I was thinking the other day that it's hard to believe how far the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program has fallen in less than a decade.

It seems like a lifetime ago when Southeast won the 1999-2000 Ohio Valley Conference tournament and almost stunned heavily favored LSU in its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance.

That 24-7 campaign, which included an OVC regular-season co-championship, was part of a magnificent three-year run.

From the 1998-99 through 2000-01 seasons, the then-Indians went 62-28 under coach Gary Garner to rank among the nation's top records during that period.

The ensuing seven campaigns produced one winning ledger both overall and in the OVC -- marks of 15-14 and 9-7 in 2004-05 -- and consistent finishes toward the bottom of the conference.

All that futility is being capped by this problem-riddled season, which is on pace to produce the program's first sole last-place OVC finish (Southeast tied for the bottom spot in 2003-04, which technically meant 10th place in what was an 11-team league).

There are various reasons why the program has hit rock bottom -- and no, contrary to popular belief among many Southeast fans, I don't think you can put all the blame on president Dr. Ken Dobbins -- but the bottom line is that whoever is hired as the new coach will face a monumental challenge.

Looking on the bright side, other programs around the nation -- even around the OVC -- have been down in the dumps only to bounce back quickly.

Southeast fans starving for success only can hope the Redhawks are able to pull off a similar accomplishment.

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Southeast is having a horrible basketball season -- there is no debate about that -- but rarely has anybody had the right to fault the Redhawks' collective heart.

That was again evident Saturday during Southeast's eighth straight loss, 74-71 to visiting Eastern Kentucky.

Southeast rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit and an eight-point hole with 2 minutes left to pull into a 71-71 tie, only to see the Colonels hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

The Redhawks' players and coaches are giving it all they've got under trying circumstances. They should be commended for that.

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It was a treat watching Lester Hudson last Monday at the Show Me Center.

Hudson, Tennessee-Martin's 6-foot-2 senior combo guard who is the nation's second-leading scorer, poured in 38 points to lead the Skyhawks past Southeast.

I really think Hudson -- No. 5 nationally in scoring last season, his first at UT-Martin -- has a solid chance to make an NBA team next year.

There is only one OVC product currently in the NBA, former Austin Peay star Trenton Hassell. He is in his eighth NBA season after being the OVC player of the year during the 2000-01 campaign.

I saw Hassell perform many times for the Governors and he was brilliant, but I don't think he has anything on Hudson as far as athletic ability and all-around skills, although Hassell is about two or three inches taller.

In addition to his tremendous ability, Hudson seems to be a genuinely polite and humble young man.

Hudson overcame various problems growing up, including some academic issues that limited his high school career and forced him to sit out his initial season at UT-Martin following his transfer from a Tennessee junior college.

Every time I've heard Hudson interviewed -- a few times with me asking the questions -- he never fails to emphasize how appreciative he is for being given the opportunity to play Division I basketball.

He's the kind of kid everybody should root for.

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Before Southeast played at Bradley on Dec. 14, junior guard Jimmy Drew told me he was close to returning from his foot injury and hoped to be back as soon as possible.

Nine games later, Drew still has not seen the court this season.

Now it's virtually a given that Drew won't suit up this year, meaning Southeast will have to navigate the season with only eight scholarship players.

And that's if the Redhawks are lucky, because often times they've been down to seven players due to other injuries.

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It's still plenty cold outside and we're right in the middle of basketball season, but that doesn't mean Southeast baseball is far off.

The Redhawks open the season in just over a month, Feb. 20 at Alabama to start a three-game series.

Southeast has an attractive home schedule that features nonconference series with the likes of Purdue, Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois, along with the annual matchups against SIU and Arkansas State.

The 2009 Redhawks, with an impressive everyday lineup, expect to contend for an OVC championship.

I'll have more on the Redhawks when it gets closer to the season, but this should at least start getting fans in the mood for Southeast baseball.

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Congratulations to Scott County Central's Ronnie Cookson for becoming just the eighth boys basketball coach in Missouri to notch 700 career wins.

The legendary Cookson has led SCC to a record 12 state titles, and I don't think anybody would be surprised if the Braves give him No. 13 this season.

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Former Southeast basketball star Paul Ranson was honored Saturday night during a ceremony at his alma mater, Shawnee (Ill.) High School.

Ranson, who was unable to attend because of an illness, ranks fourth in career rebounding at Southeast with 815 from 1961 to 1964.

Also honored at Shawnee Saturday was Ken Blandford, a football star for the Redskins in the mid-1950s. The school discontinued football in 1959.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.