Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner takes one look at the Indians' non-conference schedule and immediately has mixed emotions.

On the one hand, Garner figures playing those kinds of games should help the Indians prepare for the Ohio Valley Conference season.

On the other hand, Garner knows that finding success against such a rugged non-league slate won't be an easy chore.

"Our non-conference schedule is really tough, a bear," said Garner during Tuesday's media day at the Show Me Center.

The Indians have early-season road games against Oklahoma State, the preseason favorite in the Big 12 Conference; Arkansas State, the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt Conference; and Southwest Missouri State and Bradley from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Throw in a home game against Louisiana Tech, one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference, and a neutral-site game against Southern Illinois at the TWA Dome in St. Louis, and it adds up to quite a pre-Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

"If we can survive it and still feel really good about ourselves then it should really prepare us for the OVC," Garner said. "The thing that worries you about it is not getting down if things don't go your way."

Southeast's other two non-league games will be at home against Division II teams Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Central Methodist.

* The Indians have been picked to win the OVC by none other than ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale.

In his preseason publication, `Dick Vitale's College Basketball,' Vitale tabs Southeast for first in the OVC, with Tennessee State second, Murray State third and Austin Peay fourth.

Vitale is the only prognosticator who thinks the Indians will win the OVC.

`Basketball News' and `Lindy's College Basketball' pick the Indians third, `Athlon' has Southeast fourth and `Street & Smith's' and `The Sporting News' tabs Southeast for fifth.

Perennial power Murray State is the consensus OVC favorite, which is the way Garner sees the league.

"Murray State is the favorite, but after that I think it's wide open," Garner said.

* Senior center Bud Eley is picked as the OVC Player of the Year by virtually all of the national publications. He is also projected as the OVC's best NBA prospect.

Senior guard Cory Johnson is picked as the OVC's best shooter in two of the publications.

* Southeast will have new uniforms and warmups this season.

The home uniforms will be white with red and black trim while the road uniforms will be black with red and white trim. The warmups are red and black with red shooter shirts.

* Two Southeast players have changed their uniform numbers this season.

Johnson, the school record-holder for single-season 3-pointers with 95, will wear No. 3 (he wore No. 12 last year).

Senior guard Kahn Cotton will wear No. 5 after being No. 22 last year.

* Drew DeMond, a freshman forward, will be redshirted this season while he recovers from achilles tendon surgery.

The 6-foot-7 DeMond, from Rockton, Ill., was injured in the spring while competing for his high school track team. He is recovering well and should join the team for full workouts in January.

* Three new walkons are listed on the preseason roster: Ben Pranger from St. Louis, Ryan Thomas from Carbondale, Ill., and Kyle Rees from Jonesboro, Ark. All are freshmen guards.

* Southeast sports information director Ron Hines has quite a streak going.

Hines has worked more consecutive basketball games than any other SID in the nation. He has worked 537 straight games at Southeast dating back to 1981.