INDIANS, GARNER MEET THE PRESS; SE EXCITES NEW COACH

For the most part, Gary Garner has only heard about and watched film regarding what Southeast Missouri State University's basketball players can do.

Saturday, he'll begin to see first-hand just what kind of talent his initial Indians' team has to offer. That's the first day college basketball teams can begin practice under NCAA rules.

Garner, speaking at the Indians' annual media day Wednesday, said he's extremely excited about Saturday -- not only to see what his team is all about but also because he genuinely can't wait to get going.

"When I first got here, I said how excited I was. I probably used that word so much. But I think I'm even more excited today,," said Garner, who enters his first season as the Indians' head coach armed with an impressive coaching resume. "I can't wait for Saturday."

Garner, 248-163 overall as a college head coach, is coming off a sensational run of success at Division II Fort Hays (Kan.) State. His 63-2 mark the last two years -- including a 34-0 national championship in 1995-96 -- is the winningest record over the last two years for any division.

Garner, who has also had a good run of success at Division I Drake in the 1980s, inherits a squad that went 12-18 overall last season and finished in a tie for fifth place in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference.

Based on what Garner has seen from his players so far -- on film, during conditioning and during the limited individual work the NCAA allows prior to the official opening of practice -- he enters the 1997-98 season full of optimism.

"Boy, I think we can have a good basketball team," he said. "I shouldn't be saying that. I should say, `well, I don't know,' then if we have a great year, it makes me look good.

"But I don't see any reason why we shouldn't have a good team. How many games we'll win, I don't know. But we'll have a good team."

Garner, who said he favors an up-tempo offense and a pressure man-to-man defense, bases his optimistic outlook on six returning players, including three starters, and several key newcomers.

It all figures to start for the Indians up front with 6-foot-10 center William "Bud" Eley, who averaged a team-high 17.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last season in earning All-OVC honors.

Eley, who has been ranked 17th out of 75 players in the Don Leventhal NBA Draft Report, will be in his senior season although he could gain another year of eligibility if he graduates in June since he was a Proposition 48 student his first year at Southeast.

"Bud is a very talented player who has the best hands of any big man I've ever coached," said Garner. "It's like a suction cup and we'll be throwing it in there a lot. He's certainly one of the keys to our success."

Calvert White, a 6-4 senior swingman who was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team last year, returns after averaging 13 points per game.

"He's a better basketball player than I originally thought," Garner said. "He's our most complete player. He has a chance to be an outstanding player."

The other returning starter is 6-8 junior forward David Montgomery, who averaged 7.9 points last year.

"David is really getting in good shape," said Garner.

Other returning players are 5-11 senior point guard Lakeo Keller (6.6 ppg), 6-7 senior forward Travis Smith (1.9 ppg) and 5-11 sophomore walkon guard Aaron Rauls (0.9 ppg). Keller and Smith both started some games last year, although Keller was hampered by an injury.

Garner will be counting heavily on 5-10 junior point guard Kahn Cotton, who sat out last season but practiced with the team after transferring from Idaho State, where he averaged nearly 14 points.

The coach is also looking for good things from three junior-college transfers: 6-foot junior shooting guards Corey Johnson and DeWayne Saulsberry and 6-4 junior swingman Demetrius Watson.

Johnson, a Clearwater High product, averaged 19 points and shot 45 percent on three-pointers at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff last year.

Saulsberry averaged 18 points and hit 48 percent on three-pointers at St. Catharine (Ky.) JC while Watson averaged 14 points at Mineral Area College in Park Hills.

"With Cotton and Keller we should be able to push the ball up the court and Saulsberry and Johnson give us a threat to score from three off the break," said Garner. "White has the versatility to shoot the three or go inside and Eley and Montgomery are both strong inside players. Watson is a complete player like White and Smith is playing more physical."

The only incoming freshman is 6-2 guard Nathan Owen, a homegrown product who averaged 20 points and earned all-state honors at Cape Central High.

"Nathan will help us this year," said Garner.

Southeast has two exhibition games prior to the Nov. 16 opener at Colorado. Other non-conference foes include Missouri, Louisville, Bradley and Southern Illinois. The OVC looks to be solid again, with Murray State the likely favorite.

"We've got a challenging schedule," Garner said. "But we won't show up any place thinking we can't win."

Garner said his major concern is a lack of inside depth with only three players taller than 6-4.

"As long as nobody gets hurt, I think we'll be fine," he said.