Redhawk hoops 'continues to build excitement' with public events today, Saturday

The 2022-23 men’s basketball season at Southeast Missouri State was an historic one, in that, the Redhawks won the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, and thus, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in the program’s NCAA Division I history.

Having said that, the SEMO coaching staff has spent the four months since scouring the country in search of talent to keep that positive trajectory trending upward, while the Redhawk student-athletes have been grinding away daily in the weight room and on the basketball court to hold up their end of the bargain.

The same attitude has been taken by fourth-year coach Brad Korn, as it relates to his involvement in the Southeast Missouri community.

“I don’t ever want our program to be one of those that thinks ‘Hey, we won, so now you have to come to the Show Me Center and support us.’

“To me, this job, at (SEMO), the region, the people, we have to continue to do outreach.”

That is precisely what Korn’s program will be doing – twice – in the next 48 hours.

The Redhawks will conduct an “open practice” today at the university’s Student Recreation Center from noon to 1 p.m. for the public to come in and catch a glimpse of the 2023-24 squad.

“For us,” Korn continued, “it’s another way to let people into our program.”

Not only will the SEMO men’s basketball program be working out in front of the Redhawk fans today, but on Saturday, Korn, his coaching staff, and the SEMO players will all be at Arena Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the program’s annual “Block Party.”

At the latter event, the free event will include food, games, activities, and lots of “face time” with the Redhawk student-athletes and coaches.

Canned food donations will be accepted and delivered to local food banks.

As far as the open practice is concerned, Korn sees it as an opportunity, not just for fans, but for any young person that might want to follow in his footsteps.

“I have actually had two young people, who are aspiring to get into coaching, ask me about coming to (today’s) practice,” Korn said. “I told them that they can come anytime. But I don’t think people know that.”

The Redhawks have conducted practices at both Cape Central High School, and more recently, Jackson High School, as another opportunity to showcase the program and reach out to young fans in those areas.

“It is just letting people into the program,” Korn said, “and continuing to create excitement. It’s a way to get people into our doors and get people excited about being on our campus.

“That is the main thing, is to keep having that door open, that bridge, having more people come in and being excited about the program.”

The 2023-24 Redhawks return nine players (Aquan Smart, Adam Larson, David Idada, Evan Eursher, Josh Earley, Gavyn Elkamil, Kobe Clark, Dylan Branson, and Mason Hanback) from a squad that snapped a streak of eight-straight losing seasons. SEMO had both overall and OVC winning records in a season for the first time since 2004-05 while the 10 conference wins were the Redhawks most since 1999-2000.