THE LATEST LINE: STEWART HAD HUGE IMPACT AT MISSOURI

There had reportedly been talk for the past few years -- even by some of his most loyal followers -- that perhaps it was time for Norm Stewart to finally relinquish the reigns of the University of Missouri basketball program.

Thursday, it happened. After 32 seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, Stewart stepped down. Whether is was his decision alone remains a hot topic of debate and the public perhaps won't ever know the whole story.

But what is known is that Stewart took over a struggling program in 1967 and ultimately built the Tigers into one of the nation's top squads for most of three decades.

Sure, Stewart could never get the Tigers to the Final Four, and Mizzou did often suffer early NCAA Tournament upsets. True, the program did sag considerably during a three-season period from 1995-98 when the Tigers went a combined 51-47 and failed to make the NCAA field of 64.

But Mizzou's 634 victories and 16 NCAA tourney appearances cannot be overlooked. And, after those three straight struggling seasons, the Tigers -- with a young team -- rebounded to go 20-9 and return to the NCAAs this year.

SEMO coach Gary Garner, a Stewart assistant in the late 1970s, has told me numerous times that he holds his former boss in extremely high regard and the two have remained close over the years.

Garner, also a former Mizzou player, has been mentioned a few times among many people who might be considered candidates to replace Stewart, although he has apparently not been contacted by the school.

Media reports have the leading candidate being Duke assistant Quin Snyder. Tulsa head coach Bill Self has also emerged as a top candidate while among other names being mentioned is former Mizzou standout Kim Anderson, who has been a Stewart assistant for 11 seasons.

Whoever does wind up replacing Stewart will know one thing: he'll definitely have some big shoes to fill.

* Wednesday marks the start of college basketball's spring signing period and SEMO followers are no doubt waiting anxiously.

The Indians must fill quite a few holes from this past season's standout team. They have five more available scholarships after two players signed early.

SEMO is reportedly recruiting a 7-footer from Greece and indications are that the Indians are among the frontrunners to sign him. That would certainly be an intriguing possibility to fill the huge hole in the middle left by the graduated Bud Eley.

* Two former area high school hoop stars have been named to the All-Midwest Community College Athletic Conference team.

The 10-player squad, selected from seven junior colleges that make up the conference, includes Shawn Massa of East Central College in Union and Scott Kassel of Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill.

Massa is a Woodland product while Kassel graduated from Perryville.

Also selected all-conference was Jamel Richardson of Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis. Richardson signed early with SEMO.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian