SEMO hoops looking for someone, anyone to 'step up' and lead

There hasn’t been a great deal to cheer about throughout this men’s basketball season for the followers of the Southeast Missouri State men’s program. However, the Redhawks are coming off a victory over NAIA program Missouri Baptist, and they’ll host another NAIA program in Harris-Stowe on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center (ESPN+), so a two-game win streak may be in the works.

“We’ve got to reset mentally,” Korn said of returning to the Show Me Center recently after playing five road games in November. “We’ve got to get back in the gym and find something that we can hang our hats on with both sides of the ball.

“Right now, we have so much not going right.”

In the latest NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings, SEMO ranks 352nd out of 362 NCAA Division I teams, but perhaps getting solid play from junior guard Aquan Smart in Sunday’s win over Missouri Baptist is something to build upon.

Smart has struggled mightily at the offensive end of the floor this season, but notched season-highs in points (19), assists (five), and minutes (28) on Sunday.

"I think that's the cool thing about college and the cool thing about our program and in this level is that guys are continuously growing," Korn told Semoball.com following Sunday's win. "None of us are finished products, myself included. None of us are perfect."

Smart is projected to start on Wednesday, as is redshirt freshman center David Idada, who will be making his second career start.

The 7-foot athlete pulled down nine rebounds against Missouri Baptist in just 16 minutes of playing time.

Those two are expected to join redshirt sophomore forward Adam Larson, sophomore forward Braxton Stacker, and sophomore guard Rob Martin in the starting lineup.

“Someone has to step up and emerge from a leadership standpoint,” Korn said. “I don’t care if you are a freshman. I don’t care if you are a sophomore. I don’t care if you are a senior.

“It doesn’t matter.”

The Redhawks are having a great deal of issues scoring the ball, and rank 344th in the country offensively.

Larson was shooting nearly 50 percent from 3-point range (14 of 29) until recently but has misfired on 9 of his last 10 long shots.

“We had a tough December a year ago,” Korn said. “It was a tough November. I told the guys that November is over. Let’s get refocused. Let’s get back to what we know that we can do.”

Junior forward TJ Biel can ignite the offense. The 6-foot-7 athlete hit 4 of 5 shots against Missouri Baptist and defensively made four steals.

“I need someone who cares about SEMO men’s basketball,” Korn continued. “I need someone who wants to win basketball games and knows how to do that.”

Following Wednesday’s game, the Redhawks travel to Purdue Fort Wayne (8-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m., which is off to its best start in the NCAA Division I era, which began 22 years ago.