Oct. 14, 2004

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Derek Winans, senior guard on the Southeast Missouri State University basketball team, has been named second team preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference.

Winans, who has started 84 straight games at Southeast and has been the leading scorer in each of the last three seasons, will not be on the floor when Southeast opens practice on Saturday. He has a stress fracture on the inside of his leg and will be sidelined for from three to four weeks.

"We want his leg bone completely healed before he starts practice," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "Winans is a tough competitor and he should be ready to start the season although he will miss several weeks of practice."

As a team, Southeast was picked to finish in a tie for seventh, in the OVC preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors. Murray State was picked to win the league title followed by Tennessee State, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Samford and Eastern Illinois.

Southeast officially opens practice for the 2004-2005 season with a 10 a.m. workout at the Student Recreation Center on Saturday.