INDIANS AND OTAHKIANS EARN DIVISION I SUCCESS

Several years ago, Southeast Missouri State University basketball was promoted as "the greatest show in town." While teams have come and gone in the time since, the long-dispatched slogan now seems more viable than ever. In their first year of Division I competition, the Indian and Otahkian basketball teams are proving they belong in the upper elevations of NCAA play. Along for the ride, the region is being treated to some exciting, audacious entertainment.

Even the most loyal Southeast basketball fans had resigned themselves to a difficult season. After years of success at the NCAA Division II level, including second-place finishes in the national tournament for both the men's and women's teams, the programs were primed for a jump to the top rung of competition. A year or two of adjustment seemed reasonable; patience was urged.

There are still rough spots ahead, but the Indians and Otahkians have acquitted themselves well against teams more accustomed to Division I play. In addition to winning a good share of games, both teams are playing a crowd-pleasing brand of basketball, impressing fans and foes with their resilience in the face of long odds.

The Indians begin a three-game road trip this weekend with a record below the .500 mark. However, the team appears to be finding its stride, having won six of its last 10 games and standing 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Two of the league wins electrified home crowds, including a last-second shot that downed Austin Peay and a 21-point comeback, sealed in the closing seconds, this week against conference-leading Eastern Kentucky. Southeast also played well and led in its two OVC losses, and took a Big 10 school into overtime before losing. Having witnessed his work for more than a decade, we continue to marvel at Coach Ron Shumate's gift for pushing the right buttons and aiming a group of young men from different backgrounds toward a common goal.

No less inspiring is the work done by Coach Ed Arnzen, whose Otahkians have a winning record in conference play and in their overall schedule. A buzzer-beating shot Saturday clinched a league win against Morehead State and typified the determined nature of the women's team. Although crowds are still smaller at Otahkian games than for their male counterparts, the team has developed a loyal following by playing interesting and winning basketball.

The university elevated its athletic programs to the Division I level for a variety of reasons that went beyond intercollegiate sports. The move fit perfectly with the university's commitment to seek excellence in every endeavor. Beyond that, however, the teams serve as a unifying force for this community; they provide a needed and low-cost winter diversion for this region and their games are fodder for day-after coffee shop talk and office discussion. It gives sports fans an identification. Above all, it's fun.

We are pleased with the success the Indians and Otahkians have earned so far. Don't be lulled by early success: This step to Division I is no effortless action and there are some frustrating days ahead. Our optimism is in place, however; there are also plenty of good days to come.