SportsMarch 6, 2012
Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program remains optimistic about future
The competitor in Dickey Nutt tells him the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team could have done better this year. The realist in Nutt tells him the Redhawks made more progress while he continues the rebuilding process after taking over a program that was down in the dumps...
The competitor in Dickey Nutt tells him the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team could have done better this year.
The realist in Nutt tells him the Redhawks made more progress while he continues the rebuilding process after taking over a program that was down in the dumps.
"You never do as well as you hope to do," Nutt said. "But I thought we made progress. I was proud of what the guys were able to accomplish."
Nutt's third season as Southeast's coach ended with last week's gut-wrenching 77-73 loss to Tennessee Tech in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Redhawks rallied from a 19-point deficit in the second half to lead by four points in the closing minutes before falling just short.
"We're all still very sick about that one, but that's the feeling you want," Nutt said. "It means your expectations have changed. We weren't just happy to be in the tournament or to win a game in the tournament."
Southeast went 15-16 overall and 9-7 in OVC play. The Redhawks recorded their most victories since the 2004-05 team also won 15 games, and their fourth-place OVC tie was their highest conference finish since the 1999-2000 NCAA tournament squad earned a share of the regular-season championship.
The Redhawks also posted OVC tournament wins in consecutive years for only the second time. The other time came during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons when Southeast reached the finals during both campaigns.
"We feel like we took a good step. Not a giant step, but a good step," Nutt said. "I was pleased with our conference record. With a break here or there, it could have been better.
"I feel like we have laid a foundation, put in some building blocks. You have to get better every year. We've been able to do that."
Nutt inherited a program coming off a 3-27 campaign that included a winless OVC season and was saddled with NCAA probation.
Southeast won seven games, including three OVC contests, during Nutt's first year. The Redhawks improved to 10 wins last season, including six OVC triumphs, and earned their first OVC tournament victory since 2004-05.
That led to this year's five-victory improvement and Southeast's first winning conference record since 2004-05.
"The biggest thing we had to overcome was the probation. People used that against us [in recruiting] the first two years," Nutt said. "I know this is our third year, but I wish the first year wouldn't count. We knew how tough that was going to be.
"From where we were to being competitive, to being a contender, I think we've come a long way. But at the end of the day, we weren't good enough. We have to keep getting better."
Nutt believes the Redhawks will be poised to do that next year.
Southeast loses just two seniors who made major contributions, forward Leon Powell and point guard Marcus Brister.
Powell was Southeast's third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder with averages of 10.6 points and 7.1 boards. He paced the Redhawks with 42 blocks and led the OVC in field-goal percentage (59.2) after leading the nation last season. He was fourth in the league in rebounding and third in blocks.
Brister led Southeast with 103 assists, which ranked third in the OVC, while averaging 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Other seniors were center Zach House and walk-on point guard Logan Nutt, both role players.
"We'll miss the seniors. They meant a lot to our program," coach Nutt said. "But the exciting thing, when we really showed our passion, our magic in tournament play [during the comeback against Tennessee Tech], we did it with underclassmen."
Headlining those underclassmen is sophomore forward Tyler Stone, Southeast's top scorer and rebounder who earned second-team all-OVC honors and arguably was the league's top newcomer after transferring from Missouri.
Stone averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds to rank ninth and third in the conference, respectively. He also was fifth in blocks (34) and sixth in field-goal percentage (53.0). He had double-double performances in both OVC tournament games.
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"Tyler is emerging as one of the best big men in the league," coach Nutt said.
Junior guard Marland Smith (12.3 ppg) was Southeast's second-leading scorer and top 3-point shooter. He led the Redhawks with 63 made baskets from beyond the arc and 39.9-percent accuracy that ranked sixth in the OVC. He also was first on the squad with 28 steals and third with 76 assists.
Junior shooting guards Nick Niemczyk (9.2 ppg) and Corey Wilford (6.6 ppg) both hit 36.8 percent of their 3-point attempts. Niemczyk made 46 and Wilford connected on 32.
Sophomore point guard Lucas Nutt (5.1 ppg) was second on the Redhawks in assists and eighth in the OVC with 96. He committed just 43 turnovers to lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Lucas Nutt had a strong OVC tournament. He recorded 19 assists while running the team because Brister saw limited action. Niemczyk and Wilford also performed well in the tournament.
Sophomore forward Michael Porter (4.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) came on strong toward the end of the season. He continued to round into form after being plagued by various injuries in recent years, which restricted his conditioning.
"Michael played later in the year at 227 [pounds] vs. 247. You could tell he was getting in his basketball mode," coach Nutt said. "I think he's going to keep getting better."
Nutt feels the same way about freshman forward Nino Johnson (2.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and freshman shooting guard Telvin Wilkerson (1.8 ppg). Both flashed their considerable potential, especially Johnson, in limited playing time.
"Their future is very, very bright," Nutt said. "Nino had a couple of all-conference guys ahead of him [Powell and Stone]. I look for him to be a starter for us [next season]."
Forward Waylon Jones, who played just 28 minutes in 10 games and scored only four points, was listed as a senior, but Nutt said he is confident Jones will be granted a final season of eligibility by the NCAA.
Nutt said he is excited about the potential of freshman forward Jacob Tolbert, a former Notre Dame Regional High School standout who joined the program as a walk-on after Christmas and was redshirted. Tolbert has four years of eligibility remaining.
"Jacob really impressed us in practice," Nutt said.
Nutt expects immediate contributions from a player who is attending Southeast but isn't yet officially a member of the program and couldn't even practice with the team this year.
Anthony Jones, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard who reportedly was offered a scholarship by Murray State at one time, had two strong junior college seasons before enrolling at Southeast in the fall.
Under NCAA regulations, Jones must pay his own way at Southeast this year and cannot join the program until he meets his one-year residency requirement to become eligible to play basketball because he did not graduate from his junior college.
"He has to continue to take care of himself academically. If he does, he'll get a scholarship," coach Nutt said. "That's our plan. He's a big, strong, very athletic guard who can really add to our team. He can give us that tough, explosive body on the wings and at the two-guard that you really need."
Nutt is excited about Southeast's three early high school signees, led by point guard C.J. Reese from Chattanooga, Tenn. He received interest from several Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference programs at one time.
Southeast also landed two De Soto (Mo.) High School seniors, combo guard Jared White and 6-10, 250-pound center Colin Ferguson.
Nutt did not rule out signing another player or two, although Southeast would be at the NCAA maximum of 13 scholarships if Anthony Jones receives one, Waylon Jones is granted a final year of eligibility, the incoming freshmen all qualify academically and nobody leaves the program.
"We do have our eyes on a couple of guys. If it works out, we would find a way to get that done," Nutt said.
Nutt eagerly awaits what lies ahead even if there are no more signings.
"I'm excited about the future of the program," he said. "I feel like our future is bright. I'm looking forward to it."
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