SOUTHEAST ADVANTAGE AT HOME VASTLY UNDERESTIMATED

Some sporting thoughts after a big weekend that saw Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team beat Central Missouri before a nearly packed Show Me Center:

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Southeast Missouri's Indians getting blown out on their own court?

It's almost unthinkable, isn't it? But that's what a lot of people figured would happen Saturday night when Central Missouri's powerful Mules came to the Show Me Center.

Asked what kind of a point spread I'd put on such a game, I figured the Mules maybe by a few points. Just something minor, to reflect their undefeated record and No. 2 national ranking in NCAA Division II.

Naw, I was told. Central by at least 10. I even had one guy give me the Indians and 20, which I quickly jumped on.

Evidently, not too many people were giving the Indians much respect. Granted, this might not be one of the best teams Ron Shumate has put on the court during his tenure at Southeast, but it's certainly not chopped liver either.

Those who thought the Indians would get ripped on their court evidently don't know a whole lot about the dynamics of college basketball.

You can take a mediocre team at home and it's going to give even the most talented of squads a run for its money. Make that a pretty solid squad, as the Indians no doubt are, put nearly 7,000 extremely loud fans in the stands and anybody is going to have a tough time coming away with a road victory.

I've been watching Shumate work his magic on the hardwood too long to think Southeast would suffer back-to-back lopsided defeats. Coming off an 18-point loss at Missouri-St. Louis, you just had to know the Indians would defend their own floor with a vengeance.

That's exactly what happened as the Indians beat the Mules 81-77. It was a huge victory and one that was extremely needed.

But now comes the hard part. We all know how tough Southeast is at home. What the Indians can accomplish on the road over the next several weeks will determine the course of their season.

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Those fans who didn't show up in time for Southeast Missouri's women's game against Central Missouri last Saturday certainly missed out on a treat.

I don't think I've ever seen a team play any harder or with more emotion than the Otahkians did in that contest, which resulted in a 62-56 loss.

As most of you know by now, Saturday's game was the last of four in which the Otahkians were without five players, including three starters. The five were suspended by the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association for the first four conference games.

I must confess, going into those four games, I figured there was no way Southeast could win even one. After all, the Otahkians were basically using an all-freshmen team, save for Sherry Mitchell, and they were facing four of the best squads in the league.

But the Otahks shocked the MIAA by winning two of the four and they lost the other two by a combined 10 points. All this was accomplished with a steady dose of heart, determination and willpower.

"It was fun to be part of that," said Southeast women's coach Ed Arnzen. "Hopefully the people who saw our game Saturday night appreciate just what that group has accomplished."

Mitchell, a four-year starter for the Otahkians, was spectacular in the four games. She was the glue that kept the whole unit together and she almost literally carried the squad on her shoulders.

"Sherry was incredible," Arnzen said.

Even though Southeast lost to Central, I got goose bumps along press row watching the undermanned Otahkians leave everything on the court and very nearly upset the Jennies.

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Houck Field House should be bubbling Friday night when Southeast Missouri State's gymnastics team opens its home schedule.

The Otahkians will take on Iowa of the mighty Big Ten Conference. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and Coach Bill Hopkins is hoping for a big crowd to help spur the Otahks on.

"It would be great to have a huge crowd there," he said. "We're all looking forward to facing Iowa."

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The San Francisco 49ers sure look strong. I don't see how anyone can stop them from winning their third straight Super Bowl title.

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Anybody been keeping up with defending NCAA Division I basketball champion Nevada-Las Vegas?

The Runnin' Rebels have totally crushed every opponent so far, including a pretty good Michigan State team on its own court.

It's hard to imagine Vegas not winning the NCAA title again, but college basketball can be a funny game. In a best-of-seven series, I'd bet the farm on the Rebels. But in a one-shot deal like the NCAA tourney? There have been some huge upsets over the years, as we all know.

Still, I'm looking for the Rebs to repeat.