Nutt's 'best team' full of experience

Southeast Missouri head coach Dickey Nutt reacts during a game against Central Arkansas on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 at the Farris Center in Conway.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Southeast Missouri State Coach Dickey Nutt has heard from a lot of old friends the past few days.

"It's been over 100 calls, and the phone's still ringing," he said. "It's gotten to where I've just stopped answering it."

DICKEY NUTT AT A GLANCE

POSITION Men’s basketball coach

SCHOOL Southeast Missouri State

HOMETOWN Little Rock

HIGH SCHOOL Little Rock Central.

COLLEGE Oklahoma State.

AGE 55 (Born June 13, 1959)

FAMILY Wife Cathy, sons Logan and Lucas, daughter Lexis.

NOTEWORTHY Has a 261-283 record in 19 seasons as a head coach at Arkansas State and Southeast Missouri State, including 189-187 in 13 seasons at ASU. … Led ASU to the NCAA Tournament in 1999 with an 18-12 record. … Was at ASU for 21 seasons, including eight as an assistant coach. … Has a 72-96 record in six seasons at Southeast Missouri State.

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ARKANSAS MEN VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE

WHEN 7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE Verizon Arena, N. Little Rock

RECORDS Arkansas 7-2. Southeast Missouri State 5-5

SERIES Arkansas leads 7-1

RADIO Razorback Sports Network

TELEVISION SEC Network

TICKETS $25

Nutt, a Little Rock native, said the callers are asking about tickets to the Arkansas-Southeast Missouri State game Saturday night at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

"All my buddies want tickets to the game but, hey, I'm not that naive," Nutt said. "I know they're all wanting to come see the Hogs."

There will be at least a few fans at the game cheering for the Redhawks (5-5), who play in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Nutt said his mother, Imogene, will attend the game.

"Mom's doing great," Nutt said. "She's all systems go."

Nutt's brother, Houston, the former Arkansas football coach who lives in Plano, Texas, will be there as well. Another brother, Dennis Nutt, Ouachita Baptist's basketball coach, is hoping to make the game, while brother, Danny, an assistant football coach at Eastern Illinois, won't be able to attend.

All of the Nutt brothers starred in football and basketball at Little Rock Central.

"There's never a time when we go back to Little Rock that we don't drive by our old house on Rice Street and go by Little Rock Central," Dickey Nutt said. "We love Little Rock, and we love the state of Arkansas. It's always nice to come home and see all of our friends and people we grew up with. It's a special time.

"But reality is going to set in, because we do have to play the Hogs and they're very, very good."

The Redhawks have come a long way Nutt's six seasons, since he took over the program after being fired at Arkansas State to end a 13-year run that featured the program's only NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999.

Southeast Missouri State faced NCAA sanctions, the loss of a scholarship and recruiting restrictions, had a 19-game losing streak and was coming off a 3-27 record when Nutt was hired.

"I inherited a very tough situation," Nutt said. "We were on NCAA probation, and out of 345 Division I teams at the time we were 345th. We were the last team in America, so we had to do a lot of rebuilding."

The Redhawks improved their victory total in each of Nutt's first five seasons with 7, 10, 15, 17 and 18, and he's looking for more this season from a team picked in a preseason OVC poll to finish second behind Murray State in the West Division.

"I don't think there's any question this is our best team, and last year we were pretty good," Nutt said. "I feel like we have a little bit more experience, a little bit more talent.

"Sometimes your record can't get to where you want it to be, because on this level you play a lot of road games for the money. I understand that, and I'm fine with that."

Southeast Missouri State has six seniors, including 6-5 Jarekious Bradley, averaging 16.1 points per game, and 6-9 Nino Johnson, averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Junior point guard J.J. Thompson, a transfer from Houston, is averaging 4.0 assists. Senior 6-7 forward Aaron Adeoye, a transfer from Western Kentucky, is averaging 7.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, Auburn transfer Josh Langford, a 6-7 senior guard, is averaging 7.3 points.

Southeast Missouri State guard Marcus Wallace, a freshman from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, has played off the bench in all 10 games and is averaging 1.6 points and 1.1 rebounds.

"I think as a freshman, we all have to take our lumps and try to learn the level we're playing on, and Marcus certainly is going through that," Nutt said. "I'm really proud of Marcus and what he's been able to bring to us.

"He's got a good head on his shoulders. He's very crafty. He's very, very athletic. His speed and quickness are pretty special. He's a big part of the foundation of our team in the future."

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said he's impressed with the roster Nutt has put together.

"He's got a lot of older guys, and that helps you as you get your program established," Anderson said. "He's done a good job, a really good job.

"They won't be afraid. We've got our work cut out for us in this game."

The Redhawks fell short in an upset bid at Missouri, losing 65-61 after leading with less than four minutes left. Southeast Missouri hit 5 of 14 free throws.

"We didn't shoot free throws particularly well, and that's kind of been a sore spot with us," Nutt said. "We led the entire game, and it slipped away with a couple minutes to go."

After playing Arkansas, the Redhawks play a third SEC opponent Monday night when they face Ole Miss in Southaven, Miss.

"We go into these games with a good feeling," Nutt said. "We know this is an opportunity for us to play a great team on a big stage."

Sports on 12/19/2014