GARNER SETTLING INTO NEW POST

Through the first two weeks of practice, coach Gary Garner is generally pleased with how his first Southeast Missouri State University basketball team is coming along.

But Garner knows there is still so much work to be done prior to the two exhibition games on Nov. 10 and 14 and the season opener on Nov. 16.

"Overall, I'm pleased with the way the guys have been working," said Garner. "I think we can be more consistent with our intensity. We have had some good practices and some very poor practices. We're striving for consistency there."

As a new coach who is implementing a new system for his players, Garner realizes things will not happen overnight -- or even in just a few weeks.

"Any time you have a new coach and a new staff, a concern is putting our system in and how long is that going to take," he said. "I think our players are coming along with the system, but it's going to take time. But overall, our players have responded well."

Five scholarship players returned from last year's 12-8 team that finished tied for fifth in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference with a 9-9 record. The Indians also welcomed several newcomers who were signed by the previous coaching staff.

Even though Garner had basically not seen much of his players performing on the court, except on film, until starting practice two weeks ago, he said he and his staff have received no major surprises one way or the other.

"They're pretty much the way we thought they'd be," he said. "I don't think we've had any big surprises of any big disappointments."

Garner continues to emphasize that his major concern going into the season is a lack of depth up front. The Indians have only three scholarship players taller than 6-feet-5. They are 6-10 senior center Bud Eley, 6-8 junior forward David Montgomery and 6-7 senior forward Travis Smith.

"Those guys have to stay healthy for us," Garner said.

Constants for the Indians should be Eley and 6-4 senior small forward Calvert White, the squad's top two players last season. Eley averaged 17.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game a year ago while White contributed 13 points a contest.

"We're counting on a lot of leadership and production out of Bud and Calvert," said Garner.

Montgomery, who averaging 7.9 points per game last season, should be a solid contributor at power forward. Smith, primarily a reserve during his career at Southeast, will add depth up front.

Figuring to add quite a bit to the team at a variety of positions depending on the situation is 6-4 junior-college transfer Demetrius Watson, who plays somewhat like White in that he is impressive in slashing and driving to the basket.

"I am really pleased with Demetrius," said Garner. "He's an extremely hard worker, a very aggressive player and a good athlete. He's a good team player. He'll really help us."

In the backcourt, Garner is counting on 5-10 junior Kahn Cotton, who sat out last season after transferring from Idaho State, to direct the team from the point, with an assist from 5-11 senior Lakeo Keller, a returning player who has been somewhat slowed by a bad knee.

"Kahn has some talent. He's learning the system and struggling with it, but he's getting better every day," Garner said. "Lakeo still has a bad knee, but he's been practicing."

At the shooting guard spot, juco transfers Cory Johnson and DeWayne Saulsberry, a pair of 6-footers who came to Southeast with impressive 3-point credentials, are running neck and neck. Regardless of who starts, both should play a lot.

"They're both really practicing hard and they shoot the ball well," said Garner. "Right now it's really close competition, which is what you want."

The team's only true freshman, 6-2 Cape Girardeau Central High product Nathan Owen, should also figure on seeing considerable action, mainly backing up White at the small forward spot, said Garner.

"Nathan has been working extremely hard and he'll give us depth behind Cal," Garner said.