Competition for PT is prevalent on SEMO hoops early on

Putting together an advance scout on any college basketball squad these days can prove to be a challenge, as every roster in the country is in some degree of flux due to the proclivity of student-athletes to transfer – sometimes multiple times. However, for the opponents of Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball, the task is made even more difficult because every one of the 14 Redhawk players is, so far, seemingly pretty close in ability and production.

“That’s the blessing and the curse,” fourth-year SEMO coach Brad Korn said of his team’s internal competition.

The Redhawks (0-2) will open the home portion of their 2023-24 season tonight at 6:30 p.m. when they host Evansville (2-0) at the Show Me Center. It is the first of two games between the two programs, as they will meet again in the Coke Zero Sugar Classic in Chattanooga on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m.

Through two games, Korn has utilized 13 of his 15 players, with walk-on guard Asa Barnes, and injured starting guard Dylan Branson (foot) not seeing action yet.

Of those 13 players, 12 have averaged at least 9.3 minutes per game.

“It has been that way, really, since practice (started),” Korn said. “We do have 14 guys (who can play). That is a strength.”

Even the three players who have not averaged double-figure minutes, thus far, have shown an ability to play and produce.

Sophomore center Mason Hanback (6.3 minutes per game) played in 10 games as a freshman last season, and guards Marqueas Bell (freshman) and Gavyn Elkamil (redshirt sophomore) have been utilized in limited roles, but both produced in spurts.

Elkamill hit a pair of 3-pointers in a season-opening loss at Grand Canyon last week while Bell hit 3 of 7 shots in 15 minutes against Butler on Friday.

“I’m just trying to find that guy who is going to string more of those couple moments together to get extended minutes,” Korn said.

The projected starting five of guards Rob Martin (sophomore), Aquan Smart (junior), TJ Biel (junior), wing Braxton Stacker (sophomore), and post Josh Earley (senior) have each been used significantly this season, which for Martin, Biel, and Stacker are really the first time of experiencing high-usage minutes at the NCAA Division I level.

“Rob Martin, TJ Biel, Braxton Stacker, David Idada, Evan Eursher, Gavyn Elkamil, Marqueas Bell,” Korn said, “those guys have not played a lot of college basketball minutes.

“I’m encouraged that they just keep on coming.”

Martin is leading the Redhawks with nearly 30 minutes per game, but that number is skewed due to freshman guard BJ Ward missing the game at Butler after being hit in the head against Grand Canyon. Ward, who had a strong debut against Grand Canyon, very well may play tonight against the Purple Aces.

“It’s open,” Korn said of playing time on his team. “It’s open. Come and get it. That is what we are looking for.”