CANDIDATE NO. 1; FORT HAYS' GARNER: `THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL HERE'

Potential.

That's a word Gary Garner focused on several times Monday as he met the media during his visit to Southeast Missouri State University.

Garner, one of four finalists for the vacant position of head men's basketball coach, was the first finalist to visit the Southeast campus this week.

Purdue assistant Bruce Weber will visit today, followed by Iowa State assistant Sam Weaver on Wednesday and Missouri assistant Kim Anderson on Friday.

Southeast is expected to name a replacement for Ron Shumate some time next week. Shumate was dismissed earlier this month amid an ongoing NCAA investigation, a subject that Garner also touched on.

"It's an honor to be considered as one of the finalists," said Garner, the head coach at Division II Fort Hays (Kan.) State. "I've done as much research as I can and there is great potential here."

Garner cited the sparkling Show Me Center and Cape Girardeau's geographic location -- the city is close to major metropolitan areas St. Louis and Memphis -- as some of the factors that fill the Southeast job with potential.

Regarding that potential as it relates to the current NCAA investigation that could lead to some sanctions being placed on the basketball program, Garner said, "I would prefer not to have probation, but if it happens, you don't want to just get through it, you want to make progress.

"I understand there is a chance of (NCAA) probation and maybe a good chance. But the excitement that can be generated, even if you have to go through some lean years, is tremendous. I think you can just win, win, win here."

Garner, 53, has done his share of winning over the years, compiling a 138-44 record in six seasons at Fort Hays State, which captured the 1995-96 Division II national championship with a 34-0 mark.

A native of West Plains and a former second-team All-Big Eight player at Missouri, Garner has been an assistant coach at Missouri and Tulsa and a head coach at Missouri Southern, Drake and Fort Hays.

At Division I Drake, Garner went 95-104 from 1981-88 to become the third-winningest coach in the 90-year history of that school's basketball program. He went 50-39 during his last three seasons at Drake and still stands as the last coach to lead the Bulldogs to a winning record and the last coach to lead them to a postseason appearance (NIT).

Garner was dismissed as Drake's coach when a new administration came on board. The school's basketball program has floundered ever since.

Garner said his teams have typically played an up-tempo offensive style and a pressurized, man-to-man defense.

"All fans like to see a fast-paced game. We'll try to break whenever possible. My team averaged 92 points two years ago and 84 points last season," he said. "But most coaches would tell you that I've always had very good defensive teams. We score a lot with our defense."

While naturally interested in what happens on the court, Garner said he also pays strict attention to his team's academic progress.

"I feel very strong about the classroom setting, as most coaches do," he said. "We have several rules (at Fort Hays), one being if you miss a class -- any class -- you have a six-mile run in the morning. Another is the players must sit in the front row in class. I feel like that makes a difference."

Bringing up potential again, Garner said he sees no reason why the Indians can't be an Ohio Valley Conference power and also eventually make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

"I think Southeast can be at the top of the OVC and compete for the title every year," he said. As for the NCAA tourney, "If you just set the goal of getting there each year, that can be a mistake. You need to set your goals higher than that.

"I bring up Indiana State and Larry Bird (Bird led the unheralded Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA title game). Why can't that happen here?"