Banners will be raised ...in time

~ Kaverman, who is not sure how the erroneous reports originated, said the timing has nothing to do with Smith's leave.

Contrary to comments that have been published on various message boards, Southeast Missouri State athletic director Don Kaverman said there were never any plans to raise banners for the university's women's basketball team Tuesday night.

Kaverman said he believes confusion arose when a local radio station promoted that the Redhawks' 2005-06 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships would be officially celebrated prior to the home opener.

"We knew that it was announced on the radio, but nobody knows where that came from," Kaverman said Wednesday. "Nobody internally that I can identify knew anything about it.

"I had folks approach me at the game about it. But I don't know that banners have even been ordered yet."

Kaverman said the fact banners were not raised at the Show Me Center on Tuesday night had nothing to do with the ongoing saga regarding fifth-year head women's basketball coach B.J. Smith.

Smith, who last season led the Redhawks to the program's first NCAA Division I tournament appearance, was put on paid administrative leave by the university last Thursday.

Southeast officials have not given a reason for Smith being placed on leave.

"It has nothing to do with the current situation," Kaverman said. "Certainly we're going to put banners up in recognition for our women's championships, similar to what we did for the men [who won OVC titles in 1999-2000].

"I can't remember frankly when we did it for the men, but I don't know whether we did it at the first game either."

Added Kaverman: "When we're going to do it has not been orchestrated yet. Who put that out about it being Tuesday night, I don't know."

As for the Smith situation, Kaverman said he hopes things do not drag on much longer.

"I would hope not," he said. "I would hope there's some clarification in the near future, but there is no timetable set."

Southeast's women (1-1) host Florida State on Friday night.