BASKETBALL: PUBLICATIONS TAB SE FOR 3RD IN OVC

Five different preseason publications have picked Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Considering that the Indians lost their entire starting front line from last year, Southeast coach Gary Garner said during media day Thursday that he's a bit surprised his squad wasn't picked to finish lower.

"I'm kind of surprised we were picked that high," he said. "We lost our entire front line and most of our scoring and rebounding."

In the next sentence, however, Garner -- while acknowledging that front line play will likely hold the key to the Indians' season -- said, "I think our front line will be fine. I think we'll make a strong run at the (OVC) championship."

While the five publications -- Athlon, Dick Vitale's ESPN Preview, Sports College basketball preview, Street & Smith's and The Sporting News -- agree as to where they think the Indians will finish, the top two spots are split between Murray State and Austin Peay.

Athlon, Street & Smith's and The Sporting News all pick Austin Peay first and Murray State second, with Vitale's and Sports College ranking the Racers first and the Govs second.

Southeast and Murray State tied for the OVC regular-season title last year, with the Indians winning the league tournament.

Murray State's title hopes will no doubt be affected by the future status of senior guard Ray Cunningham, who was recently suspended from the team after being arrested on charges of burglary, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment. Cunningham averaged 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds last year.

* The Indians will redshirt three players this season, including freshman guard Derek Winans, who had a record-setting career at Shawnee (Ill.) High School.

Forward Joe Webb, an NCAA partial qualifier from Kansas City, Kan., is not eligible while point guard Bobby Smith, a Villanova transfer, must sit out under NCAA transfer rules.

All three players will be able to practice with the team.

* Southeast will have no midnight madness this year, but the Indians will still be on public display just a couple of weeks after official practice begins.

Because the opening day of practice Oct. 14 happens to be during Southeast's fall break and all students will be off campus, school officials decided not to have a midnight madness session late on Oct. 13, even though last year's affair was a big hit with fans.

Instead, the Indians will host a Red vs. Black scrimmage at the Sow Me Center Oct. 28. There will be contests, giveaways, a 3-point contest, a dunk contest and a scrimmage.

* The Indians have three games scheduled for television, including a national broadcast on Jan. 6 when ESPN televises the contest at Austin Peay.

Other TV games are Southwest Missouri State at home on Dec. 16 (KFVS) and Austin Peay at home on Feb. 1 (Fox Sports South).

* Southeast will have 14 regular-season games at the Show Me Center, with an attractive non-conference home schedule topped by contests with Southern Illinois and Southwest Missouri, who are expected to be two of the Missouri Valley Conference's top teams.

The Indians will compete in two regular-season tournaments on the road, an eight-team event at Missouri-Kansas City and a four-teamer at Texas-El Paso.