BASKETBALL: GARNER CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ON ENCORE

When your team from last year won 24 games, made the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time, very nearly upset LSU in that tourney -- and lost only three players total -- it's hard for your fans not to be overcome with euphoria for the new season.

But Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner is trying his best to keep expectations from getting too far out of hand.

Garner correctly pointed out during the Indians' media day activities at the Show Me Center Thursday that his squad must replace its entire starting front line that consisted of: leading scorer and rebounder Roderick Johnson; third-leading scorer Mike Branson; and second-leading rebounder and inspirational leader Brian Bunche.

"You have to be careful, coming off last year, because everybody's confidence level is so high," said Garner. "We only lost three players, but they did so much for our team, not only from a production standpoint, but as much as anything, with the leadership they gave us."

Garner, however, acknowledged that the Indians do appear to have sufficient talent for another big season -- and to once again seriously contend for the Ohio Valley Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"We've got a lot of returning players, and six seniors, who will be a big part of our basketball team," said Garner, the Indians' fourth-year coach who has led Southeast to consecutive 20-win seasons and its first OVC regular-season and tourney titles last year. "I just feel really good about our chances to compete for the OVC championship."

Garner, whose squad went 24-7 a year ago, feels particularly good about his six seniors five of them were key performers last season.

"The thing I'm most excited about, more than anything, about the coming season is the six seniors we have returning," said Garner, whose squad begins official practice Oct. 14, the first day allowed under NCAA rules. "If you don't get leadership from within, it will probably be a long year. I know we'll get great leadership from those seniors."

Two of the seniors are the Indians' only returning full-time starters, point guard Michael Stokes and shooting guard Antonio Short, who have been mentioned by at least one national publication as forming the OVC's best backcourt.

Stokes, a smooth and extremely quick 6-footer, was the Indians' second-leading scorer last year at 12.9 points per game. He led the squad in 3-point shooting (42.7 percent) and assists (4.2 per game).

The 6-2 Short, like Stokes a member of the OVC all-tournament team, was hampered by injuries that forced him to miss several games, but he came on late in the season to finish as the team's fourth-leading scorer at 8.5 points per contest. He averaged 12.7 points over the season's final six games.

"I think Stokes and Short are two of the best guards in the league," Garner said.

Said Stokes, "Last year was a great experience. This year, we're looking for nothing less. We're looking forward to going back to the NCAA Tournament."

Another senior shooting guard, 6-1 Amory Sanders, started nine games when Short was out. He averaged 5.6 points.

"Our guards will definitely be the strength of our team, with Stokes, Short and Sanders," said Garner.

Two more seniors are likely to be in the starting lineup: 6-4 small forward Emmanuel McCuthison (5.0 ppg), who can also play guard; and 6-11 center Nyah Jones (5.5 ppg), who has put on about 20 pounds since last season. Now weighing 240, Jones figures to be a force inside.

"Nyah has really worked hard and I look for him to have a big senior season," Garner said. "And Emmanuel looks good."

The final senior is 6-2 walkon guard Matt Morris (1.9 ppg), who has been a valuable role player during his Southeast career.

Two other returning players from last year are 6-7 sophomore forwards Drew DeMond (1.3 ppg, 26 blocks), who was a key defensive specialist as a redshirt freshman, and Tim Scheer (1.5 ppg), who played sparingly as a true freshman.

Two more players who were in the program last year but did not participate in games will battle for playing time: 6-8 sophomore forward Daniel Weaver, who sat out after transferring from Memphis; and 6-6 freshman forward Demarcus Hence, who redshirted.

Garner will be counting heavily on three newcomers, led by two junior-college products: 6-5 forward Monte Gordon, who averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds at Kankakee, Ill.; and 6-10, 280-pound center Terry Rogers, who averaged seven points and five rebounds at Mineral Area, Mo.

Gordon figures to compete with several players for the starting power forward spot while the powerful Rogers is expected to be a key backup to Jones.

The final newcomer is 5-9 freshman point guard Joel Shelton, named Missouri player of the year after averaging 23 points for Class 4A state champion Vashon. Shelton is being counted on to back up Stokes.

"I like our new guys," said Garner.

And the coach is fond of his fourth Southeast squad in general.

"I really like our team," he said. "I'm so anxious for practice to start."

SEMO BASKETBALL

2000-2001 Schedule

(Home games in capital letters)

Nov. 4 -- TEAM REEBOK (exhibition), 7 p.m.

Nov. 11 -- DREAMBUILDERS (exhibition), 7 p.m.

Nov. 17 -- TRUMAN STATE, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 -- MISSOURI-ROLLA, 7 p.m.

Nov. 24 -- vs. Toledo, at Missouri-Kansas City Tournament, noon

Nov. 25 -- at Missouri-Kansas City Tournament, TBD

Nov. 26 -- at Missouri-Kansas City Tournament, TBD

Nov. 29 --at Mississippi Valley State, 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 -- SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 -- TENNESSEE TECH, 8 p.m.

Dec. 16 -- SOUTHWEST MISSOURI, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 -- CAMPBELL, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 -- vs. Houston, at Texas-El Paso Tournament, 8 p.m.

Dec. 28 -- at Texas-El Paso Tournament, TBD

Jan. 4 -- at Tennessee State, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 -- at Austin Peay, 11 a.m.

Jan. 11 -- MURRAY STATE, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 -- TENNESSEE-MARTIN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 -- at Eastern Illinois, 7:10 p.m.

Jan. 22 -- at Morris Brown, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 -- at Morehead State, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 -- at Eastern Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 -- AUSTIN PEAY, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3 -- TENNESSEE STATE, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 -- at Tennessee Tech, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 --at Murray State, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10 -- at Tennessee-Martin, 6 p.m.

Feb. 14 -- MORRIS BROWN, 7 p.m.

Feb. 17 --EASTERN ILLINOIS, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 -- EASTERN KENTUCKY, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 24 -- MOREHEAD STATE, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 -- OVC Tournament, first-round (campus sites)

March 2 -- OVC Tournament, semifinals (Nashville, Tenn.)

March 3 -- OVC Tournament, championship (Nashville, Tenn.)