ELEY CONTINUES CLIMB UP SOUTHEAST'S RECORDS CHART (SEMO NOTES)

Southeast Missouri State University senior center Bud Eley continues to climb the school's career records chart as he continues to stamp himself as one of the Indians' all-time greatest basketball players.

But Eley, a fifth-year senior who has been around the Southeast program longer than any current Indian, says he doesn't really concern himself with statistics.

His main focus in his final collegiate season is to help the Indians have a big year. And so far they appear to be on track for that, with a 6-2 overall record and a 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference mark that has them in first place.

Southeast's overall and conference records mark the Indians' best start in each category since the school made the move to NCAA Division I and the OVC eight years ago.

"I just want us to have a really good season this year and I think we can do that," said the 6-foot-10, 260-pound Eley. "The statistics and records are nice, but I'm really not worried about that. I just want to help the team."

Southeast coach Gary Garner has appreciated that type of attitude from Eley ever since preseason practice opened in October. That's one of the main reasons he named his big center as the Indians' captain.

"I just can't say enough about the job Bud is doing and the way he's playing," said Garner. "He has just showed great leadership from the start of practice, which is why I made him captain.

"Bud can score, but where he really helps this team is with redounding and defense. He's so intimidating in there for the other team."

By scoring 17 points during Thursday's 78-58 win over Eastern Kentucky, Eley has moved into fourth place on Southeast's all-time scoring list with 1,284 points. He would probably need to average more than 20 points per game the rest of the season to have a chance at catching third-place Bill Giessing (1,686 career points).

Eley, with 707 rebounds after grabbing 10 Thursday, is eighth in that category on the school's career list. And, with 18 games left in the regular season along with some possible postseason contests, Eley stands a good chance of ending his career as Southeast's all-time rebounding leader. John Sanchez is first on the list with 839.

Eley was already the school's all-time leader in blocked shots when the season began. His six blocks Thursday give him 123 for his career.

For the season, Eley is averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

"Bud is having an outstanding season," Garner said. "He could be scoring more, but that's not what we need him to do for us to be successful. And Bud really wants us to be successful."

At least one NBA scout has been at virtually every Southeast game this season to check out the Indians' star. Eley was projected as a possible second-round NBA draft pick this year but he elected to return to Southeast for his senior season.

And, with the current NBA lockout -- along with the success the Indians are enjoying -- Eley believes he made a wise decision.

"I knew there were a lot of things I needed to work on and I wanted us to have a good year," he said. "I'm definitely glad I came back."

* Southeast is ranked 72nd out of 315 Division I teams in the most recent Sagarin Ratings, a complex formula where strength of schedule plays a major factor.

It marks the Indians' highest-ever Sagarin ranking. Southeast, which has already faced the likes of Bradley, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Austin Peay and Tennessee State, has so far played the 55th-toughest schedule in the nation according to Sagarin.

Murray State is ranked fourth in the Sagarin poll.

Of course, the poll will likely change quite a bit as many of the nation's bigger programs get into the meat of their schedules.

* After starting the season a bit slow from the free-throw line -- the Indians were only 2-for-8 in the closing moments of a two-point loss at Bradley -- Southeast has lately been on fire from the charity stripe.

By hitting 12 of 13 against Eastern Kentucky, the Indians are now shooting 71 percent as a team from the line (123 of 173).

Cory Johnson is a perfect 20-for-20 while Kahn Cotton (20-for-23, 87 percent), Roderick Johnson (28-for-36, 78 percent) and Eley (20-for-27, 74 percent) are also faring extremely well from the line.

"Our free-throw shooting has really been good," Garner said. "It's one of the big reasons we were able to beat both Austin Peay and Arkansas State. We were able to hit our free throws late to hold on."

* Four players are averaging in double figures for the Indians, led by Eley.

Next are R. Johnson (12.4 ppg), C. Johnson (11.0) and Mike Branson (10.6).

* The Indians won't play again until Dec. 22, when they hit the road to take on highly-regarded Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.

Other 1998 games left for the Indians are Dec. 28 against Southern Illinois in St. Louis and Dec. 30 at highly-touted Oklahoma State.

Southeast won't play another OVC game until Jan. 4, when Morehead State comes to Cape Girardeau.