SOUTHEAST, LSU TRAVEL EERILY SIMILAR PARTHS TO SUCCESS

SALT LAKE CITY -- Southeast Missouri State fans know the story.

Gary Garner, knowing full well that the school is on probation, comes in as head coach and in his third year leads the Indians to their first NCAA Tournament at the Division I level.

As good as this story is, it has a familiar ring in Louisiana.

Louisiana State University coach John Brady, who came to LSU three years ago, was in a similar situation to Garner and what he has done with the Tigers this year is nothing short of miraculous.

LSU started out at No. 129 in the Sagarin preseason rankings and was picked to finish near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference.

Instead, the Tigers despite being on probation and playing with limited scholarships won the SEC West, built a 26-5 record, beat six ranked opponents, got its first 20-win season since 1993 and, in general, proved everybody wrong.

Most importantly, the Tigers are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1993 via an at-large bid.

"We just motivated ourselves and used (preseason predictions) as motivation," said LSU standout forward Stromile Swift. "And now we're here."

Brady walked into a situation full of uncertainty due to violations by the previous coaching staff.

"It was so unsettling when we came," Brady said. " I've really just tried to make the team better every single day, whether it be (them) going to class or playing hard, or teaching the detail."

LSU, because of its past problems, has just nine scholarship players on its team.

"There's still some things we have to work through," Brady added. "With this team, they've maximized what they've been able to do as far as scholarships. You have to compliment our coaching staff for the way we've been able to recruit under these type of circumstances to put this type of team together."

LSU has been fighting for respectability all season.

The Tigers didn't crack the Associated Press poll until Jan. 3, after they won their first 13 games. Not until its shocking 26-point drubbing of Arizona then ranked No. 5 in the AP poll did the national media give Louisiana State its due justice.

INDIANS NOTES: Indian backup center Nyah Jones celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday.

* The weather has been cool here since the team arrived Tuesday. On Wednesday, there was some light snow which did not accumulate, but there were also several periods of sunshine.

* Louisiana State's 26 wins is tied for second most in school history. The Tigers won 31 games in the 1980-81 season and 26 games in the 85-86 campaign as well as the 79-80 season.

* Southeast Missouri State point guard Michael Stokes has made 14 straight free throws heading into today's game. Stokes has also made 15 of his last 26 3-point attempts dating back to Feb. 19. During that six-game span, he averaged 16 points per game, three points above his season average.

* The Southeast-LSU game will be the second game played today. The first game, Indiana State vs. Texas, will be played at 11:40 a.m. Central time. The Southeast game will start 30 minutes following the completion of the first game.

* The winner of the Southeast-LSU game will play the winner of Texas and Indiana State at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday.

* The Huntsman Center has played host to the NCAA men's basketball first- and second-round games nine previous times. It also played host to one of the most memorable Men's Final Fours, the 1979 classic featuring Michigan State's Magic Johnson and Indiana State's Larry Bird. Indiana State is playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time since Bird's departure of the school.

* Several Indians are displaying team unity by wearing matching Southeast Missouri State straw hats.