INDIANS, RACERS MUST SURVIVE SEMIS FOR A CO-CHAMP SHOWDOWN

For people who expect to see regular-season co-champions Murray State and Southeast Missouri State University play for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title Sunday afternoon, Gary Garner has a word of warning.

"One of us or both of us might not even make it," said Southeast's coach.

Garner fully expects two highly competitive battles Saturday when the OVC Tournament semifinals are played at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.

No. 1 seed Murray State (22-8) and No. 4 Eastern Illinois (17-11) will square off in the first semifinal at 5 p.m., followed by No. 2 Southeast (22-6) vs. No. 6 Middle Tennessee (15-12) in the second semifinal at about 7 p.m.

Saturday's winners advance to Sunday's 1:30 p.m. title game that will be nationally televised by ESPN. The OVC tourney champion gains an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

"I really think we're going to have two very good semifinals," Garner said. "Last year, I think most people would have been really surprised if us and Murray didn't play in the finals.

"This year, I don't think it would be that big of a surprise if either us or Murray, or both of us, don't make it. I thought going into the tournament that six teams had a legitimate chance at winning the title. Now, all four teams left definitely have a very good chance."

In many conference tournaments around the country, the team that wins the regular-season championship doesn't capture the postseason tournament title.

The OVC has been something of an exception to that above rule in recent years because Murray State, which has won or shared 12 of the past 13 regular-season titles, has also been able to win eight tournament championships during that time.

"In so many conferences around the country, the team that wins the regular season doesn't win the tournament," Garner said. "It's been pretty unusual lately with what Murray State has done."

The Racers have won the past three OVC Tournament titles, including last year's thrilling 62-61 win over Southeast.

While Garner figures Murray has to be the favorite to prevail this weekend in Nashville -- the Racers and Indians tied for the regular-season crown -- he knows just about anything can happen.

"Murray State has to be the favorite, but the way Middle Tennessee has been playing, you'd have to rank them right up there," Garner said. "So many times, teams that play well late in the year win the tournament. And right now, Middle Tennessee is hotter than anybody."

Indeed, the Indians' semifinal opponent Saturday has won 10 of its past 12 games, including Tuesday's impressive 87-70 romp past third-seeded Tennessee Tech.

"It's going to be an extremely difficult game for us," said Garner of the semifinal matchup. "We're going to have to play extremely well. But we feel like we have as good a shot at winning the tournament as anybody."

Of the other semifinal pitting Murray State against Eastern Illinois, Garner said, "Eastern Illinois will really have to shoot the ball well, but they're capable of doing it. If their threes are dropping, Eastern Illinois can beat anybody. But Murray State definitely has to be favored."

* The Indians will depart for Nashville early this morning.

All four semifinalists will have one-hour practice sessions today at the Gaylord Entertainment Center (formerly Nashville Arena). Southeast's practice is scheduled for 3 p.m.

* Eastern Illinois is the only one of the four teams still alive to have never made it to the tournament semifinals.

But that's more because the Panthers haven't been in the league long rather than the fact they have struggled. Eastern Illinois joined the OVC in 1996. The Panthers advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1992 when they won the Mid-Continent Conference title.

Southeast is making just its second semifinal appearance -- and second straight -- after having been eligible to compete for the tourney title for only four years.

Murray State has had by far the most tournament success, winning 10 titles, including three straight and eight of the past 11.

Middle Tennessee has four tourney championships, the last coming in 1988-89. The Raiders will be making their fourth straight semifinal appearance but have not reached the finals during that time.

* The Southeast Alumni Association invites all Southeast fans who will be in Nashville to attend a pre-game pep rally Saturday.

The pep rally will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Session's Lounge at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel, which serves as tournament headquarters.

* Saturday's women's semifinals, also held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, will pit No. 1 Tennessee Tech (22-8) against No. 4 Murray State (14-14) at 11 a.m. and No. 2 Middle Tennessee (18-10) against No. 6 Austin Peay (14-14) at 1 p.m.

The women's title game is set for 5 p.m. Sunday. Tennessee Tech is the defending tourney champion.

MURRAY STATE

Coach: Tevester Anderson, 49-14 at MSU (2nd season)

1999-2000 record: 22-8, 14-4 OVC (T 1st place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 1

Joined the OVC: 1948

OVC regular-season titles: 19 (last in 1999-2000)

OVC Tournament titles: 10 (last in 1998-1999)

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Coach: Gary Garner, 56-28 at SE (3rd season)

1999-2000 record: 22-6, 14-4 OVC (T 1st place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 2

Joined the OVC: 1991

OVC regular-season titles: 1 (last in 1999-2000)

OVC Tournament titles: none

EASTERN ILLINOIS

Coach: Rick Samuels, 292-281 at EIU (20th season)

1999-2000 record: 17-11, 11-7 OVC (T 3rd place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 4

Joined the OVC: 1996

OVC regular-season titles: none

OVC Tournament titles: none

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Coach: Randy Wiel, 65-52 at MTSU (4th season)

1999-2000 record: 15-12, 10-8 OVC (6th place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 6

Joined the OVC: 1952

OVC regular-season titles: 4 (last in 1988-1989)

OVC Tournament titles: 5 (last in 1988-1989)

WOMEN

TENNESSEE TECH

Coach: Bill Worrell, 286-130 at TT (14th season)

1999-2000 record: 22-8, 16-2 OVC (1st place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 1

Joined the OVC: 1948

OVC regular-season titles: 12 (last in 1998-1999)

OVC Tournament titles: 8 (last in 1998-1999)

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Coach: Stephany Smith, 54-32 at MTSU (3rd season)

1999-2000 record: 18-10, 13-5 OVC (2nd place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 2

Joined the OVC: 1952

OVC regular-season titles: 11 (last in 1998-1999)

OVC Tournament titles: 6 (last in 1997-1998)

Murray State

Coach: Eddie Fields, 62-126 at MSU (7th season)

1999-2000 record: 14-14, 11-7 OVC (T 3rd place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 4

Joined the OVC: 1948

OVC regular-season titles: 0

OVC Tournament titles: 0

AUSTIN PEAY

Coach: Susie Gardner, 48-62 (4th season)

1999-2000 record: 14-14, 9-9 OVC (6th place)

1999-2000 tournament seed: No. 6

Joined the OVC: 1963

OVC regular-season titles: 1 (last in 1995-1996)

OVC Tournament titles: 1 (last in 1995-1996)