Gonner looks to upgrade his play

Dainmon Gonner's numbers indicate a solid rookie basketball season last year for Southeast Missouri State University -- but coach Gary Garner believes the best is still to come for his senior forward.

And Gonner couldn't have agreed more during Southeast's media day activities Tuesday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

"The game has come a lot slower for me this year, I can tell even during practice," Gonner said. "I'm looking for a big year, a lot better than last season."

Said Garner, whose squad opens the season Friday at Bradley: "I think Dainmon will really have a good year. He didn't have a bad year last season, but he's a senior and he understands the game better."

Gonner, a powerfully built 6-foot-6, 230-pounder from Fort Worth, Texas, by way of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, was Southeast's second-leading scorer and rebounder last year, averaging 12.3 points and 6.5 boards per game. He also tied for first in steals with 37, was third in assists with 46 and shot a solid 39 percent from 3-point range.

"Those are pretty good numbers, especially for his first year in Division I," Garner said.

But Gonner, who got off to an especially strong start in leading Southeast to a 7-4 non-conference record -- he scored 24 and 20 points during losses at SIU and Arkansas, and made the all-tournament team in Montana -- was disappointed with his play during Ohio Valley Conference games as Southeast finished 11-16 overall, including 4-12 in the OVC.

"I think I made some strides when I first got here, then I took a back seat in the conference," Gonner said. "I got in a little slump, and I broke down mentally and physically. It was all on me."

Gonner believes a move from the four position (power forward) to the three position (small forward) will serve to better highlight his talents. Even though Gonner is built more like a four and was recruited to play there, Garner said he and his staff discovered during the season that Goner's abilities suited the three spot.

"He has natural instincts on the court, he can put the ball on the floor, and he shoots the ball," Garner said. "We think he'll do a lot better at the three."

Said the good-natured Gonner with a grin, "Four 'aint bad, but three is a lot better for me. I can take it coast to coast and do a lot more things."

Gonner averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore to earn all-region honors at Hutchinson Community College, where he played not only with current Southeast senior forward Reggie Golson but also with younger brother Josh.

And Josh Gonner very nearly signed with Southeast last year before ultimately settling on South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference. The guard was the Gamecocks' second-leading scorer with 12 points per game as he helped lead them to a 23-10 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

"Josh almost came here," Gonner said. "I told him the day before he signed with South Carolina to just relax and do what you should do."

Added a smiling Gonner: "I know he was tired of playing in my shadow. It had been that way in high school and juco. But I know he misses me at the same time, and I miss him."

Gonner, one of five brothers, said he is close to all of his siblings, including one who is a football player at the University of North Texas and another who is a senior in high school and being recruited to play college football.

"We're all close," Gonner said. "We all talk to each other every day."

Gonner, a criminal justice major who would perhaps like to coach or work with youngsters some day -- "I'm good with kids," he said -- is scheduled to graduate in May. Before then he hopes to lead Southeast to a strong season despite the fact the squad is picked to again finish low in the OVC standings.

"I think we're going to shock a lot of people," he said.

And if that happens, it's likely that Gonner -- who averaged 17.5 points in Southeast's two exhibition games -- will be helping lead the charge.

"He's a big key for us, there's no doubt about it," Garner said.