Garner expects more help for Arkansas Tech

~ The Redhawks should have 10 players available for the final exhibition contest.

After using only eight players during its exhibition opener, Southeast Missouri State's men's basketball team should be back at close to full strength when the Redhawks' finish their two-game exhibition schedule.

The Redhawks, who beat Missouri-St. Louis 89-76 Friday night, host Arkansas Tech -- another Division II program -- at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Junior college transfer guard David Johnson and freshman guard Eric Jones did not play against UMSL because of thumb and leg injuries, respectively.

Southeast coach Gary Garner said both are expected back to practice this week and he plans on both seeing action Saturday night.

"We'll be disappointed if both don't play," Garner said.

Johnson and Jones, who can each play guard or small forward, are regarded as Southeast's most athletic players. Garner expects both to make solid impacts this season, particularly defensively.

"They are our two best athletes," Garner said. "They are guys who are capable of making a big play because of their athleticism, especially defensively."

Although he played against UMSL and had 11 assists, sophomore point guard Paul Paradoski suffered a broken nose in practice the day before the game.

Garner said Paradoski is scheduled to see a doctor today, and if the nose has to be re-set -- which is likely -- then Paradoski's status for Saturday could be affected.

Junior college transfer forward John Chappell, Southeast's third eligible scholarship player who did not see action Friday night, should also play against Arkansas Tech.

Garner held Chappell out of the exhibition opener and the Oct. 29 intrasquad scrimmage as a disciplinary measure for missing several classes.

Garner said he will also discipline Chappell after his arrest last week for failure to appear for speeding, a seat-belt violation, a suspended operator's license and no insurance, although the actual disciplinary measure probably won't be made public.

"The reason he wasn't playing [against UMSL] had nothing to do with that [the traffic violations]," Garner said. "No question, the kid made a mistake, and I would have hoped he had shown more responsibility toward himself and our basketball program.

"He will be disciplined, but it will be handled in-house."

Added Garner, "I certainly don't consider him a criminal, but hopefully he'll learn from this."