INDIANS TRY TO FORTIFY TOP SPOT; SOUTHEAST VISITS MTSU TODAY

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee State University coach Randy Wiel pretty much summed up the way this Ohio Valley Conference basketball season is going so far.

"Our league is so balanced. You can lose one game and go from first to sixth," he said. "But that's good for the league. Some leagues are strong at the top and very weak at the bottom. This league isn't that way."

While Wiel might have been exaggerating just a bit when he talked about going from first to sixth in one game, he got his point across. The OVC standings are scrambled right now and things could stay that way for much of the season.

Wiel's Blue Raiders and Southeast Missouri State University's Indians will have a chance to unscramble things just a bit today when they square off in a first-place OVC battle. The tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at MTSU's Hale Arena.

The Raiders and Indians, both at 4-1, are in a three-way tie for first place with in the OVC. Eastern Illinois is also 4-1.

For Southeast, this is uncharted territory. Now in their sixth season of OVC and Division I play, the Indians have never before been in first place at any point in a season. And their 4-1 OVC start is the school's best ever in the league.

"It's exciting to be where we're at right now," said Southeast coach Ron Shumate, whose squad is 7-9 overall and has won four straight games. "But we know it can change in a hurry because we've got an extremely tough road trip this weekend."

Following today's game, the Indians will take on Tennessee Tech -- another prime OVC contender -- Monday night in Cookeville, Tenn.

MTSU is 11-4 overall in its first season under Wiel, a former player and assistant coach under Dean Smith at North Carolina. Wiel spent the past three seasons as the head coach at North Carolina-Asheville.

"I've been pleased so far with how things have gone," said Wiel. "We've had some good wins and some tough losses."

Although the Raiders have not played overall as rugged a schedule as Southeast -- the Indians lost to the likes of Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Missouri, Fresno State and Old Dominion in pre-OVC play -- MTSU does own an impressive 77-75 victory over Providence.

In OVC play, the Raiders have already beaten defending champion Murray State and Tennessee Tech among their four wins.

The Raiders are led by two experienced seniors, 6-foot-6 forward Nod Carter and 6-5 guard Roni Bailey, who average 16.3 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.

MTSU starts two other seniors who saw limited playing time last year, 6-5 forward Torrey Moore (10.0 ppg) and 6-8 center Chad Wampler (6.0 ppg). The point guard is 6-1 sophomore Richard Duncan (9.1 ppg), a junior-college transfer.

"Even though we start four seniors, only Carter and Bailey actually played a lot last year," Wiel said. "They've been steady for us."

Wiel said he has a lot of respect for the Indians, led by 6-10 junior center Bud Eley, who averages 16.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Calvert White, a 6-4 junior guard, is also in double figures at 13.4 points per contest.

"I'm very impressed with SEMO," said Wiel. "From what I've seen, they are a very good defensive team, very active on defense, very athletic.

"Eley is very good. He's going to get his. What we have to do is make sure we don't get beat by some of the other players, because we'll have our hands full with Eley. But their other players are also very good."

Likewise, Shumate is extremely impressed with the Raiders.

"They're a very good team and coach Wiel is doing a great job in his first year there," he said. "They play very well together and they have some great athletes. It's going to be a big challenge for us."

Shumate is hoping perhaps a special good-luck charm will lead to a Southeast victory.

"My daughter lives in Murfreesboro and she's a graduate of Middle Tennessee State, but she wears red to the games when we play there," he said with a laugh. "Maybe that'll help us."

SEMO vs. Middle Tennessee State

2 p.m., Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Probable Starters

SEMO (7-9, 4-1 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

David Montgomery F So. 6-8 9.0

Richard Lyte F Jr. 6-6 5.8

Bud Eley C Jr. 6-10 16.1

Calvert White G Jr. 6-4 13.4

Allen Hatchett G So. 5-10 8.9

MTSU (11-4, 4-1 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Nod Carter F Sr. 6-6 16.3

Torrey Moore F Sr. 6-5 10.0

Chad Wampler C Sr. 6-8 6.0

Roni Bailey G Sr. 6-5 13.7

Richard Duncan G So. 6-1 9.1

Series: 5-5

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