Southeast men's basketball team faces Hannibal-LaGrange in home opener

Just two games into the regular season, the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team is understandably trying to answer questions about player roles and team identity .

The Redhawks will try to figure out a little bit more about themselves and pick up their first win of the season when they face NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange at 7 p.m. today at the Show Me Center.

Southeast went 0-2 in the LMU Classic in Los Angeles to start its season.

The Redhawks lost 76-66 to host Loyola Marymount and 67-56 to San Diego over the weekend.

"I do think that we improved from the first game to the second game," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said, "and although we didn't have success in terms of wins, I do feel like we've improved as a team, and we're still searching right now."

Nutt added, "I think that we're still trying to find an identity to our basketball team."

The Redhawks graduated two multi-year starters in Tyler Stone and Lucas Nutt from last year's 18-14 team.

"We have a new point guard and we're trying different people there, and looking at different combinations, and playing without Tyler Stone that you could always count on 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds] and you could kind of count on Lucas [Nutt] to get six or seven assists, and we haven't been able to do that," Nutt said. "Obviously having a couple guys out does affect that, but I do feel like we're improving. We've got some guys that are playing good and we just want to build on that."

Senior guard Jarekious Bradley is doubtful to play in tonight's game due to a severe thigh bruise.

Senior forward Josh Langford will be available after completing his two-game suspension for a violation of team rules last semester.

One player Nutt was particularly pleased with during the first two games was senior forward Aaron Adeoye, who missed both of the Redhawks' exhibition games due to an eye/cheekbone injury. He led Southeast with 12 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego.

"My message to the team is, 'If everyone can play as hard as Aaron does, we're going to be a much better basketball team,'" Nutt said. "He doesn't know but one speed, and that's full, and that's what you love about a young man and a player -- a guy that plays with all their heart every possession and don't take plays off."

Nutt's still trying to figure out his point guard option, too. Senior JJ Thompson is getting re-acclimated to the game after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Freshman Marcus Wallace and junior transfer Isiah Jones also provide options at the point.

"We're just going to keep looking and mixing and matching," Nutt said. "Unfortunately, right now we don't have a set lineup, and that's an unfortunate thing right now in terms of our team. I need someone to separate themselves from the other and prove that he's the best man for the job."

The Redhawks defeated Hannibal-LaGrange 115-45 last season in an exhibition game.

The Trojans (0-4) finished 4-25 last season. Their closest margin this season was a 12-point loss to Culver-Stockton College.