COLUMN: There’s hope for SEMO in an open OVC

There’s a relatively new vibe inside the Show Me Center.

2,632 fans came to the 7,000-seat arena to watch the Redhawks defeat Tennessee tech in a double-overtime thriller this past weekend to move into a six-team tie for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

To put that in perspective, that’s 1,000 more than when the Redhawks played Southern Illinois a month ago. The attendance barely compares to a semifinal game at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament but the increase in support is a welcomed sign of hope that is rare for this program.

The latest March Madness bracket predictions from Andy Katz of NCAA.com has SEMO playing Howard in the First Four round with the winner taking on No. 1 seed Purdue. Given the OVC’s current place in the college basketball landscape, simply any team that wins the conference tournament will be in that spot.

It’s quite the party at the top of the OVC, as five other teams are also 5-3 in conference play, including Southern Indiana, a first-year Division I team. Regardless, SEMO competing for the crown and aiming to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000 has the potential of making the remaining five home games into a full-blown event.

The OVC is certainly not the same compared to when Brad Korn began his head coaching tenure in SEMO. Five of the conference’s top teams left for greener pastures and were replaced by Little Rock and two Division II programs, one of them being Lindenwood, a potential in-state rival.

As for the defectors, Belmont and Murray State's presance boosted the profile of the Missouri Valley Conference, which has their tournament, Arch Madness, in St. Louis. Austin Peay and Jacksonville State are now residing in the bottom of the Atlantic Sun, while Eastern Kentucky is one game behind the top of the standings.

So have the Redhawks greatly improved, or has the level of competition in the OVC been brought down to their level? The answer is most likely both.

SEMO started the season well until injuries led to an eight-game losing streak. The Redhawks have won five of their last seven games going into Thursday’s home tilt against Tennessee State. The Redhawks have won four of their last five home games against the Tigers and with Phillip Russell back from injury, that trend is sure to continue.

Health will always be a factor for the Redhawks, and controlling the interior will be a challenge with the absence of forward Kobe Clark, the team’s leading rebounder who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

If Thursday’s turnout matches or even exceeds last Saturday’s, then the Show Me Center could potentially see a playoff atmosphere during the final homestand of the season in mid-February.