FROM ALL INDICATIONS, SEMO BASKETBALL TEAM HAS GREAT SEASON AHEAD

The Southeast Missouri State University Indians are in the midst of a well-deserved Christmas break.

At 4-4, the Indians' record isn't particularly impressive, but then early-season records rarely tell much about a team.

The 1994-95 version of the Indians likely is arguably the best team Coach Ron Shumate has put on the hardcourts since Southeast moved to Division I in 1991.

After winning their season opener against Drury College, the Indians were impressive in wins over Fairfield and Maine en route to their first-place finish in the River City Classic at the Show Me Center.

Following the River City Classic, the Indians had to travel to Columbia to face the University of Missouri, last year's Big Eight champion. The Indians kept it close but lost 84-77.

Southeast then won its first road game, beating the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a team with a poor record but a rough schedule.

Then it was back to the Show Me Center to take on their neighbors to the east, the Southern Illinois Salukis. The hard-fought game was won by SIU on a last-second bucket, but there was little time for the Indians to lick their wounds as they took on a talented Colorado State team. After starting flat, the Indians made it close in the second half before the Rams pulled away to win 90-70.

Things didn't get any easier as Southeast faced Florida State in Tallahassee. The game turned out to be an early Christmas present for the Seminoles, who beat the Indians 100-75.

Despite the .500 record, few Southeast fans have been disappointed by the Indians' play. Not blessed with a wealth of skilled players by Division I standards, the Indians play a brand of basketball fitting a Ron Shumate club. With a swarming, tenacious defense and a never-say-die attitude, the Indians seem unintimidated, regardless of the opponent. If their play thus far is any indication, Southeast will compete well in the OVC.

Regardless, the team is moving in the right direction. After making the difficult move to Division I, Shumate has found it more difficult to recruit for an unfledged Division I team than it was to entice good players for an established Division II program, where many great athletes with marginal grades chose to compete.

The cream of the top NCAA talent crop tends to go to already established programs -- schools like Missouri and last year's Missouri Valley Conference champion, SIU -- rather than to Cape Girardeau. The lack of raw talent on this Southeast squad sometimes is painfully evident, but at other times, particularly when Southeast plays its characteristic style of disciplined, blue-collar basketball, the Indians look good enough to take on almost anyone in the NCAA.

That not only is a testament to good coaching, but speaks volumes about the young men who array themselves in red and black and step on the court for Southeast. It also says something about tradition and Cape Girardeau is tradition-rich when it comes to basketball.

Southeast fans, some of the most consistently loyal anywhere, can expect to be treated to some of the best basketball around when the Indians return for 1995 and confront the OVC.

The team's showing prior to the Christmas break prompts optimism for the remainder of the season.