INDIAN SCHEDULE SAYS ROCKY START; SE OPENS TONIGHT WITH COLORADO

Ready or not, it's time to start playing basketball games that count.

That's the situation Southeast Missouri State University's Indians find themselves in today as they prepare to meet Big 12 Conference member Colorado in the season opener for both teams.

Tonight's tipoff at the Coors Event Center in Boulder, Colo., is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST. It will be the first meeting ever between the two teams.

The Indians and first-year head coach Gary Garner are already 2-0 `unofficially,' having beaten Dream Builders and Albacomp of Hungary in two exhibition games during the past week.

But the `official' beginning of the Garner era at Southeast will begin tonight when the games start counting on the record.

"Colorado has very good athletes. They're strong and quick and they'll be very physical," said Garner. "We're anxious to go out there and play. It's only one game out of 26. It's going to be very tough for us, but we're going out there to win."

Even though Colorado doesn't appear to be nearly the team it was last season, the Buffaloes still figure to be heavy favorites over the Indians, which is generally the case whenever a major program takes on a lower-level program on its home court.

A year ago the Buffs were one of the country's biggest surprises. After being a perennial Big 8 Conference doormat for a number of years, CU broke through in a big way last season, going 22-10 and finishing second in the Big 12 Conference.

Ricardo Patton, in his first full season as the Buffs' coach last year, led CU into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1969 and the team made its presence felt by routing Indiana in a first-round game.

But gone from that squad are its top three scorers, including NBA lottery pick Chauncey Billups. A solid nucleus of players returned from last season, but none averaged more than seven points a game.

CU's starting lineup tonight will feature three returning players and two junior-college transfers.

Ronnie DeGray, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, was CU's fourth-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder last year when he averaged seven points and five rebounds per game.

Charlie Melvin, a 6-10 senior center, averaged 6.1 points a contest last season while 6-6 sophomore forward Will Smith contributed 4.9 points per game.

The Buffs' backcourt will feature a pair of junior newcomers who came in with impressive juco credentials, 6-4 Kenny Price and 5-11 Dwight Jones.

"The guys are real excited to start the season," said Patton. "They have worked extremely hard to get ready."

Like CU, Southeast will start three returning regulars up front and a new backcourt tonight.

Bud Eley, a 6-foot-10 senior center, led last year's 12-18 squad in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Calvert White, a 6-4 senior forward, was next in scoring at 13 points a contest while 6-8 junior forward David Montgomery contributed 7.9 points per game, fourth-best on last year's team.

Southeast's backcourt will feature 5-10 junior Kahn Cotton at the point and 6-foot junior Cory Johnson. Cotton sat out least season but practiced with the Indians after transferring from Idaho State while Johnson transferred in from Three Rivers Community College.

Also figuring to see plenty of playing time are Southeast's other four healthy scholarship players: 6-7 senior forward Travis Smith, 6-4 junior forward Demetrius Watson, 6-foot junior guard Dewayne Saulsberry and 6-2 freshman Nathan Owen. Smith is in his fourth season with the Indians while the other three are newcomers.

Patton said he doesn't expect his team to simply roll over the Indians.

"I expect them (Southeast) to come in and be a very disciplined team," he said. "They have a big man (Eley) who is being looked at by pro scouts. He will provide us with a test in the middle right away."

Garner knows just how big -- literally -- a challenge CU will be for his team, which lacks size with only three players taller than 6-4.

"That's one of my main worries going into the season, our lack of size once you get past three players," Garner said. "Colorado will be pretty big and two of their big kids are very good athletes."

After coming away generally pleased with his team's progress in practices and the two exhibition games, now Garner is anxious to see how the Indians will respond in a game that counts.

"On the one hand you'd probably like to have another month to practice because we've still go so much work to do," he said. "But I am looking forward to seeing how we'll play."

Tonight's game will mark the start of a rugged non-conference slate for the Indians, who will host Bradley later this month and play at Missouri and Louisville next month.

Following tonight's game, the Indians will return home to prepare for their first home contest, next Friday night against Central Methodist. That will be the start of five straight home games for Southeast.

"We have to win some early so we don't lose confidence," said Garner. "Having five straight at home after Colorado should really be good for us."

1997-98 Southeast Missouri State

Men's Basketball Schedule

(Home games in CAPS)

Nov. 16 at Colorado 8 p.m.

Nov. 21 CENTRAL METHODIST 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 26 BRADLEY 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 29 OAKLAND CITY 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 TENNESSEE STATE 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 AUSTIN PEAY 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 at Southern Illinois 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 13 at Missouri 3 p.m.

Dec. 22 TRUMAN STATE 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 at Lousiville 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 3 at Morehead State 2 p.m.

Jan. 5 at Eastern Kentucky 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 TENNESSEE TECH 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 at Tennessee State 7 p.m.

Jan. 15 at Tennessee-Martin 7 p.m.

Jan. 17 at Murray State 4 p.m.

Jan. 24 EASTERN ILLINOIS 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 MOREHEAD STATE 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 EASTERN KENTUCKY 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 at Austin Peay 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 at Tennessee Tech 7 p.m.

Feb. 7 at Middle Tennessee 1 p.m.

Feb. 12 TENNESSEE-MARTIN 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 MURRAY STATE 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 at Eastern Illinois 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 24 OVC Tournament (1st round at campus sites)

Feb. 28-March 1 OVC Tournament Final Four (at Nashville, Tenn.)