Southeast men still have time to right ship

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team still has eight regular-season games left, including seven Ohio Valley Conference contests.

That's enough time for the Redhawks to get on a roll and have the type of year that many people -- myself included -- expected.

But right now there is no doubt that the Redhawks have underachieved big-time on their way to an 11-12 overall record and a 3-6 Ohio Valley Conference mark.

The Redhawks were inconsistent during the nonconference schedule, but they still went 8-6 and displayed plenty of promise.

That inconsistency has reared its ugly head during OVC play.

Things appeared to begin well enough when the Redhawks started 2-0 in the conference, although both wins were narrow escapes at home against OVC bottom feeders Tennessee-Martin and Austin Peay.

Southeast played impressively in a closely contested home loss to three-time defending OVC champion Murray State, which seemed to indicate good things were on the horizon.

Then came road losses by a combined 47 points to OVC powers Belmont and Tennessee State, followed by a surprising 16-point home blowout at the hands of Morehead State.

The Redhawks momentarily righted the ship, beating struggling Tennessee Tech by 12 points at home, but could not put together a winning streak as they lost at SIU Edwardsville 80-77 on Thursday to start a two-game road trip.

Then came Saturday's stunning 78-72 overtime setback at Eastern Illinois -- which is in rebuilding mode -- as Southeast remained winless in OVC road games and suffered its sixth loss in the past seven contests.

Several factors have contributed to Southeast's struggles, led by suspect defense and rebounding.

None of Southeast's first 15 opponents shot better than 45.6 percent, which is a reason the Redhawks still are tied for first in the OVC in field-goal percentage defense at 39.8.

But three of Southeast's past eight opponents have shot better than 51 percent, which is why the Redhawks are just sixth in the 12-team OVC in field-goal percentage defense during conference play at 44.7.

Worst yet, Southeast is 11th in 3-point defense during league action at 39.5 percent and 10th in rebounding margin in conference games at minus 5.4.

Fourth-year Southeast coach Dickey Nutt, who as I've written many times has done an admirable job of reviving a program that was in the dumps, consistently harps on the Redhawks' lack of overall toughness -- both physically and mentally.

That's one area in which Southeast really misses junior forward Michael Porter, who is out for the season with an injury.

Porter probably wouldn't have put up big numbers, but he is a true leader and his mere presence on the court elevated the Redhawks.

Southeast fans have to hope the Redhawks can get tough enough the rest of the season and live up to their considerable potential.

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I feel bad for Porter, a high-character young man who simply hasn't had any luck during his college basketball career.

Porter returned to action recently before re-fracturing the foot he originally broke during preseason practice.

Porter played in just one game this season, a 74-62 win over Tennessee Tech on Jan. 19. He performed well off the bench before suffering his latest foot injury.

It's just the latest in a long line of injuries for Porter, who has not been healthy yet as a college player and has not been able to reach the potential he displayed at Sikeston High School.

Hopefully Porter can be in at least reasonably good health for his senior campaign next year, and he also has a shot at being granted one additional season of eligibility by the NCAA.

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Southeast athletes had another strong performance in the classroom during the fall semester.

The Redhawks collectively posted a 3.08 grade-point average in the fall. A total of 150 athletes recorded a 3.0 GPA or higher, with 49 earning a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Ten Southeast teams earned a 3.0 GPA or higher, led by the gymnastics squad's 3.804 mark.

Women's basketball (3.515), women's cross country (3.674), soccer (3.647), tennis (3.602) and volleyball (3.656) all finished with a GPA over 3.5. Baseball (3.190), men's cross country (3.194), softball (3.414) and women's track and field (3.382) also scored above a 3.0.

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The OVC will have at least one new head football coach next season as Austin Peay's Rick Christophel stepped down last week after six seasons to become the Arizona Cardinals' tight ends coach.

Bruce Arians, the Cardinals' new coach, and Christophel were assistants on the Mississippi State staff in 1993 and 1994.

Christophel, who had one year left on his contract, went 20-46 at Austin Peay, his alma mater. The Governors posted five straight losing records under Christophel after his first team went 7-4 in 2007 for the program's most wins since 1984.

The Govs went 2-9 in 2012 and tied with Tennessee Tech for last place in the OVC with a 1-7 conference mark.

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It might not have seemed like baseball weather the past few days -- although it is warming up today -- but that didn't deter the Southeast baseball team directed by interim coach Steve Bieser.

The Redhawks held their first official practice Friday, working out on the artificial surface at Houck Stadium.

Southeast's season opener is less than three weeks away, Feb. 15 at New Orleans.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.