12 matchups at the Show Me Center in 2020-21.

SEMO tips off the season at the Negro League Baseball Museum Classic in Kansas City on Nov. 27-28. The Redhawks face Northern Colorado (Nov. 27) and either host Kansas City or Avila College (Nov. 28) as part of the multiple team event.

Home games with longtime rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 2) and Lipscomb (Dec. 7), and road trips to Lipscomb (Dec. 9), Evansville (Dec. 15) and Indiana State (Dec. 22) fill out the Redhawks seven-game non-conference slate. SEMO meets Atlantic Sun Conference member Lipscomb for the first time in a home-and-home series this year.

“I’m excited for the challenge our schedule presents,” said Korn. “This year we pushed everything back and our furthest non-conference game is a five-hour bus ride. It was more important for our team to stay local, stay safe and get some good competitive games that will prepare us for the Ohio Valley Conference.”

In order to help address issues associated with the delayed start date and to be responsive to a desire to provide additional contests within the geographic region, OVC schedules increased from 18 to 20 games for the 2020-21 season. Overall, teams will play every OVC team once and nine schools twice.

Schools were given discretion to schedule their two games against their “travel partner” separate from the 18-game conference schedule in order to provide flexibility for teams to complete their non-conference schedules. One of SEMO’s games against UT Martin must be scheduled before the holiday break and the other can be scheduled an time during the basketball season.

The Redhawks open their 20-game OVC schedule at UT Martin (Dec. 12) and then host the Skyhawks in their conference home-opener six days later on Dec. 18.

The rest of SEMO’s home conference schedule involves dates with Tennessee State (Jan. 2), Murray State (Jan. 14), Austin Peay (Jan. 16), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 28), Eastern Illinois (Jan. 30), Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4) and Jacksonville State (Feb. 6).

Away games at Tennessee Tech (Dec. 30), Belmont (Jan. 7), Tennessee State (Jan. 9), Morehead State (Jan. 21), Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 23), Murray State (Feb. 11), Austin Peay (Feb. 13), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25) and SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 27) complete the league schedule.

The 2021 OVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for Mar. 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. It marks the fourth year in a row the event will be held at that venue.

Teams will follow approved safety protocols established in partnership with the NCAA’s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball and OVC guidance as it evolves based on science.