EXCITEMENT RIM HIGH; GARNER, INDIANS OPTIMISTIC FOR '98-99 SEASON

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians probably surprised some people last season by finishing with a winning record in their debut under head coach Gary Garner.

This year, however, a winning record might not come as a surprise. The Indians figure to be a solid team -- and perhaps even one that can contend for a finish among the elite of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Garner, while not wanting to build expectations too high, appeared to have some trouble containing his excitement during Tuesday's media day at the Show Me Center.

"We're going to have a good year, I don't think there's any question. It's just a matter of how good," said Garner. "We were close last year but we lost four overtime games. I think we'll get over the hump this year.

"We've got good players. Now it's just a matter of working hard, building chemistry and jelling. If we jell and everything meshes, then we could contend for an OVC championship. If the right things happen, we could be in the mix."

The Indians, 14-13 last season and a fifth-place 10-8 in the 10-team OVC, begin practice Saturday morning. There will be exhibition games at home Nov. 5 and Nov. 9 before the season opener Nov. 14 at home against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

"I'm ready for the season and our players are ready for the season," Garner said. "One thing I noticed when our players came back to school is they're just so much more focused and intense about the upcoming season."

Southeast returns five of its top seven scorers and rebounders from last year's team that won six of its final eight regular-season games.

Headlining the Indians is 6-foot-10, 250-pound senior center Bud Eley, who was projected as a second-round NBA draft pick but withdrew his name prior to the draft in order to play his final collegiate season.

Limited to 11 games last season because of foot injuries, Eley is already the 10th-leading scorer, eighth-leading rebounder and leading shot-blocker in Southeast history. He has averaged 17.1 points and 9.5 rebounds a game during his Southeast career.

"Having Bud back is really going to make a difference for us, particularly defensively," said Garner. "He blocks so many shots and he intimidates so many others."

Said Eley, "We've set some pretty high goals for ourselves this year. We hope to be contenders in the OVC."

Cory Johnson, a 6-foot senior guard, returns after averaging 14.5 points per game while ranking fifth nationally in 3-pointers per game. He earned second-team all-OVC honors as he set a school record with 95 3-pointers.

"We were close last year to having a real good team," said Johnson. "This year we're going to take that next step."

Two of the other top scorers from last season return. Kahn Cotton, a 5-10 senior guard, averaged 12.2 points per game while leading the team in assists and steals. Cotton has been bothered by knee problems but is hopeful of being able to start practice on time.

Demetrius Watson, a 6-4 senior forward, averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Another key player returning is 6-2 sophomore guard Nathan Owen, who made nine starts as a true freshman and averaged 5.3 points.

Rounding out the group of returnees is 6-2 sophomore walkon guard Matt Morris, who averaged 2.5 points while contributing valuable minutes off the bench.

One of the Indians' top players from last year, 6-8 David Montgomery, decided not to return for his senior season, which considerably hampers Southeast's frontcourt depth.

But some talented newcomers figure to ease the loss, led by Roderick Johnson, a 6-6 junior forward who practiced last season but was not eligible for games after transferring from Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Johnson, a strong rebounder, averaged 14 points and seven boards a game as a freshman at UW-Milwaukee as he earned second-team all-Mid Continent Conference honors.

Two junior-college transfers will be key additions up front, 6-8, 240-pound Brian Bunche at the center and power forward positions and 6-6 Mike Branson at small forward.

Bunche averaged 10 points at Southwest Missouri-West Plains while Branson averaged 18 points and earned second-team Division II juco All-American honors at Meramec in St. Louis.

"Losing David was a disappointment, but we still have some depth up front, just not as much," Garner said.

While Johnson, Cotton, Owen and Morris solidify the guard spots, plenty of more help has arrived.

Jeramy Biles, a former Charleston High all-stater, is now eligible after just practicing last season following his transfer from Saint Louis University. The 5-11 sophomore, a natural point guard, was a member of the Conference USA all-freshmen team two years ago.

Another guard newcomer is touted 6-foot freshman Fred Abraham out of New Jersey. He was nominated for the McDonald's All-American team while averaging 16 points and eight assists last year.

"I'm worried about Kahn's knees, but our depth at guard should be really good this year," said Garner.

Garner sees the Indians as being a more balanced offensive team this year -- they relied heavily on 3-pointers last season -- and also stronger on the defensive end.

"We should get up and down the floor more offensively and we probably wont's shoot as many 3's because our inside game will be better," he said. "I know we'll be better defensively by having Bud back. He makes such a big difference."

Added Garner with a laugh, "I better stop talking like this because it sounds like we're going to win the national championship."

Being a good team will probably do and Garner believes the Indians can accomplish that.

But how the good the Indians will be remains to be seen.