Redhawks visit Razorbacks tonight

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The Southeast men will try to get their first win against the SEC's Arkansas

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt knows the winless Redhawks face a huge challenge tonight.

Southeast is in Fayetteville, Ark., for one of its three guarantee games this season, playing the University of Arkansas in a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Arkansas is paying Southeast $85,000 after Alabama-Birmingham paid $90,000 for the Nov. 13 opener that saw the Redhawks lose 78-56.

Southeast will receive $75,000 for its Dec. 6 matchup at Iowa State. All the money goes to the university's general athletic department revenue.

"These kinds of games are never easy, but we know it's something we have to do," Nutt said. "It doesn't get any tougher than playing an SEC opponent."

The Redhawks (0-4) came ever so close to their first victory Monday, falling 77-76 in overtime to Grambling State in their home opener. Southeast is playing four of its first five games on the road.

Arkansas (2-0) has not yet been challenged while playing its first two games at home, routing Grambling State 75-52 and Florida Gulf Coast 90-47. Southeast lost at Florida Gulf Coast 89-78 last week.

The Razorbacks are coming off a season that saw them go 14-18 overall and 7-9 in the Southeastern Conference.

Arkansas' top returning player is 6-foot junior guard Rotnei Clarke, one of the nation's premier long-range shooters.

Clarke averaged 15.1 points per game a year ago. He made 100 3-pointers while connecting on 42.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Clarke is the nation's fifth-best returning player in 3-pointers per game and sixth-best in 3-point percentage. He was named the best shooter in the SEC by The Sporting News and the No. 2 shooter in the nation by Athlon.

Clarke is off to a strong start, averaging 17 points through the two contests. He has hit 9 of 20 from 3-point range.

"This game will be a great challenge, but we have to worry about ourselves right now," Nutt said.

After tonight's contest, the Redhawks have three straight Show Me Center dates beginning Saturday against Arkansas State in a 4 p.m. tipoff.

 

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Powell?s Foot Testing Arkansas? Depth



Arkansas knew frontcourt depth would be its biggest question mark entering the 2010-11 season.

So it wasn?t a good sign Monday night, when forward Marshawn Powell joined teammate Michael Sanchez among injured Razorback post players sitting on the bench.

Powell did not suit up for Arkansas? 90-47 win against Florida Gulf Coast after struggling on his sore foot in an 15-minute stint in the opener against Grambling State last Thursday. Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said Powell hasn?t suffered any more damage to the foot, which he hurt during a pickup game over the summer. But it certainly has taken more time than expected for the team?s second-leading returning scorer to become completely healthy and comfortable.

Powell is doubtful tonight, too, when the Razorbacks (2-0) play Southeast Missouri (0-4) in Bud Walton Arena.

?We?ve taken some time off,? Pelphrey said. ?We tried it Sunday. Actually, he got through all of practice (Sunday). I just think he?s going to have some good days and bad days.?

Arkansas leaned on three frontcourt players ? Delvon Johnson, Glenn Bryant and Marvell Waithe ? to get through Monday?s game without Powell. It will likely do so once again against the Redhawks, who have lost to both Grambling State and FGCU in the four-team Razorback Classic.

His absence will continue to put more pressure on the group to perform and, more importantly, stay out of foul trouble.

But guard Jemal Farmer said the Razorbacks don?t want Powell rushing back too quickly after handling it Monday.

?I wouldn?t say we?re getting accustomed to it,? Farmer said. ?Marshawn is a great player. We just want to get him back healthy. But we?ve got guys ready to go.?

Waithe provided, perhaps, the most important contribution against FGCU. The freshman notched a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, impressing with his abilities.

He filled in well when Johnson left the court for several minutes in the first half with a cramp, too. It momentarily left Waithe and Bryant as the only frontcourt options available, but Arkansas never lost control.

?A lot of guys played bigger than we really are,? Waithe said. ?With Delvon, obviously we?re a lot bigger. But guys like myself and Jemal and Glenn, we played bigger.

?When Sanchez comes back and Marshawn comes back we?re that much stronger. So we?re all right.?

Sanchez is expected to miss six weeks, while Powell?s status is ?tough and go,? according to Pelphrey. It means the sophomore ? who is practicing despite sitting out Monday?s game ? could be on the court tonight. He might not play until Friday. Or it could take even longer.

Arkansas? goal, after Powell was limping visibly during the second half of the season opener, is making sure he?s ready to return whenever he does step back on the court.

?It?s on him,? Pelphrey said. ?Nobody knows his foot better than him. We?re going to continue to work with him.?

Arkansas has won its first two games by an average of 33 points even with Powell dealing with the foot injury. The level of competition might not be much better the Redhawks.

Southeast Missouri is led coach Dickey Nutt, the younger brother of former Arkansas and Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt. He is in his second season with the Redhawks after coaching Arkansas State from 1995-2008.

Dickey Nutt?s two sons ? Logan and Lucas ? also play for their father at Southeast Missouri. There are three other players on the Southeast Missouri roster from Arkansas.

?Whenever that happens, they?re going to be ready,? Pelphrey said. ?It?s going to be a big deal. They?ll have the chance to play in front of family and friends.?

But Arkansas expects another big performance in front of the home crowd. Even if Powell is watching from the sideline in street clothes for the second time this week.

?I feel good,? Waithe said. ?Jemal feels good. We all feel good. We feel ready to go. We?ve got strength in numbers.?