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Southeast Missouri Basketball: Redhawks 2021-22 season preview and outlook

By Harry Schroeder

Southeast Missouri State Head Coach Brad Korn watches his team take on the University of Evansville Purple Aces at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The Purple Aces defeated the Redhawks 66-63 in overtime.Ue Bball Vs Semo 32
Southeast Missouri State Head Coach Brad Korn watches his team take on the University of Evansville Purple Aces at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The Purple Aces defeated the Redhawks 66-63 in overtime.Ue Bball Vs Semo 32 /
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Southeast Missouri’s Nygal Russell Ovc Mball Semo Vs Morehead 22
Southeast Missouri’s Nygal Russell Ovc Mball Semo Vs Morehead 22 /

All five are coming back

Continuity is huge in college basketball and Southeast Missouri has a lot of it. They have numerous players that have been through the OVC wars, played five overtime games last season, and learned what their coach is expecting.

Enthusiasm and confidence have been high during this offseason, due to last year’s late-season success.

Chris Harris – guard

A preseason All-OVC performer, Harris does a little bit of everything. He scores (12.3 per game) rebounds (2.3) and delivers (3.4 apg). It was during the second half of the season when Harris settled in. During the team’s final six games the 6’3 guard averaged 6.3 assists and just 2.5 turnovers while averaging over 13 points per game.

Korn says Harris’ basketball IQ and play-making abilities are outstanding and he has an impact in a variety of ways. Harris, who plays all three guard positions, is highly efficient in the SEMO’s pick-and-roll game.

Eric Reed – Guard

Reed was the only other double-digit scorer (11 points per game) and is the Redhawks’ best threat from deep. He led the OVC in three-point percentage (.459), converting 61 long-distance attempts.

During SEMO’s six-game sprint to the finish the 6’2 guard averaged 16.5 points including two twenty-point performances.

Nana Akenten – Wing

SEMO’s roster lists Akenten as a guard, but at 6’6 he led the team in rebounding (5.8 per game) and defends the oppositions’ power forwards. His 9.3 points per game average were the team’s third-best and he draws big men out of the paint with his ability to convert from long distance (53 triples).

Like Harris and Reed, the Nebraska transfer was playing his best basketball at the end of the season, averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds during those closing six games. His double-double helped them earn an OVC tournament win over Southern Illinois Edwardsville.

DQ Nicholas – Guard

Nicholas runs the point more than Harris, but they are interchangeable there. He led the team with 3.4 assists per contest and averaged 8.8 points per game. While his three-point shooting needs to improve (.271), he may be SEMO’s top perimeter defender.

The 6’1 Atlanta native is active. He was second on the team in made free-throws and was second to Akenten in steals (30). Nicholas and Harris were the team’s only two 30-minute per-game players.

Nolan Taylor – Center

Taylor is coming off an injury-shortened season where he played in 18 of the team’s 27 games. He averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds. At 6’7 and 260 pounds he is on the shorter side of OVC post players, but his strength offsets some of the height issues.

As of this writing, he has been limited in practice as he prepares for the long season ahead.