Indians plan trip north

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner hopes an early jump on the 2004-2005 season will help the Indians prepare for what he believes just might be the toughest schedule in school history.

The schedule was officially finalized on Monday -- along with the announcement that the Indians will play three exhibition games in Canada over the Labor Day Weekend.

The Indians will play Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, twice on Sept. 4 and Guelph University in Guelph, Ontario, on Sept. 5. The team will stay in Niagra Falls, Ontario, during the Canadian visit. Under NCAA rules, Southeast will be allowed to practice for 10 days prior to leaving for Canada.

"With three new coaches and six new players, the Canadian trip and games will be invaluable to us," Garner said. "The extra practice time and the games will give us a preview of what we need to work on in individual workouts this fall and in the regular practices that begin on Oct. 15."

Southeast's Canadian visit is considered a foreign trip that the NCAA allows teams to make once every four years. The Indians haven't made such a trip since they toured Hungary in the summer more than a decade ago. The Canadian trip is being funded solely through money raised by the basketball program or through outside sources, with no university funding being involved.

"I think it's just a really good opportunity for us," Garner said.

As for the schedule, the Indians have 27 regular-season games, including 14 at the Show Me Center. There will also be two home exhibition contests.

Among the non-conference matchups, particular daunting according to Garner appear to be road tests against St. Louis University, Western Kentucky, Bradley, Wisconsin-Green Bay and North Texas, along with home dates against Southern Illinois and Montana.

"I think this has to be the toughest schedule in school history," Garner said. "But I feel good about our team, and I know that if we can survive our non-conference schedule, we can compete in the Ohio Valley Conference."

Other non-conference home games are with South Dakota State, Lincoln, Rockhurst and Central Methodist.

Southeast plays its two exhibition games Nov. 6 against Harris-Stowe and Nov. 13 against Harding. The regular season tips off Nov. 19 at Bradley, followed by the first home contest Nov. 23 against Rockhurst.

The 16-game OVC schedule begins Jan. 6 at Austin Peay, with the first conference home contest Jan. 11 against Eastern Illinois.