Why is Rembert the key to Southeast's success?

The Southeast Missouri State men were playing their best basketball of the season last year when center Mike Rembert went down with a knee injury.

Southeast never recovered, losing five of its final six games to finish coach Scott Edgar's first season 11-20 overall and 9-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Redhawks also had to start this season without Rembert, who was still recovering from a second knee surgery over the summer, but hope to have him back at full strength by the time the OVC schedule begins in early December.

That would be good news for Rembert and the Redhawks.

"We really missed Mike when he got hurt last year," Edgar said. "He's a very valuable member of our team."

Southeast Missouri State's Mike Rembert shot over Jacksonville State's Harold Crow in the second half Sunday at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Rembert, a rock-solid 6-foot-9, 255-pound senior, who played his first two seasons at Bradley, averaged 9.9 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game last year. He was the OVC's 10th-leading rebounder and ranked fourth in blocked shots with 21.

Rembert had an 11-game stretch where he averaged 12 points and nearly eight rebounds as the Redhawks went 7-4, including a 4-1 run.

But then Rembert went down with a right knee injury, and the Redhawks limped to the finish line.

"It was very frustrating," Rembert said.

Also frustrating is that the knee required a second surgery over the summer, which robbed him of a chance to be 100 percent for the start of his final collegiate campaign. He missed most of preseason practice and did not play in the early games.

"It's frustrating, but at the same time, it's helped me appreciate the game more when it's taken away," Rembert said.

Rembert said the knee is "getting stronger every day" and he hopes to be back at close to full strength soon.

Edgar considers Rembert a great example of the kind of student-athlete he seeks in the program.

Rembert already has his diploma, having graduated from Southeast in December 2006. It took just 3 1/2 years to earn his degree in criminal justice.

"I always tell all the guys on the team they need to get that piece of paper," said Rembert, a Chicago native. "It's a huge burden off my chest."

Edgar calls Rembert "the heartbeat of the program."

"When I came to interview for the job and met the players, I thought he was the most mature person in the room," Edgar said. "He's just a great young man."

Despite being frustrated by the setbacks with his knee, Rembert has high hopes for his senior season as well as that of the team.

"I think once we get everybody rolling, we'll be really good," Rembert said. "Like coach says, there will be a time when nobody wants to play us."