Busting Brackets
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Ohio Valley Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Harry Schroeder

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Jake Wolfe #24 of the Morehead State Eagles the ball by Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers during a college basketball game at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Jake Wolfe #24 of the Morehead State Eagles the ball by Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers during a college basketball game at the Cintas Center on December 15, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Ohio Valley Basketball  Kobe Clark #24 then of the Georgetown Hoyas (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Ohio Valley Basketball  Kobe Clark #24 then of the Georgetown Hoyas (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /

5. Southeast Missouri Redhawks – Head coach Brad Korn
 
2021-22 record: 14-18 overall, 8-9 in the OVC

This team has great potential, but was hurt by the late April transfer of all-OVC guard Eric Reed.

SEMO lost some firepower to the transfer portal but utilized that same mechanism to refurbish the roster. Head coach Brad Korn is intent on building a winning and consistent culture in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After winning 11 games during his first season and fourteen last year, he believes he has a team that can compete in the top half of the OVC.

Preseason all-league guard Phillip Russell and former all-OVC performer Chris Harris are Korn’s building blocks. Russell was named to the OVC’s all-newcomer team and though Harris’ production slipped a bit last season, he is still a viable weapon. He averaged 15.5 points his freshman year, 12.3 his sophomore season, and just 9.4 last year.

Other returners include center Nate Johnson and guard Dylan Branson. Both expect to play larger roles this season. Johnson battled injuries last season, but when healthy converted 69% of his shots.

Korn’s eight new players come with some impressive pedigree. Russell’s Vashon High School (St. Louis) teammate Kobe Clark spent the last two seasons as a reserve at Georgetown and now returns to his home state with a chance to start. The 6’6 Clark is an elite defender and was a three-star recruit and the seventh-best player in Missouri his senior year, trailing Caleb Love (North Carolina), Cam’Ron Fletcher (Florida State), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton), Luke Kasubke (K-State and now Illinois State), Davion Bradford (Wake Forest) and teammate Branson.

Russell was ranked tenth and heavily recruited his old friend to come to SEMO.

Aquan Smart was a three-star recruit that spent one year at Maryland and one at Florida International. During his senior year, he was ranked as Illinois’ third-best prospect. Smart was an efficient 39% effective from deep for FIU.

Incoming freshman Evan Eursher is the eighth ranked player coming out of Tennessee is another outstanding backcourt weapon for Korn.

Veteran newcomers Josh Earley (6’7) and Gavyn Elkamil (6’5) were part of Tulsa’s squad last season and give Korn some additional size and experience.

Speaking of size, Korn signed a pair of seven-footers. Tennessee Prep’s Mason Hanback and Netherlands native David Idada each show up as freshmen this season.

During this wide-open OVC season, don’t be surprised if the Redhawks outperform this prediction.