Start of season brings excitement

I've been waiting for our season opener since the horn sounded at our last game last season. Now with the opener at Arkansas State on Friday night I'm nervous, but cautiously optimistic about the season.

The wins in the two exhibition games were important for our team. It gives us confidence that we can play with Arkansas State and have a chance to win the game. ASU averaged 105 points per game in winning two exhibition games, they really like to get the ball up and down the court and they love to shoot the three. In fact they shot 58 treys in their two exhibition games. We have to be ready to play and we'll have to be ready to handle their pressure defense.

Coming off last year, we needed to win our exhibition games handily and we did. We needed to show that we are an improved rebounding team and we did.

Brandon Griffin, a 6-foot-8 junior college transfer, was impressive in averaging 13.5 rebounds per game in the two games. He had 19 points and 17 rebounds against Dreambuilders and those are impressive numbers regardless of who we are playing.

Damarcus Hence is a talented athlete in his fourth year in the program. In the two exhibition games he showed he is primed for a great junior season. Damarcus scored from the outside and went to the boards. If he plays to his potential every night, he will be a key component in a successful season.

We do need to get all our players healthy. Reggie Golson, a 6-7 junior college transfer, has yet to practice because he is recovering from minor knee surgery in September. Hopefully he will be released to begin practice later this week. Reggie will make us a better team.

Tim Scheer strained a calf muscle in the opening exhibition game and did not play against the Dreambuilders. He is showing improvement and may be able to play in the Arkansas State game. If we can have both Golson and Scheer healthy for the tournament in New Orleans that begins on Thanksgiving it will be a big help.

With everyone healthy we have sufficient depth on this year's team but when we have a key player or two out it really hurts our depth.

Arkansas State is a tough opening game, but a win could really propel us into a great season. The main thing is that we need to play well.

Our home opener will be Monday night at the Show Me Center against Central Methodist. The Runnin' Eagles are off to a 4-0 start with five veteran seniors in the starting lineup. You know they will be excited about playing a Division I team at the Show Me Center.

I hope you will be at the home opener. Jonesboro, Ark., isn't that far away if you want to catch us in our season opener Friday night.

Gary Garner is the men's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University.