THE LATEST LINE: ELEY HAS COME A LONG WAY

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The jury is still out on whether or not Bud Eley has a future in the National Basketball Association.

But there's no doubt the stock of Southeast Missouri State University's senior center is rising in a hurry.

And there is also no doubt that Eley is one of the real feel-good stories in all of college basketball.

As most SEMO fans know by now, Eley came to Cape Girardeau from Detroit, Mich., five years ago as a raw, undisciplined freshman -- both on and off the court.

By his own admission, Eley was not much of a student and he had a mighty big chip on his shoulder. He was ineligible during his first year at SEMO because he did not qualify academically coming out of high school.

But has big Bud ever come a long way since then. He got serious in the classroom, graduating in four years to earn a final season of eligibility. He spends time working with young people from underprivileged backgrounds -- knowing full well he can relate to them because he was once one of them. That chip on his shoulder fell off some time ago.

And Eley's game has matured as well. Even though he missed all but 11 games last season with foot injuries, Bud was regarded as a possible NBA draft pick and he participated in last summer's big pre-draft camp.

But Eley knew his best chance at a pro career was to have one final strong collegiate season. And he also wanted to spend his last college playing days helping lead the Indians to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference.

So far, so good on both fronts. Eley is scoring more than 15 points per game while leading the OVC in rebounding and blocked shots. He's also probably the best passing big man in the league.

And the Indians, entering Saturday night's game here against Tennessee Tech, were in first place in the OVC after having already beaten three of the league's supposed top contenders on the road.

Bud is not the kind of player who will dazzle pro scouts with his offensive game. But every NBA team is looking for a big, strong body to provide some rebounding and defense off the bench. At 6-feet-10 and 260 pounds, Eley certainly fits the bill.

There is no guarantee that Eley will be on an NBA roster next season, although he's probably a lock to be making a living playing some place next year, overseas if it's not the NBA.

But regardless of what the basketball future holds for him, Bud has already proven to be a huge success in the biggest game of all -- the game of life.

With all the bad things we read about athletes these days, the Bud Eley story is definitely one that makes you feel good.

* There is no doubt that the Indians, picked fifth in the league's preseason poll, have been the surprise team of the OVC so far.

After having spent so much time on the road lately, SEMO comes home for three big conference games this week, including Thursday's huge showdown with powerhouse Murray State.

There will be no excuse for SEMO fans not to pack the Show Me Center this week, particularly when Murray State comes to town.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian