HOOP SCOOP: AFTER TOUGH WEEK, SEMO EYES CRUCIAL HOME GAMES

This past week was a tough one for the Southeast Indians. All three games were winnable, but we just kept coming up short at the end.

Tennessee Tech got us by four, Murray State by two and Eastern Illinois gave us a home conference loss by four. Three losses, all by four points or less. As the old saying goes, they were good games, but no cigar.

Presently we need to regroup and prepare ourselves for the second half of the conference schedule. There is no time to look back. Moving forward is the only solution. We have to learn from our mistakes and get better as a team. It is important that we get maximum effort from each of our players. We need maximum effort for 40 minutes each and every remaining game.

As the mid-point of the OVC season, the league title and all positions are certainly up for grabs. At 5-4, we are in fourth place, just two losses behind Eastern Illinois and only one loss behind Austin Peay and Murray State. The good thing is that we will play all of these teams again. We can't look for someone else to beat these teams, we have the opportunity to take care of our own business.

We begin the second half with Tennessee State visiting the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. game on Saturday that will be televised by KBSI-Fox 23. Tennessee State currently has a four-game winning streak and is playing as well as anybody in the OVC. They will come in full of confidence and may regain the services of all-OVC performer Monty Wilson, who has missed all of the conference season with a broken foot. He is an outstanding talent.

We were able to beat Tennessee State at their place earlier this year 71-53, but since that time their young but talented team has really come together. They have good scoring balance and will present a real challenge for us.

Austin Peay visits us on Monday night with the premier player in the conference in All-American candidate Bubba Wells. The Governors have been on fire since Bubba's return from an injury. I am sure our fans will enjoy watching this young man perform. He averages 32.5 points per game, which is tops in NCAA Division I.

Wells made his season debut against us earlier this year and fired in 39 points as Austin Peay won 96-85. Bud Eley also had a big night in that contest, scoring 31 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Austin Peay is 7-3 in the conference going into a big game at Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon. The Governors could be in first place when they arrive at the Show Me Center Monday night.

It all shapes up for some great excitement and great basketball at the Show Me Center. The OVC title is still up for grabs, but we must put together a winning streak that begins with the three straight home games ahead of us.

After going through the conference one time, there is a lot of parity. I think any team can win on any night, at home or away. I still feel like Austin Peay is the favorite, but Eastern Illinois is playing well and seems to find a way to win.

We had a great crowd last Saturday for the Eastern Illinois game. I hope everyone will be back this Saturday and bring a friend. We need all the help we can get.

Ron Shumate is the head basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University