SHERMAN'S EAGLE WILL TRY TO BURN SE; CMSU PLAYS BIG UNDERDOG TO INDIANS

Central Methodist basketball coach Jeff Sherman is realistic yet hopeful as his team prepares to face Southeast Missouri State University tonight (7:30 tipoff) at the Show Me Center.

On the one hand, Sherman realizes his NAIA team is a big underdog against the Division I Indians. On the other hand, he thinks he has a pretty solid squad and firmly believes in that old adage about `on any given night.'

"It's a big game on our schedule. We're looking forward to it," said Sherman. "We feel we have a pretty good team in our league and this game should definitely help us down the road.

"The odds of us pulling off a big upset are slim. But we won't be a team that will just roll over. We'll play hard no matter what the situation, whether we're down 30 or whatever. And you never know when you're going to have that great game and the other team doesn't play that great."

As far as that `on any given night' theory goes, don't think the Indians aren't well aware of it entering their home opener. After all, it was only last season that NAIA McKendree came to the Show Me Center and stunned Southeast 72-59.

Neither first-year Southeast head coach Gary Garner nor his assistants were around for last year's debacle against McKendree. But they have definitely taken note of it.

"I'll use anything I can to help motivate us. Yes, I'll remind them of that," said Garner with a laugh.

While Southeast has only played one game so far (a 62-59 loss at Colorado last Sunday), Central Methodist is off to a 4-1 start, the lone loss being a respectable 103-95 setback against Central Missouri State, a strong Division II program.

Sherman, whose squad went 17-16 last year, has a 215-185 record in his 13th season at Central Methodist, which is located in Fayette, Mo. He entered the 1997-98 campaign believing his squad could be good.

"Our expectations are very high going into the season," he said. "We feel like we have a realistic shot at making the NAIA playoffs. Of course, there's a big difference between the talent in NAIA and Division I."

Sherman said the strength of the Eagles are their guards. They start a three-guard lineup, led by 6-foot-2 senior Aaron Brooks, a transfer from Division II Missouri Southern who is averaging about 20 points per game in the early going.

Matt Clutter, a 6-2 sophomore, also scores well into double figures while 5-10 senior Wes Goldsmith, a Meridian (Ill.) High product, is another solid scorer who averaged 13 points per game last season.

"We have a very good guard team, probably as good as you'll see on our level," Sherman said. "Brooks is an outstanding player who can handle the ball and score. Clutter is maybe our best all-around player and Goldsmith is a good three-point shooter."

The Eagles also start 6-8 center Eric Wright and 6-5 forward Jeff Koch. Clutter is the only non-senior regular.

Central Methodist will also be counting on former New Madrid County Central standout athlete Shae Tipler, a 6-4 sophomore who also plays football for the Eagles.

"We're going into this knowing the facts of life," said Sherman. "They're going to be looking to stick it to us right away. I'm just hoping that if things don't go well right away, we won't hang our heads. I don't think we will.

"And if we can get a good start, maybe go into halftime in decent shape, then it could be a good ballgame. We honestly feel if we play the way we're capable, then it's going to be a basketball game. Whether that means we win or not, who knows."

As for the Indians, they'll start the same lineup that opened against Colorado last Sunday: Bud Eley at center, Calvert White and David Montgomery at the forwards and Cory Johnson and Kahn Cotton in the backcourt.

Johnson and Cotton led the scoring against Colorado with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while forward Demetrius Watson had an impressive game off the bench with 10 points.

"I'm really anxious for our first home game," said Garner, who will be coaching his first official game in the Show Me Center. "It'll be exciting and a nervous situation. But if you don't get nervous, something's wrong. When I stop getting nervous is when it'll be time for me to get out of coaching."

Garner just hopes Central Methodist doesn't give him any additional reasons to be nervous tonight.

Central Methodist at SEMO

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (0-1)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Calvert White F Sr. 6-4 4.0

David Montgomery F Jr. 6-8 4.0

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 6.0

Cory Johnson G Jr. 6-0 15.0

Kahn Cotton G Jr. 5-10 14.0

CM (4-1))

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Aaron Brooks F Sr. 6-2 20.0

Jeff Koch F Sr. 6-5 13.7

Eric Wright C Sr. 6-8 7.0

Matt Clutter G So. 6-2 16.7

Wes Goldsmith G Sr. 5-10 5.0

Series: SEMO leads 2-0

Radio: K103-FM