Sept. 12, 2000

The Southeast Missouri State University basketball team will be shooting for a return to the NCAA Division I tournament after losing a narrow 64-61 decision to Louisiana State in Southeast's first ever tournament appearance last season.

"Our players got a taste of what it's like to win the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and play in the NCAA tournament and I think they will be hungry for another shot," said Southeast coach Gary Garner who is 58-29 in three seasons at Southeast. "Repeating will be tough, but I do believe that we have the talent to make another run at the OVC championship."

The Indians, 24-7 last season, return two starters and seven other letter winners, but must replace the entire front line.

Seniors Michael Stokes and Antonio Short are returning starters who should form one of the top guard tandems in the OVC. Stokes was the team's second leading scorer with 12.9 points per game and led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.427) and assists (4.2 apg). He is a super quick guard who was named to the OVC all-tournament team.

Short, also a member of the OVC all-tournament team, was hampered by injuries last season including a broken wrist that kept him out of seven games, but came on late in the season to finish as the team's fourth leading scorer with 8.5 points per game. He averaged 12.7 points per game over the final six games including a 14 point effort against LSU.

"Stokes and Short will be the backbone of our team," Garner said. "Because of their abilities we may be more of a perimeter team this season. I like the fact that can both score and create."

Senior Amory Sanders will also vie for playing time at guard after playing in all 31 games last season. A starter while Short was injured, Sanders averaged 5.6 points per game while shooting .361 from three.

Joel Shelton, Mr. Show-Me Basketball in the state of Missouri last season while playing at Vashon High School in St. Louis, will challenge Stokes at the point guard position.

Senior Nyah Jones, 6-11, a backup at the post position last season, should be ready for a big year as the starter. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last year while averaging just 16.5 minutes per game.

"I expect Nyah to have a big senior season," Garner said. "If he gives us solid inside play, we will have the chance to have a big season."

Jones will be backed up by Memphis transfer Daniel Weaver, 6-8, and junior college transfer Terry Rogers, 6-10.

The other inside positions are up for grabs with a good blend of veterans and newcomers. At the three position, senior Emmanuel McCuthison , 6-5, will battle for the starting job with redshirt freshman Damarcus Hence, 6-6. McCuthison averaged 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season.

At the four position, sophomore Drew DeMond , 6-7, will battle with junior college transfer Monte Gordon, 6-5, for the starting position. DeMond, a leaper, averaged 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds while blocking 26 in just 23 games. Weaver is also a possibility at the four position.

Sophomore Tim Scheer, 6-7, will battle for playing time at the three or four position. He averaged 1.5 points per game as a true freshman last season.

"We have good talent and depth," Garner said. "It is always a question of how the team comes together. One of the reasons we were so successful last season is the fact we played as a family."