OVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

6. Southeast Missouri Redhawks – Head Coach Brad Korn

2022-23 record: 19-17 overall, 10-8 in the OVC

Earning a bid to NCAA Tournament could be a program altering event for Southeast Missouri. Participating in the Big Dance for the first time since 2000 came on the heels of a dramatic overtime OVC tournament championship victory.

Brad Korn didn’t have a ton of time to enjoy that monumental achievement. He received a contract extension, but lost two all-OVC players and needed to find outstanding replacements for first-teamer Phillip Russell and second-teamer Chris Harris. Russell transferred to UT Arlington and Harris used up his eligibility.

Korn has five solid returners, but replacing the explosive Russell is nearly impossible. Russell was second in the OVC in scoring and in assists and third in minutes played.

Josh Earley (7.7 ppg), Aquan Smart (7.4), Dylan Branson (6.8), Kobe Clark (6.6) and Adam Larson (5.1) all played big roles in SEMO’s breakthrough season, but finding that player that will be the offensive catalyst is Korn’s biggest preseason job.

When Clark is healthy, he is a stat-box-stuffer. He averaged 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and in just 19 games recorded 23 blocks and 28 steals. He played in just six of SEMO’s 18 OVC contests. Larson is the Redhawks best returning three-point shooter. Branson’s 27 starts are the most of last year’s returners.

Korn’s ability to recruit the St. Louis area is long established. Branson is from the Gateway City. Russell was from there and Clark was Russell’s high school teammate. Transfer guards Rob Martin (Indiana State) and Braxton Stacker (Murray State) were two of the State of Missouri’s top ten rated players one season ago. Neither found their way to much playing time at their previous location. Stacker was the Show Me State’s top 2022 defensive player.

Freshman guard B.J. Ward is another St. Louis product. Ward starred for Chaminade College Prep and is another Missouri top ten prospect. Rated just behind Ward, is Kansas City native Marqueas Bell. Korn will need one or two of his young guards to contribute for his team to be successful.

David Idada is both a newcomer and a returner. The 7-footer was with the team last year but had eligibility issues and had to sit out. However, the Netherlands native has good size and some international experience. Surprisingly Korn has two, 7-foot sophomores as walk-on Mason Hanback returns for his second season.

SEMO’s win totals have gone up for three straight Brad Korn-coached seasons. Reaching 20-wins and a second-straight winning record in league play are worthy goals.