SEMO basketball reaches significant milestone

The SEMO men's basketball team reached a significant milestone with Saturday's 66-65 win at Missouri-Kansas City.

The Redhawks, who are 8-6, clinched their first nonconference winning record since the 2003-04 season and SEMO also has its most nonconference victories since the 2000-01 squad went 10-4 in nonleague play.

SEMO probably should have at least a couple more wins by now but that doesn't detract from the fact the Redhawks are continuing their impressive resurgence under fourth-year coach Dickey Nutt, who has rejuvenated a program that ranked among the nation's worst when he took over.

The Redhawks will enter OVC play -- which begins Dec. 29 against Tennessee-Martin -- with a winning record and a two-game winning streak for the first time during Nutt's tenure.

SEMO has a chance to get off to a fast conference start as it plays its first three league games at home.

The Redhawks should be heavily favored to beat Tennessee-Martin and they should also be solid favorites Jan. 3 against Austin Peay before their big Jan. 5 showdown with powerhouse Murray State that will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

SEMO arguably has the best inside duo in the OVC with junior forward Tyler Stone and sophomore forward Nino Johnson.

If the Redhawks get solid guard play -- and things have trended upward in that area recently -- then there is no reason they can't finish among the OVC's elite squads.