Southeast men look for recovery from bad season

After three strong seasons that featured a 62-28 record and the program's first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance, Southeast Missouri State University's men virtually hit rock bottom last year.

The Indians' 6-22 record left everybody in the program feeling down.

"It was really frustrating," sophomore guard Derek Winans said.

But a new season always brings optimism, and the Indians are looking for much better things this year.

"Last year really left a bad taste in all our mouths," said Southeast coach Gary Garner, entering his sixth season with the Indians. "We're determined to not let that happen again."

Garner realizes it's extremely difficult to make a full-scale recovery from a six-win season in one year. Still, he and his players look for a vastly improved squad, thanks in large part to five returning players who started at least 12 games last year and two junior-college transfers.

"We came on at the end last year, and a lot of that was because of the youth of our team," Garner said. "I think we really have a solid foundation, and we'll be much better. How much I don't know, but we will be better."

The Indians won three of their final five regular-season games last year.

"Nobody wants to go through a year like we had last year," senior forward Tim Scheer said. "I know people aren't expecting a lot from us, but I think everybody is ready to step it up. I think we'll surprise some people."

The 6-foot-2 Winans and 6-7 Scheer were the Indians' top two scorers last season, averaging 14.9 and 13.4 points per game, respectively.

Winans also led the squad in assists, steals, 3-pointers and minutes played as he won the Ohio Valley Conference's freshman of the year award even though Southeast finished just eighth in the nine-team league.

"We came on at the end last year, which gave us some confidence," said Winans, who will move over to point guard from shooting guard this season. "We have to realize this is a new year and we can turn it around."

Also returning with considerable starting experience are 6-3 sophomore guard Brett Hale (9.3 ppg), 6-4 senior guard Demetrius King (7.0 ppg) and 6-6 junior swingman Damarcus Hence (6.1 ppg). Garner considers Hale to be perhaps his most improved player from last year while he's hopeful the athletic and versatile Hence will have a breakout season.

"I think it's a very big season for us," said Hale, who shot 91 percent from the free-throw line as a freshman. "We need to prove to ourselves and our fans that we can bounce back from a season like that."

Others back from last year are 6-3 sophomore point guard Kevin Roberts (1.7 ppg), who became a key contributor late in the season, and 6-11 sophomore center Adam Crader (1.2 ppg), who saw limited action.

"We're all anxious to show that last year was a fluke," Roberts said.

Garner will look for help from two junior-college transfers, 6-8, 230-pound center Brandon Griffin and 6-7 forward Reggie Golson.

Griffin averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds at Southwest Mississippi while Golson averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds at Hutchinson (Kan.), although he missed virtually all of preseason practice following arthroscopic knee surgery and figured to miss at least the first few games of the year.

Southeast's lone freshman recruit is 6-7 forward Cole Grapperhaus, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds at Mater Dei High School in Breese, Ill.

Rounding out the squad are a pair of freshman walk-ons, 6-4 John Boggio and 6-3 Lance Sechrest.

"We were so young last year, but all of our returning players have really improved. That year of experience makes a big difference. And our new players should really help us," Garner said.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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