SEMO soph growing defensively and in minutes

Southeast Missouri State redshirt sophomore guard Nygall Russell

There is a seismic misperception floating throughout the minds of young basketball players that veteran Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Rick Ray would like to clarify.

“Everybody in college basketball always focuses on how they can score,” Ray explained, “they think that is how they earn minutes. But in reality, we need a guy who can be a shutdown defender.”

Redhawk redshirt sophomore Nygal Russell is in the process of trying to fill that role.

Southeast (3-4) will travel to Abilene Christian (2-5) Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Redhawks closed their recent three-game Cable Car Classic in California with a victory and Russell did his part in the tournament to help his team at both ends of the floor.

Offensively, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound athlete connected on 4 of 6 shots in the tournament finale (a win over Denver) for nine points, while he hit all four free throws en route to 10 points in an earlier defeat to Santa Clara.

But that wasn’t what caught the eyes of his coach.

“The biggest thing for Nygall is he is doing the things that we have asked him to do,” Ray said. “He has such a big, strong, physical body. He can be a defensive presence for us.

“That is what we need him to focus on.”

Russell averaged over 16 minutes per game in 31 outings as a redshirt freshman last season and he opened this year by playing 24 minutes against Vanderbilt. However, that got curbed quickly.

The Houston, Texas native played just five minutes against Purdue Fort Wayne and 10 minutes in each of the next two games (vs. The Citadel and Missouri S&T).

“He has the length, athleticism, strength, and knowledge to be a shutdown defender,” Ray said. “He’s been really good for us defensively.”

In the California tournament, Russell saw his role grow to 13 minutes against CSU-Fullerton, 21 against Santa Clara and 16 in the win over Denver.

He has steadily improved defensively, which could positively impact his offensive game.

“He needs to take care of the basketball,” Ray said of Russell’s offensive game, “and know when to attack and when not to attack.”

Russell hit 7 of 15 shots in California, but he also turned the ball over six times in 50 total minutes.

“He is starting to pick up on some things,” Ray said. “That will earn him some minutes.”

Abilene Christian has struggled offensively so far this season.

The Wildcats have hit on 41.7 percent of their shots and just 28.8 percent from 3-point range, which is an emphasis for them.

Abilene Christian has attempted 153 3-point shots so far, as opposed to just 132 by their opposition.

Southeast has allowed opponents to make 44.2 percent of their shots overall and 28 percent from beyond the arc.