Outside help on the way

The absence of junior guard Jimmy Drew has hurt Southeast Missouri State's outside shooting performance.

Drew hopes to aid that cause soon with a return to the court.

Drew, who led the Redhawks in 3-point field-goal percentage last year, has not seen any action this season because of a foot problem.

While Drew doesn't know when he'll be back, he said before Sunday's 75-62 loss at Bradley that he hopes it's sooner rather than later.

"I want to get back as soon as possible," said Drew, who did not dress for the game. "I thought I'd be back by now, but it takes time."

AARON EISENHAUER ~ sports@semissourian.comSoutheast Missouri State's Jimmy Drew fires up a 3-pointer during a game last season at the Show Me Center.

Drew said he recently changed medication, which seems to be helping the foot.

"It's getting better," he said.

Drew had the same problem with the foot a year ago, when he also missed some time, although not as much.

When the foot troubles arose last season, Drew said doctors thought he had a stress fracture. Drew said the issue actually has to do with "the nerves in my foot."

Drew played in 26 of Southeast's 31 games last season, including 15 starts. He averaged just 4.2 points, but hit 27 of 67 3-pointers for 40.3 percent.

Drew ranked eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point percentage. His 27 treys were second on the team behind Kenard Moore's 77.

The Redhawks (2-8) are shooting 26.1 percent from 3-point range this season. They hit 34.7 percent a year ago.

Moore has been Southeast's only real 3-point threat this year, but he has struggled with his long-range shot for much of the season.

Moore is Southeast's leading scorer with a 15.7 average, but he has made just 28.6 percent of his 3-pointers (26 of 91), although he did hit 5 of 11 at Bradley.

Moore connected on a solid 39.1 percent from 3-point range while averaging 10.4 points last season, his first at Southeast after transferring from junior college.

"Kenard got back to where we need him to be," Southeast acting coach Zac Roman said following the Bradley game. "He just relaxed and shot the ball like I know he can."

No Southeast player other than Moore has made more than six 3-pointers.

Southeast's top 3-point accuracy is held by sophomore forward Jajuan Maxwell, who is 5 of 17 for 29.4 percent.

Having Drew on the court would give opposing defenses another long-range shooter to worry about.

"It would help spread the defense," Roman said.

Drew said he is confident the Redhawks eventually will find their stroke from beyond the arc.

"I think a lot of it is mental," Drew said. "We've got shooters on the team. It'll change."

Drew also shot down rumors that he doesn't plan to play at all this season while redshirting, thus preserving a year of eligibility as he sees how the Southeast coaching situation plays out.

"Redshirt is not even an issue," he said. "I want to get back as soon as I can."

Of course, 3-point shooting has been far from Southeast's only problem.

The Redhawks, who rank ninth in the 10-team OVC in 3-point field-goal percentage, are last in overall field-goal percentage (40.1), last in scoring defense (79.3 points per game) and last in turnover margin (minus 5.6) as they are averaging a league-high 16.5 turnovers per game.

Southeast is also ninth in scoring offense (66.8 points per game) and field-goal percentage defense (45.7).

It's no surprise, then, that Southeast is off to its worst start since the 2001-02 squad began 2-11 and finished 6-22 for the program's worst record since the 1975-76 squad went 5-21.