The Missouri Tigers are gearing up to face an in-state rival in their home-opener at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SECN+, with radio coverage provided by the Tiger Radio Network. Fans can also follow updates on Twitter via @MizzouHoops. Coming off a strong start to the season, the Tigers are heavily favored to win this matchup, with Kenpom predicting a 19-point victory margin and ESPN assigning them a 98.9% chance of winning.
The opponent for this home-opener is the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (SEMO), a team with a rich, if modest, basketball history rooted in regional competition. Based in Cape Girardeau, the Redhawks have competed in Division I basketball since 1991 as members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). While they have not traditionally been a powerhouse, SEMO has made notable strides in recent years under head coach Brad Korn. Korn, who took over in 2018, has steadily built the program by focusing on local talent and overlooked regional recruits. This strategy bore fruit in the 2022-2023 season, when the Redhawks reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history, a significant milestone given their past struggles.
Despite some roster turnover following last season, SEMO retains several key contributors who will be crucial to their hopes in this contest. The team lost two of its leading scorers but kept four others who provided meaningful production. Of these, forward Brendan Terry stands out as the primary offensive threat, averaging 11.2 points per game last season and showing his ability to perform against tough competition. In their recent game against Saint Louis University, despite a lopsided 92-67 loss, Terry managed to score 14 points, along with two rebounds and two steals, highlighting his importance to the Redhawks’ attack.
In addition to Terry, SEMO’s backcourt is anchored by guards B.J. Ward and Braxton Stacker, both of whom earned recognition as OVC players to watch. Ward, known for his outside shooting, connected on 37.6% of his three-point attempts last year, while Stacker improved his shooting efficiency markedly between his sophomore and junior seasons. Their scoring and defensive contributions will be vital in trying to keep pace with the Tigers’ high-powered offense.
SEMO has bolstered its roster with several transfers this offseason, aiming to add depth and versatility. Notably, Luke Almodovar, a junior guard who transferred from NAIA Saint Francis, made an immediate impact by scoring eight points and contributing two steals in his first game with the Redhawks. Other recent additions include Landren Blocker from Louisiana Tech and Blaize Sagna from Stetson, both expected to provide valuable minutes off the bench.
However, the historical head-to-head record heavily favors Missouri, with SEMO having never won against the Tigers in nine all-time meetings. This advantage, combined with the Tigers’ home-court advantage and strong preseason projections, suggests that SEMO faces an uphill battle in this contest.
Missouri’s biggest challenge heading into this game is avoiding complacency and over-confidence, particularly given that they are playing at home. The coaching staff emphasizes the importance of starting strong and setting the tone early, to prevent the scrappy Redhawks from finding their rhythm. The Tigers’ head coach Dennis Gates has stressed the need for a fast start and quick execution to prevent SEMO from mounting any kind of comeback.
In their season opener against Howard, Missouri’s primary weakness was turnovers, committing 16 over the course of the game. Gates attributed this to first-game jitters and rust, noting that some players, including starting center Shawn Phillips Jr., had to learn how to better handle the ball and make smarter decisions on the court. Gates highlighted the need for players to improve their positioning and passing in the post, specifically mentioning that Phillips should work to be closer to the basket when receiving passes, rather than stepping away from the block. The coaching staff is focusing on fundamental skills such as playing from a triple-threat position to reduce turnovers and create better scoring opportunities.
The Redhawks are known for their gritty, scrappy style of play, which means Missouri must remain focused and avoid lapses in concentration. SEMO’s ability to fight back and keep games close, especially on the road, has been a hallmark of their recent success. Missouri