Baylor's Drew to headline coaches clinic at Southeast MIssouri State

Another high-profile coach will highlight the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program's annual tipoff reception and coaches clinic.

Baylor coach Scott Drew will be the guest of honor and featured speaker for the Oct. 6 event that serves as a major fundraiser. Kansas coach Bill Self filled the role last year.

"We are really excited. We're looking forward to a great evening and hope all Redhawk fans can join us," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "We really think it will be another great day. Last year we had Bill Self, and he was outstanding. We think Scott Drew will also be outstanding."

Drew has led Baylor to national prominence after the program had been reeling from a scandal and NCAA sanctions. The Bears earned three straight postseason appearances from 2007 through 2010, including a berth in the 2009 NIT championship game and a berth in the 2010 NCAA tournament Elite Eight.

"Scott Drew has done a phenomenal job at Baylor. I think his team is preseason No. 14 this year," Nutt said. "People who follow basketball know that name all across the country."

Drew, like Nutt, is from a coaching family. Nutt said he has known longtime college coach Homer Drew, Scott's father, for years. Nutt also said Scott Drew's wife is from Cape Girardeau.

"I have met his in-laws. I've known his dad for a long time and I've known Scott for a while," Nutt said. "We spent a lot of time together recruiting this summer, and that's really how we set this up. It's very nice of him to do this, a coach of his caliber."

Tickets for the event, which will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., are $125 each or $200 per couple. Availability is limited and all proceeds will benefit the men's basketball program. To order tickets or for more information, call 651-2005.

"It's a big event for our program, just to shake a lot of hands, ask for everybody's support, that's what we're doing," Nutt said. "We want people to get behind this young basketball program."

The tipoff reception will cap a full day of basketball activity Oct. 6. Southeast also will hold its annual coaches clinic from 9 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m.

The clinic at the Show Me Center, open to the public and coaches on all levels, costs $50. Lunch will be provided.

Drew, Arkansas-Little Rock assistant Joe Kleine and McKendree (Ill.) coach Harry Statham will be the keynote speakers.

Kleine played in the NBA for 15 seasons, winning an NBA title with the Bulls in 1998 and also earning a gold medal with the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.

Statham holds the record for most wins by a men's basketball coach at a four-year college or university. He enters his 46th season at McKendree with 1,043 victories.

"We're excited about the lineup we have," Nutt said. "Joe Kleine's career speaks for itself. He's a 7-footer who will talk about post play. Harry Statham is a legend in the coaching profession. He brings a wealth of experience.

"We'll have our team there, and we'll demonstrate a few drills, go through some of the things we do."

Nutt said the turnout for last year's inaugural coaches clinic was impressive, and he's looking for another strong showing.

"Last year we had coaches from all over the place -- Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee," Nutt said. "It's a great day to listen to some basketball. A high school coach, man or woman, can pick up some things.

"It's good for me and my staff. We're able to mingle with and meet a lot of coaches from the area and outside the area. It will be a great day of basketball."

To register for the clinic or for more information, call 651-5030 or (816) 813-3090, or visit gosoutheast.com

Workouts starting

While the Redhawks won't start official practice until Oct. 15, they will get a jump on things beginning today.

Southeast's coaching staff, per NCAA regulations, has been holding individual workouts limited to a maximum of two hours of court time per player per week in groups of no more than four players for the past week.

Southeast coaches are allowed to begin working with more than four players at the same time beginning today, meaning the Redhawks can get their entire squad together. Each player still is limited to two hours of court time per week until official practice tips off.

"It's a good way to get a head start on things," Nutt said. "We've been pleased with how individual workouts have been going, and now we'll get to have our entire team together at the same time, which is good."

Noteworthy

* The Southeast men's and women's basketball programs finalized their home game times for this season.