SEMO vs. SIU hoops in the works; Pearson to ORU

Although the 2008-09 SEMO men’s basketball schedule has not yet been released, it looks like one of the Redhawks’ former familiar rivals will be back on the slate.

Details are still being worked out, but I’ve been told by several reliable sources that SEMO and SIU-Carbondale will square off in hoops for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

The length of the contract is still being finalized, but I’ve been told that it will likely be for more than two years, with the 2008-09 meeting to be held at the Show Me Center.

Most of the opponents on SEMO’s 2008-09 schedule were set a couple of months ago — some dates and times still have to be worked out, which is why the slate hasn’t yet been released — but SIU originally wasn’t supposed to be on it.

If the SIU series does come to fruition, I’m sure that will be good news for SEMO fans who enjoyed watching the Redhawks play the powerful Salukis — even if SIU usually got the better end of the deal.

As was reported several months ago, SEMO and SIU will renew their football rivalry in 2009 as the start of a three-year contract that will feature two of the three games in Cape Girardeau.

SEMO hosts SIU in 2009 and 2011, while the Redhawks visit the Salukis in 2010.

The Redhawks and Salukis have not met in football since 2005.

As for basketball, SIU will be just one of several tough nonconference opponents awaiting the 2008-09 Redhawks.

SEMO will also play at Kansas State, Iowa, New Mexico and Bradley.

The contests at New Mexico — the season opener — and Bradley are true guarantee games in which SEMO’s athletic department receives nice sums of money.

SEMO will also be basically paid for visiting Kansas State and Iowa as part of an eight-team Las Vegas tournament that will feature the final two games in Vegas against lesser competition.

That Vegas event is similar to the Chicago Invitational the Redhawks participated in last year that included games at Xavier and Illinois State, along with two contests in Chicago against lesser opponents.

Also for the coming season, SEMO will have games at home and on the road against Western Illinois, a home game with future OVC member SIU-Edwardsville and a contest at Arkansas State that begins a four-year series.

The entire schedule should be released by the university in the next several weeks.

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Also regarding SEMO men’s basketball, Roderick Pearson has officially transferred to Oral Roberts University.

Pearson, the Redhawks’ starting point guard the past two seasons, will have to sit out 2008-09 under NCAA transfer rules. He will then have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pearson is joining an impressive program that ranks among the nation’s best on the mid-major level.

ORU has made three straight trips to the NCAA tournament as the Summit League champion. The Golden Eagles went 24-9 last season.

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The SEMO women’s basketball schedule, which is basically set as well, should also be released in the next several weeks.

Among the more notable nonconference games for the Redhawks will be dates at Florida State, Missouri and Southern Mississippi, along with a home contest against Missouri State.

The Redhawks will also participate in a four-team tournament in New Orleans that includes host Tulane, Providence and Alabama State.