THE LATEST LINE: AUSTIN PEAY WAS SIMPLY TOO GOOD FOR SEMO ON THIS DAY

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Austin Peay is widely regarded as the Ohio Valley Conference's most talented basketball team. When the Governors are at the top of their game, not many OVC squads can keep up with them.

Saturday, the Govs were definitely at the top of their game. And, try as they might, there was no way Southeast Missouri State University's Indians could keep up as they were blitzed 88-60.

Normally, after a 28-point setback in a key conference contest, a losing coach would be extremely upset by the way his team had played. But SEMO's Gary Garner couldn't really bring himself to criticizing the Indians.

Garner preferred to heap plenty of praise on the Govs, who on this day definitely deserved it. They showed the nation -- the game was televised by ESPN -- just why they are considered solid favorites to capture the OVC championship.

And Trenton Hassell, Austin Peay's sensational senior swingman, showed the country why he is coveted by NBA coaches and scouts who love his splendid all-court game.

Hassell was featured in a recent Sports Illustrated article that touted him as one of the nation's top players that most of the country has never seen. That was evident Saturday as he scored 22 points (hitting nine of 11 shots, including two of three 3-pointers), grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists while committing no turnovers.

As good as Garner knew Hassell was, the coach still came away shaking his head over the damage -- both from a statistical and intangible standpoint -- the Govs' star had inflicted on the Indians.

Garner, like no doubt every other OVC coach except Austin Peay's Dave Loos, has to be hoping that Hassell does enter the NBA draft after this season. Despite being a senior, Hassell is in line to regain the season of eligibility he lost as a freshman while sitting out under NCAA academic guidelines.

Whether Hassell returns to the Govs next season -- if he graduates this year, which he is on schedule to do, he'll have that option -- remains to be seen.

What also remains to be seen is if the Govs will wind up reaching their full potential this season. Remember, Austin Peay also had one of the league's most talented teams last year -- led by virtually all of their current key players -- but they wound up tied for third in the regular season and then lost in the first round of the conference tournament.

As for the Indians, they will now have to buckle down and make a strong surge if they are to challenge for a second consecutive OVC championship. With two league losses already -- including a particularly damaging one at home -- SEMO has definitely dug itself a hole, although with 15 conference games remaining, there is still plenty of time to climb out.

And, as for the Indians' regular-season rematch with Austin Peay (Feb. 1 at the Show Me Center), along with a possible matchup in the OVC tourney, SEMO can take heart in what happened during its most recent nationally televised regular-season game.

Last year, a loaded Murray State squad came to the Show Me Center and blitzed the Indians 77-60 on ESPN2. The Racers played exceptionally well and looked almost unbeatable.

But, in sports, it's often difficult to duplicate sensational performances. Just a matter of weeks after being drubbed at home by Murray State, the Indians beat the Racers in the OVC Tournament finals -- on ESPN, incidentally -- to claim their first-ever NCAA Division I tourney berth.

That's why Loos tried his best to keep Saturday's performance in perspective. While extremely happy with what he termed his squad's best performance of the season, he was also realistic enough to know that the game will have little bearing on what happens Feb. 1, or later if the squads happen to match up in the conference tourney.

There is still a lot of basketball left to be played. But for one day at least, Austin Peay made the game look simple.