Oct. 10, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The 2002-2003 Southeast Missouri State University basketball team will begin preparations for the season with two practices on Saturday.

The Indians will practice at 9 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Student Recreation Center.

"We're anxious to get started," said Southeast coach Gary Garner who is beginning his 10th year as a collegiate head coach and his sixth season at Southeast. "During individual drills we concentrated entirely on defense and rebounding. Now with the full team workouts we will begin to install our offense while continuing to concentrate on rebounding because that was a real problem for us last season."

The Indians return seven lettermen and four starters from last year's team that finished 6-22 overall and 4-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"We will really be looking for leadership from our older players," Garner said. "I think we do have players who will step up and take a leadership role."

Senior Tim Scheer, 6-7, has been in the program four years and has played in a total of 66 games. Last season he averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

The leading returning scorer is 6-2 Derek Winans who averaged 14.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while winning OVC Freshman of the Year honors. Other returning starters include 6-3 sophomore guard Brett Hale and 6-6 junior forward Damarcus Hence. Other returnees include 6-4 senior guard Demetrius King, 6-8 sophomore center Adam Crader and 6-3 sophomore guard Kevin Roberts.

Top newcomers include a pair of junior college inside players in 6-8 Brandon Griffin and 6-7 Reggie Golson along with freshman inside player 6-8 Cole Grapperhaus.

"We really think we have improved our rebounding with the addition of Griffin and Golson and Grapperhaus can also help us inside," Garner said.

Golson will miss the first few weeks of practice because of a knee injury that required minor surgery in September. He is tentatively expected to join full workouts on Nov. 8.

Southeast will play two exhibition games beginning with a game against former MIAA opponent Missouri-Rolla on Saturday, Nov. 9. Southeast will host the Dreambuilders, a group of former collegians, on Friday, Nov. 15.

The regular season opener is at Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference on Friday, Nov. 22 with the home opener scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25 vs. Central Methodist.