GARNER 'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC' ABOUT YEAR

Making his third appearance before the Jackson Rotary Club since taking over the reigns of the Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball program, Gary Garner sounded like anything but a rebuilding coach Tuesday.

Garner, whose teams have gone 14-13, 20-9 and 24-7 in three seasons, has taken the program to the Promised Land -- the suburbs of same, anyway. Last year's Indian squad won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time in school history. In Utah the Indians narrowly missed upsetting Louisiana State University in a nationally-televised game, falling 64-61.

While Southeast lost some talent to graduation, the Indians return six key seniors who leave Garner "cautiously optimistic" about the 2000-2001 season.

"These are six good guys," he told the Rotarians. "They come on the floor with one purpose -- to see a better team. Every drill they go 100 percent and everything they do they do as hard as they can do. It's almost like having another coach out there. The new guys come in and see the six seniors doing it and think that's the only way to do it."

Foremost among the six is point guard Michael Stokes, whom Garner considers his one indispensable player.

"If Michael goes down, I might as well turn it over to (County Clerk) Rodney Miller and stay home," Garner quipped.

"He's the one player we could not afford to lose," Garner said. "He's the engine that runs the team. He's also a great role model for the new guys."

Garner noted that the team has good depth at every position but point guard. If Stokes does not go down with an injury, though, Garner feels the Indians may not need depth there.

Garner is also excited about 6-10, 280-pound junior college transfer Terry Rogers. The Memphis native played at Mineral Area College last year and is considered a diamond in the rough.

"He really practices hard and has a tremendous attitude," Garner said. "He wants to learn, although he has a long way to go. By the end of the year he should have a big impact. It would be good for him if we could redshirt him, but we may need him at Nashville (in the OVC Tournament)."

Nyah Jones, a 6-11, 240-pound senior, also lends size and strength inside, while guards Joel Shelton of St. Louis Vashon High School and Kankakee Community College transfer Monte Gordon (6-5, 225) add versatility.

Two 1999-2000 redshirts will also step up for the Indians. Damarcus Hence (6-6, 180), "can jump better than just about anybody," in Garner's words, and Daniel Weaver (6-8, 220) also adds athleticism. Drew DeMond, a 6-7, 215-pound sophomore, meanwhile, is "really looking good" under the boards.

Garner said he is worried about the Indians' strong schedule. It includes the Mountain Energy Thanksgiving Tournament in Kansas City with Toledo (Southeast's first-round opponent), Auburn, Providence, UMKC and Robert Morse and the Sierra providence Sun Classic Tournament Dec. 27-28 at Texas-El Paso, in which the tribe opens with the University of Houston.

While the schedule has a few MIAA breathers, it also features big challenges in Southwest Missouri (here, Dec. 16) and Carbondale (here, Dec. 5).

"It's the kind of schedule you want when you have six seniors," Garner said. "It's challenging for us."

That schedule gets underway Nov. 4, when Southeast hosts an exhibition game against Team Reebok of St. Louis, at 7 p.m. Another exhibition, Nov. 11 against Dreambuilders will follower. The first actual game will be at the Show Me Center on Nov. 17, when the Indians host Truman State in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Garner believes the Indians ranked third in the pre-season OVC coaches' poll will be in contention for the conference title. He agrees with the top two poll picks, Austin Peay and Murray State. He would put Tennessee Tech (fourth in the poll) ahead of Southeast, though, but noted "I think we've got a shot."

Garner then answered questions from the crowd. One was about graduation rates. Garner said that Southeast's have been high -- especially considering that three of last year's stars who still intend to get their degrees are playing professionally in Europe. (Brian Bunche and Mike Branson in Holland and Roderick Johnson in Poland).

He also answered questions about his coaching staff. Chris Lowery, 28, will replace Anthony Beane as an assistant. Lowery had been an assistant at Division II power Missouri Southern. Tom Shuberth is in his fourth season, as is Keno Davis, a part-timer on the pay school, whom Garner said puts in full-time work.

"I have a really good staff," he said. "It's fun to go to the office every day. Those guys make you look good."

He said that Beane, a Bernie, Mo., native and Three Rivers graduate before starring at Kansas State, hated to leave Southeast. Garner said that Beane, who is married and has two children, was offered a much higher salary at Illinois College.

Garner, who was approached by the University of Wyoming last spring, left his audience with a quip related to the salary issue.

"I love Cape Girardeau, too," he said, "but if the Lakers offered me $5 million today, you ought to see how quick I'm out of here!"