What 2 Watch 4: SEMO basketball not accepting low expectations

The Southeast Missouri State men' basketball squad opens its 2019-20 season today at Vanderbilt at 7 p.m.

The Redhawks are coming off a 10-21 (5-13 Ohio Valley Conference) season and were picked to finish last by the media in a preseason poll in the 12-team conference.

"That means a lot to me," Redhawk fifth-year senior wing Skyler Hogan said of the low expectations. "I use it as motivation to prove everybody wrong because we're not a last-place team."

Here is "What 2 Watch 4" from the Redhawks this season.

Bond, team bond

In four seasons under coach Rick Ray, the program has endured a turnstile of rosters, as 14 players in four seasons have transferred out of the program.

To exacerbate that lack of cohesiveness, this Redhawks roster has two new assistant coaches, in addition to eight players who have never suited up for the program.

Veteran forward Skyler Hogan said he and other older players have made a concerted effort to remedy that issue.

"Our togetherness off the court is really good," Hogan said recently of the team.

This unit has to play together, care about each other, and help each other through adversity to reach its full potential, which is high.

They're free

The Redhawks have three frontcourt players (Quatarrius Wilson, Sage Tolbert, and Darrius Agnew) who will be very difficult to defend.

The trio is strong, athletic and talented, and will be fouled a lot.

A year ago, Southeast ranked ninth in the 12-team Ohio Valley Conference in free-throw attempts and accuracy. Both of those numbers have to increase, particularly Tolbert, who made just 54.7 percent as a freshman.

Grab it

However you want to look at the Redhawks' rebounding numbers from last season, they need to improve.

Southeast ranked 10th in rebounding margin (minus-3.8 per game) and dead last in offensive rebound percentage (24.7 percent of the opportunities).

Southeast ranked sixth, however, in defensive rebounding percentage, which is what Ray explained he pays attention to.

"I never pay attention to overall rebounding," Ray said. "It's all about defensive rebounding percentage. You can only rebound what is available to you."

Going 'post'al

With three talented and big post players, Ray has made an emphasis in preseason of throwing the ball inside on every possession.

"The difference that we are going to have," Ray said, "is the approach on the offensive end and getting the ball into the paint. Not just by driving the ball in there, but by throwing the ball in there on post feeds."

In the recent exhibition win against NCAA Division II Lincoln University, Wilson tallied 11 points, while Tolbert had 12 and Agnew had three.

Kao means 'wow'

A bright spot throughout the preseason has been the play of senior guard Oscar Kao.

As a junior, the 6-foot guard averaged just eight minutes a game and didn't play in 11 of the Redhawks' 31 games.

Fast-forward to this season and Kao very well may start.

"There is nothing wrong with Oscar on the offensive end," Ray said following his starting Kao against Lincoln. "The thing that we need him to be really good at is being consistent on the defensive end.

"He struggles sometimes keeping people in front of him."

Kao has shot the ball extremely well in practices, as well as in a scrimmage against Indiana State. He has also been very effective in transition.