College hoops is wonderful time of year

dwilson

It's the most wonderful time of the year. We're only 18 days away and counting from the tip-off of the college basketball season.

Here goes nothing.

There is no doubt the Indians are frustrated with last season and they are eager to step onto the hardwood and erase any doubt about this season. There is also little doubt that the Indians' don't have an abundance of talent this year either.

The strongest thing going for the team is experience. The Indians have four players you could call starters returning and the only hole will be filled by one of two junior-college transfers.

It doesn't matter how much experience you have it will never account for lack of talent. But the Indians are a much better team. That's why many of the experts are picking the Indians in the middle of the OVC pack this year, which would be an improvement on last year's finish.

Both Southeast team's make their debuts with exhibition games later in the week ahead:

Thursday

Central wraps up its football season and a district crown with a win over Poplar Bluff. Although the Mules are down this year they have been stubborn for the Tigers in the past. Poplar Bluff holds a seven-game winning streak over the Tigers. 7 p.m.

Friday

B. J. Smith makes his Southeast coaching debut in an exhibition game against Goldstar. Perhaps coach Smith is climbing a little too high on the expectation totem pole. Can the Otahks really win make it to the big dance this year? Good luck B. J. -- you're gonna need it because this isn't junior college anymore. 7 p.m.

Speaking of exhibition, Mizzou hosts its second preseason game against the Midwest All-stars. Missouri is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25, perhaps a little high. But the Tigers are led this year by high-flyer Ricky Paulding (a preseason Wooden Award candidate) and they have the nucleus to make another strong run in March.

Saturday

The Indians play their first tune-up game against Missouri-Rolla. No one's expecting much from this game, just your usual Indian exhibition romp. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Why not make a weekend out of it? Missouri basketball Friday night and football Saturday morning. The nation's leading rusher, Chris Brown, brings his Colorado Buffalos to Columbia at 11:30 a.m.

Then on your way home stop at the Savvis Center to salute Bernie Federko. The former Blue is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today and the Blues will be honoring him. Federko amassed many respectable accolades in his career including scoring 1,130 points in 1000 games. Coincidentally, the Blues are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Hall of Fame is in Toronto. Weird.

Down the road

Continuing with the college basketball theme: the Indians' first regular- season game is Nov. 22 at Arkansas State.

David Wilson is a junior at Central High School. His column appears each Monday.