Indians not quite ready to contend for league title

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- In this topsy-turvy Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball race, Southeast Missouri State University has been ever-so-close the past several days to making a strong move toward the top of the standings.

Instead, a pair of tough defeats have pushed the Indians toward the bottom.

First came a disheartening overtime home loss to Tennessee-Martin on Jan. 16 in which the Indians controlled most of the game before seeing the Skyhawks rally late.

The Indians regrouped to stun visiting Murray State on Jan. 18 -- a win over the rival Racers ranks as a highlight of any Southeast season -- but could not get past Austin Peay's rugged defense Saturday on the way to a 62-49 setback in a contest that was up for grabs until the final few minutes.

So the Indians, 7-11 overall, sit at 2-4 in the OVC. That conference record includes two home losses, which doesn't bode well in Southeast's attempt to squeeze into the upper division of the league standings by season's end.

People who have been at most of Southeast's games so far know this much: The Indians are playing their butts off, and for the most part they're playing pretty well as far as offensive execution and taking care of the ball. There is no question Southeast is much improved over last year's 6-22 debacle that included an eighth-place OVC finish.

But the bottom line is, the Indians are simply not quite talented enough to get over the proverbial hump and consistently beat solid teams. Their lack of physical ability limits their defensive effectiveness, which is why most squads have a offensive field day against Southeast.

That's no great revelation. Because of NCAA scholarship limitations, digging out of last season's mess was generally considered to be a two-year project. The basic thinking was to improve quite a bit this season and then get back in the OVC championship hunt next year.

There is no reason to believe the Indians are not going right along that schedule. Things could have been speeded up considerably had their top two recruits for this season not been ineligible (Dainmon Gonner) and injured (Reggie Golson). With those two talented forwards from the junior-college ranks, Southeast might have made quite a move up the OVC ladder.

Although there is plenty of this season left to be played and the Indians still can rack up a decent amount of wins, it's probably hard for Southeast fans to not already have an eye toward next year.

With all the bad luck the Indians have had the past couple of seasons, you hate to jinx things. Still, you can't help but think the Indians will be quite good next year.

Not only will Southeast return the majority of its key players -- and mind you, this is not a bad team, it's just not quite good enough -- but the players scheduled to join the squad should dramatically upgrade the Indians' talent level and athleticism.

Gonner, a strong scorer and rugged inside defender, has been practicing with the team since the second semester began and is already drawing rave reviews.

Golson, an athletic inside-out player who saw action in one game this season before taking a medical redshirt, should be 100 percent over his knee troubles by next year.

Another player who has practiced with the Indians all season but won't be eligible until next year, Valparaiso transfer point guard Mike Nelke, has been impressive.

Joining that trio next season will be athletic guard Norman Prather from Mineral Area College by way of Caruthersville High School.

And word is that another very athletic junior-college guard, Josh Gonner from Hutchinson (Kan.) -- where he played with both Golson and brother Dainmon last year -- plans to join his older brother in Cape Girardeau even though he is rated above Southeast's level. Another player or two could also be signed.

Everybody associated with Southeast's basketball program -- coach Gary Garner tops the list -- is naturally disappointed with the way things have gone lately after an impressive three-year run that saw the Indians compile a 62-28 record and make the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time.

But to the classy Garner's continued credit, he has accepted full responsibility and failed to make excuses, instead focusing on getting the Indians back to the level fans had become accustomed to.

Only time will tell if that happens, but there are plenty of solid reasons to believe there's a strong chance it will.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.