COURT SESSION: INDIANS WILL CARRY OVC LEAD INTO '99

It is good to know that we will be on top in the Ohio Valley Conference going into 1999. I told the players that if we take care of business one game at a time, we can have everybody else chasing us in the conference race.

Only eight games have been played, but we are 3-0 in the OVC for our best start ever and we are 6-2 overall for our best start since going to Division I.

Our fourth straight win came at the Show Me Center last Thursday night when we beat Eastern Kentucky 78-58. I was concerned about a letdown in that game and we didn't have our best performance, but the players did take care of business and we came away with the 20-point win.

The Eastern Kentucky contest was our fourth game in eight days and came after three emotional wins on the road. It was a game we were expected to win and we did. I think that shows our players are learning how to win.

Roderick Johnson and Bud Eley combined for a great game inside. Roderick had 18 points and 10 rebounds while Bud had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks, which tied the school record.

We are now in a stretch of 12 days without a game. We play next at Southwest Missouri State on Dec. 22. I gave the players Friday and Saturday off after last Thursday's win. This week is finals week and I thought it was important that the players get prepared for their final exams.

This week we will shorten our practices to an hour and a half each. I really think practices during finals week are good for the players because than can get away from the stress of exams and studying and work up a good sweat and have some fun. It is really a good daily diversion for the players.

Our players seem to be doing well in the classroom. Our final grade check before exams showed everyone was doing well.

Our real star in the classroom is Matt Morris. Matt is a walkon who had a perfect 4.0 last semester and has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.906. He is just a great young man who works hard at practice and continues to improve. We would have not have won last year's game at Middle Tennessee without Matt.

Matt is a good example of someone who works hard every day. He is the first player at practice and the last to leave, yet he maintains nearly a 4.0 GPA. He is the type of player who is always ready if called on. Last year, we had some injuries and Matt was ready to step in and do the job. We need more athletes like Matt Morris.

We are also very proud of the academic achievements of Bud Eley. We've noted in recent columns how well Bud is playing this season. He is able to play this season because he graduated in four years.

It is difficult for any student to graduate in four years, let alone an athlete who spends long hours in practice and on road trips. We're certainly proud that Bud did graduate and that he is doing such a great job on the court this season.

Southwest Missouri State will be the best team we have played this season. The Bears are 7-1, with their only loss to nationally-ranked Stanford in the quarterfinals of the preseason NIT. They have beaten good teams like Missouri, Long Beach State, Southern Illinois and Louisiana Tech. They beat Louisiana Tech, which beat us earlier, by 26 points.

Southwest has been ranked as high as 12th nationally in the Sagarin computer rankings. In that same Sagarin poll, our team has been ranked as high as 72nd nationally, which is the highest a Southeast team has ever been rated.

The game at Springfield will be a classic matchup of big men. Bud and 6-11 Danny Moore of Southwest are both NBA prospects. Moore averages 19 points per game.

Following the game at Southwest, we will again have several days off before our game at the TWA Dome in St. Louis against Southern Illinois on Dec. 28. There are still tickets for that game available at the Houck Field House Ticket Office. Just call 651-2113 to reserve your ticket so you can help us at the TWA Dome.

Gary Garner is the head basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University. His weekly column is sponsored by Rust Communications.