INDIANS HOPE TO LAND SOME PLAYERS EARLY

The regular season for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team hasn't even started yet -- but the Indians are already in the process of securing recruits for next year.

Today marks the start of the week-long early signing period for colleges across the country.

Under NCAA regulations, Southeast coach Gary Garner is not allowed to comment directly on specific recruits. But Garner said the Indians hope to sign at least a few players during the early period.

Southeast has six available scholarships.

* Garner continues to be concerned about the status of senior guard Kahn Cotton, who averaged 12.2 points per game last season but has barely practiced so far this year.

Cotton has been bothered since the summer by tendon problems in both knees. He missed both exhibition games but will try to resume practice today but Garner is unsure of Cotton's status for Saturday's season opener with Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

Another injured Indian, sophomore guard Nathan Owen, missed both exhibition games with a toe injury but Garner expects Owen to be ready for Saturday's opener.

"We really need to get those two back," said Garner. "I think Nathan will be fine but Kahn is really a concern because this has lasted so long. Hopefully he'll be able to start practicing (today)."

* Saturday's first opponent, Division II SIU-Edwardsville, went 18-9 last year but the Cougars return just one starter.

Still, Garner said the 7:30 p.m. game at the Show Me Center is not a contest the Indians can afford to look past.

"Any time a Division II team plays a Division I team, it's a huge game for them," Garner said. "For a Division II team to knock off a Division I team, it would make their season. It's what they would talk about at their (end-of-the-year) banquet."

Added Garner, "We have to be really ready to play because I know they (the Cougars) will be."

* Following Saturday's opener, the Indians will hit the road for an extremely rugged test as they travel to Peoria, Ill., for a Tuesday night game with Bradley.

The Braves, who lost to Southeast 79-71 last season in Cape Girardeau, went 15-14 a year ago. They return several key players and are always tough at home, last year having knocked off Michigan and Villanova.

"That's really going to be a good test for us this early in the year," said Garner.

* The stream of NBA scouts checking out Southeast senior center Bud Eley will begin Saturday night when former NBA all-star Wes Unseld of the Washington Wizards is scheduled to be at the Show Me Center.

Eley was invited to the NBA pre-draft camp this summer and was projected as a possible second-round selection before he opted to return to Southeast for his final season.