Redhawks

SE Missouri St. Redhawks

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
Past Conferences: Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association
City: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Arena: Show Me Center

Championships:

NCAA Tournaments: 1 (2000)
National Championships – 0
Conference Titles – 1 (2000)

Team History
Southeast Missouri State began playing basketball in the 1926-27 season and to say the team started slowly would be an understatement. The Redhawks were 8-59 during its first five seasons. SEMO has several solid seasons in the 1930s but jumped from nowhere to capture the NAIA championship in 1943. The Redhawks were solid the next three seasons, going a combined 37-9, but couldn’t reach their previous level.

The Redhawks had some ups and downs over the next 15 seasons but by the time the 1960s rolled around, Southeast Missouri was becoming a Division II power, advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament four straight seasons between 1961-1964. After a few down seasons, the Redhawks started clicking once again, making the Division II Tournament nine times between 1979-1990. SEMO reached the title game twice, but came up short both times.

Southeast Missouri State made the jump to Division I for the 1991-92 season and after a bit of a slow start, posted a 20-9 record in 1998-99 and were even better the following season, winning the Ohio Valley regular season title and conference tournament. That sent the Redhawks to their first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. That was also the last time Southeast Missouri competed in the postseason.

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks All-Time Records

Points Scored

Carl Ritter, 1,916
Jewell Crawford, 1,862
Bill Giessing, 1,686

Rebounds

Bud Eley, 955
John Sanchez, 839
Kermit Meystedt, 834

Assists

Lucas Nutt, 610
Dwayne Rutherford, 541
Michael Morris, 478

SE Missouri St. Redhawks FAQs

Why is Southeast Missouri State’s nickname the Redhawks?

Southeast Missouri State was known as the Indians for nearly 80 years and Chief Sagamore was the official mascot. Chief Sagamore was retired in the 1980s when after the backlash against Native American mascots. The name “Indians” remained until 2004, when the name was officially retired and replaced with “Redhawks,” after the board of regents voted on the new name.

Have any SEMO players ever been drafted?

The Redhawks have had three players drafted by NBA teams, although none of them have been taken higher than the fourth round. Larry Rogers, who transferred to Houston from Southeast Missouri State, was taken No. 71 overall in the 1979 draft by the New York Knicks.

Has Southeast Missouri State ever beaten a ranked team?

The Redhawks have played ranked teams 17 times over the years and are still looking for their first victory over one. Most of the 17 defeats have been lopsided, with the team’s 64-61 loss to No. 10 LSU in the 2000 NCAA Tournament the closest of the 17 losses.