Guard Niemczyk eager to pick up where he left off for Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team

Nick Niemczyk proved to himself that he could succeed at the Division I level while playing in just five games last year.

Knee problems cut short Niemczyk's rookie basketball season at Southeast Missouri State, but he now is healthy and ready to build on his short-lived 2010-11 success.

"I'm totally good, 100 percent ready to go," Niemczyk said.

Niemczyk, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior guard, had an impressive start last year after transferring from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The Bell City High School graduate averaged 13.4 points while shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range in five games.

Southeast Missouri State's Nick Niemczyk averaged 13.4 points per game before knee problems cut short his season last year. (Missourian file)

"Nick got off to such a great start for us," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "It was very exciting."

But even though Niemczyk was playing well, the knee that he originally hurt at TRCC and had surgery on in the spring of 2010 never quite felt right.

"There was just too much pain," Niemczyk said. "I think I came back too early."

Niemczyk didn't require another surgery, but the decision was made to shut down him for the rest of the season and hope the NCAA would grant him a medical redshirt.

That ultimately came through, meaning Niemczyk did not lose a year of eligibility. Looking back, he figures what transpired last season was a blessing in disguise.

"It was good to get some experience on the D-I level and not lose a year," he said. "It was like a bonus."

While Niemczyk said he never doubted he could compete on the Division I level, he acknowledged it was a positive to find out for sure so early in his Southeast career.

"I had a lot of confidence from playing such good competition at Three Rivers and playing under coach [Gene] Bess," Niemczyk said about the Raiders' legendary coach. "I wasn't too worried about it. But I was happy I could do it at that level.

"Last year really helped because I did well the first few games. It boosted my confidence."

Nutt said he had no doubt Niemczyk could compete well at Southeast after seeing him thrive as a sophomore at TRCC.

"We're excited to have Nick back. He is healthy and ready to go," said Nutt, whose squad begins practice Friday and opens the season Nov. 11 at Missouri. "He's a phenomenal shooter and just a really good all-around player."

Niemczyk probably won't average as many points this year as he did in his limited playing time last season since Southeast features a more talented and deeper roster.

"Our team has really boosted up," Niemczyk said.

Niemczyk believes the Redhawks, who made strides during Nutt's second season last year, are ready to take a much more significant step in 2011-12.

"We won a game in the [Ohio Valley Conference] tournament last year," he said. "Now we're looking to win the tournament."

And Niemczyk is looking to help put fans in the stands at the Show Me Center.

"It's really great to have a bunch of my fans from high school and my family see me play," Niemczyk said. "There's nothing better than that."