Nov. 29, 2000

Q: With newly signed Brett Hale from Dexter, Mo., what kind of plans do you see yourself using Brett next year? Will he most likely redshirt to build up strength for the Division I level?
-Greg Brown, Scott City, Mo.

A: Redshirting a freshman is always an option, but right now I feel Brett will be a key member of next year's Indian team. He is a very intelligent player with a great 3-point shot.

Q: I noticed lately that Terry Rogers is a very physical player. He is a big body that can score underneath. Have you considered playing him in the low post and Nyah in the high post to take advantage of Nyah's soft touch and Roger's power moves?
-Brandon Patterson, Oran, Mo.

A: We always look at all options with player combinations, but right now we feel our best plan is for Nyah and Terry to split time at the five position.

Q: What is the key to your team this year? Is it the offense or the defense? If defense, who is the best stopper? If man-to-man, what is the best second option?
-Michael Garner, West Plains, Mo.

A: Two of the keys for the Indians to be successful this year are to get continued good play out of our experienced guards and to develop and find the right combination of our inexperienced inside players. We will also be playing a man-to-man defense.

Q: What will Brett Hale bring to the basketball team next year?
-Aaron Mathis, Dexter, Mo.

A: Brett Hale will bring us a very good 3-point shooter. He is a very intelligent player who is an excellent passer.

Q: I know that Brett Hale already signed for next season, and I also know that you are not allowed to say who else you are recruiting, but what positions are you looking to fill next season?
-Jesse Henderson, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

A: Our biggest need will be to replace our perimeter players who will graduate after this season. We lose four perimeter players who will have to be replaced.

Nov. 16, 2000

Q: I was wondering who you are looking to step up and take the place of our three key players last season, Branson, Bunch and Johnson?
-Nick C. Brooks, Pinckneyville, Ill.

A: It may take more than three players to fill the shoes of the players you mentioned. Emmanuel McCuthison will start in Branson's place and we will also play Antonio Short at that position (three guard) at times. Inside, Nyah will start at the post where Bunche played and Drew DeMond will start where Johnson started. We have good depth inside with Terry Rogers, Tim Scheer, Monte Gordon and Daniel Weaver all vieing for playing time at the inside positions.

It will be tough to replace the three seniors who are all playing professionally in Europe, but I think we have better depth at all positions than in the past.

Q: I have two questions. First, who do you feel needs to step up the biggest on this year's team in order to go back to the tourney? Second, will there be steps made to improve next season's non-conference schedule, like possibly adding Louisville, Arkansas, Memphis or St. Louis?
-James Lovelace, Troy, Mo.

A: I don't think any one player has to step up. I've said all along that I really like our guards in Michael Stokes, Antonio Short, Amory Sanders and freshman Joel Shelton. Although we lost our entire front line to graduation, we have good talent and depth at the inside positions. We will have to step up as a team and we will have to utilize the fact we have good depth.

As far as the schedule, we will play any of the teams you mentioned if they will return a game to the Show Me Center. We're not interested in just going on the road to play teams like Memphis and St. Louis. We have to maintain a good home schedule.

Nov. 15, 2000

Q: Will you ever get to play Missouri again and prove that Southeast is the best team in the state?
-Patrick W. Stewart, Washington, Mo.

A: We are interested in playing Missouri again only if they will return the game to the Show Me Center. Media in St. Louis have talked about a tournament in St. Louis that would involve Missouri, St. Louis, Southeast and Southwest and we would certainly be interested in that.

Q: How will Southeast match up with Trenton Hassell when they play Austin Peay?
-Chris Roetheli -- Washington, Mo.

A: Austin Peay has an excellent basketball team with a group of experienced players. I think we match up with them well except for Trenton Hassell. He is an outstanding player. He is going to get his points, we just have to do a good job against the other players and hope he doesn't have a career night.