HOOP SCOOP: BIG WEEK PUTS INDIANS AT TOP OF LEAGUE RACE

It has been an outstanding week for the Southeast Missouri State Indians since my last article. We won three games and are now 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which puts us in a three-way tie for first place.

The effort has been good and some of our goals both offensively and defensively are beginning to surface. The things that hurt us early in the pre-conference schedule are beginning to come around.

Our shooting percentages from the field and 3-point shooting have improved dramatically. We still need to get to a solid 70 percent from the free-throw line in every game. I have always said that free throws don't win the games, but they win all the close ones. Believe it or not, we do work very hard on our free throws.

The players are getting to know each other better and you can see their confidence level with each other elevating. It has been a solid team effort this year, with a different player coming in to help us.

Reggie Crisp really has stepped up his game and has become an important part of this team. Lakeo Keller is not 100 percent at present, but he has given us a new dimension on both ends of the court. Richard Lyte feels more comfortable with our system and is playing well at this time. His last three games have been excellent.

Calvert White is improving each minute on the court and has become prime time for us. Bud Eley's game is coming along and is a key to our success. Allen Hatchett is steady as can be and keeps getting better.

David Montgomery has finally shown us the skills that I said he had coming into the season. We need Devron Kirksey to pick up the game which we all know he has to help this club. I have confidence in Devron and I know he will produce.

I want to thank all the fans who braved the cold and showed support for us these last three home games. I realize that it wasn't the best atmosphere getting to and from the games. Our guys really appreciate your support.

Now it's back on the road to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday and Tennessee Tech on Monday, which are two critical games for us in the conference. Both teams are very talented and provide us with a tremendous challenge.

Middle is very solid and shows very few weaknesses while Tech is big and strong and provides a big obstacle for us in 7-2 Lorenzo Coleman in the middle. With wins over Tennessee and Northwestern earlier in the season, Tech is playing with a lot of confidence.

A good week of practice and a break from playing every other night should help us. Our preparation this week should be a key. It has been difficult to prepare playing three nights a week. We need to play well in Volunteer country this weekend.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement. Our kids will do their best to make you proud of us.

In closing, I would like to say that it is nice to be back on a level playing field with these guys.

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