TALENTED TRANSFERS BOOST INDIANS' OPTIMISM

All of Southeast Missouri State University's basketball players are looking forward to the start of the 1998-99 season.

But probably no two Indians are more anxious to get going than Jeramy Biles and Roderick Johnson.

Biles and Johnson both practiced with the Indians for the entire 1997-98 season -- but neither was eligible to play in games after coming to Southeast as transfers.

That's why Biles and Johnson wore big smiles Tuesday during Southeast's media day as they were asked about being eligible this season.

"I'm looking forward to finally being able to play in a real game," said Biles.

Added Johnson, "I can't wait. I've been waiting all year."

As far as Southeast coach Gary Garner is concerned, the wait to get Biles and Johnson on the court for an actual game will probably have been worth it.

"No question, they are going to help our basketball team this year," said Garner, whose squad began practice Saturday. "Both are very good players."

Biles, a 5-foot-11 sophomore point guard, should be very familiar to area basketball fans because he is a former standout at Charleston High School, where he earned all-state honors and led the Blue Jays to a state championship.

After signing with Saint Louis University, Biles had an impressive freshman season, averaging 7.4 points per game to earn Conference USA all-freshmen honors.

But Biles ran into some academic difficulties at SLU, which is the primary reason he left the school.

"Last year (sitting out) was tough, but I messed up (at SLU) and I had to deal with it," said Biles. "But after practicing all season, now I'm ready to start playing again."

Biles is especially happy that he'll get to play in front of many of the fans who watched him during his brilliant high school career.

"I'm from right around here and I used to play in the (University High) Christmas Tournament right here on this floor," he said with a grin as he stood on the Show Me Center court.

Biles was known as a brilliant defensive player in high school and he said that hasn't changed much.

"I've always taken pride in that," he said. "Most of my points come off my defense."

Johnson is also somewhat known for his defense, along with rebounding. The 6-6, 215-pound junior forward should seriously bolster Southeast's inside game.

"I'm just a hard-nosed, aggressive player who likes to grab a rebound and help the team win," said a smiling Johnson when asked to describe his style of play.

But Johnson also does pretty well offensively. The Milwaukee native, who started his college career at home playing for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, earned second-team all-Mid Continent Conference honors as a freshman by averaging 14.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He had a high game of 31 points.

Asked why he left the school, Johnson said, "I was forced into a leadership role as a sophomore and I wasn't really ready for it. Plus, my coach had also been my AAU coach and I think we'd just been around each other too long."

Johnson certainly doesn't regret coming to Southeast, even if he had to sit out last season.

"I really had fun in practice," he said. "I think it was the first year that I was really coached in practice."

While practice might have been fun, he acknowledges that it's going to be a lot more enjoyable to actually play in some games.

"It was mentally tough last year, but I had to stick with it. I had no choice but to sit," he said. "But now I can't wait to start playing."

He and Biles both.