Ohio Valley Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 19: Kevin McClain #11 of the Belmont Bruins celebrates with teammates during the second half against the Temple Owls in the First Four of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 19, 2019 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR – DECEMBER 20: J.J. Thompson #55 of the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

12. Southeast Missouri State Redhawks

2019-20 record: 7-24 (3-15 in OVC)

After winning just five division I games last season, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks made a coaching change, bringing in Brad Korn to get the program going in the right direction. With just three of the team’s eight scorers returning Korn has his work cut out for him.

Leading scorer guard Chris Harris returns for his senior season with the 15.5 points he averaged last season in the first two games before suffering a season-ending injury in practice, but outside of the 6’3 Harris the Redhawks who struggled offensively last season netting just 66 points per game and ranked 324th in offensive efficiency and 340th overall in the KenPom rankings.

In his first season, Korn will have to integrate seven new faces into the program. He welcomes a center, Nate Johnson a 6’9 250lb. big man from Seminole State College. A couple of forward transfers join Johnson in the frontcourt, including 6’8 Manny Patterson last played at Green Bay and Nolan Taylor joins the team by way of Cal Poly. The four other new faces will be in the backcourt.

Dylan Branson is a 6’5 shooter from St. Louis and Parker Long played last season at Division II Maryville. Eric Reed, Jr. is a 6’2 guard from Baton Rouge who played last season at Howard College.

The last guard actually has a year in the system having sat out last season after transferring from Nebraska, Nona Akenten is a 6’6 guard who averaged 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds for Nebraska two years ago. After last season, this year should be less about results and more about getting the program headed in a positive direction.