Redhawks prepare for slow Samford

~ Southeast will face the Bulldogs' unique offense and defense tonight.

Southeast Missouri State coach Gary Garner knows the Redhawks better be ready to play two different types of Ohio Valley Conference games this week.

The Redhawks (4-4, 1-2 OVC) begin a road trip to Alabama with tonight's 7 p.m. tipoff against Samford (3-4, 0-1) in Birmingham, followed by Wednesday's 7 p.m. matchup with Jacksonville State (4-3, 2-0).

"It's really going to be an interesting trip because these two teams play totally different styles," Garner said. "Samford wants to play a half-court game, with a really low score. Jacksonville State wants to run up and down the court all night."

Samford, which features the unorthodox Princeton-style offense that milks the shot clock on virtually every possession, is averaging the fewest points in the OVC (55.3), but the Bulldogs also allow the fewest points in the league (55.6).

On the other hand, Jacksonville State -- one of the OVC's early-season surprises -- is averaging 74.6 points per game while allowing 75.7.

"We'll have our work cut out for us on this trip," Garner said. "It's going to be a big challenge."

Garner is happy that the Redhawks play Samford first, meaning Southeast will at least have had a couple of days to prepare for the Bulldogs' unusual style that features constant screening and back-cutting, all designed to result in either a layup or a 3-point attempt.

"They're the hardest team in the league to prepare for, mainly because the only time you see that style is when you play them," Garner said. "They are so different on both ends of the floor, not only with that offense, but they play a matchup zone on defense.

"They're going to make you defend until the end of the shot clock, unless they get a layup. They either want a 3-pointer or a layup, or a post-up shot inside. They really don't shoot anything in between."

Samford, one of the OVC's surprise teams last year -- the Bulldogs finished fourth after being picked 10th in the preseason -- is not off to the kind of start most people expected, although a rugged early schedule is partly responsible.

The Bulldogs played two of their first three games at national powers Texas and Oklahoma, suffering losses by a combined 145-74.

Samford, picked fourth out of 11 teams in the OVC's preseason poll, began conference play with a somewhat surprising 62-61 home loss to rival Jacksonville State.

The Bulldogs are generally hard to beat at quaint Seibert Hall, which seats just 4,000. Samford was 10-3 at home last year, including 7-2 against OVC opponents.

"They're tough anywhere, but they're especially tough at home," Garner said.

Although the Bulldogs don't score a lot of points because of their style, they are extremely efficient offensively.

Last season, Samford ranked third nationally in field-goal shooting (50.3 percent), second in 3-point shooting (41.9 percent) and 11th in 3-pointers made per game (8.8). All three figures led the OVC.

The Bulldogs are not even close to approaching those numbers this year, although playing Texas and Oklahoma no doubt didn't help. Samford is shooting 43.3 percent overall and 36.1 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 7.4 made 3-pointers per game.

J. Robert Merritt, a 6-foot-6 senior forward who was a first team all-OVC selection last year, is the only Samford player averaging in double figures at 13.4 points per game, although he has been struggling somewhat offensively.

"They've got a good team. They maybe haven't played as well yet as they're going to, but they've got most of those guys from last year back," Garner said. "You know they'll get it going. You just hope it's not against us."

Garner said he knows how the Redhawks can win tonight -- but accomplishing it won't be easy.

"We have to be really disciplined defensively, and offensively we have to have the patience to get the ball inside," he said. "They're very hard to beat on their home floor, but if we do the things we need to do, we can beat them."

---

Today's lineups

SOUTHEAST (4-4, 1-2 OVC)

Pos. Player Ht. Yr. Avg.

F Andrais Thornton 6-8 Jr. 8.4

F Ketshner Guerrier 6-7 Sr. 7.1

G Terrick Willoughby 6-4 Jr. 11.8

G Roy Booker 6-3 Sr. 19.1

G Paul Paradoski 6-0 So. 6.5

SAMFORD (3-4, 0-1 OVC)

Pos. Player Ht. Yr. Avg.

F J. Robert Merritt 6-6 Sr. 13.4

F Joe Ross Merritt 6-4 So. 5.9

C Travis Peterson 6-10 So. 9.1

G Randall Gulina 6-1 Jr. 8.0

G Jerry Smith 6-2 Jr. 7.7

* Series: Samford leads 3-1.

* Last season: Southeast won 72-65 in overtime in Cape Girardeau.

* Coaches: Gary Garner is 123-116 in his ninth season at Southeast and 370-281 in his 23nd season overall; Jimmy Tillette is 132-106 in his ninth season at Samford.

* Radio: KEZS-102.9 FM.