Redhawks fight through frustrations over Smith's leave at start of season

~ The players are looking for answers from the university administrationand not finding any.

Southeast Missouri State senior center Lachelle Lyles said frustration within the team has been mounting in the wake of coach B.J. Smith being placed on administrative leave by the university.

But Lyles knows she and her teammates have no choice but to fight through it.

"It's really been frustrating on everybody," Lyles said following the Redhawks' 64-60 win over Central Arkansas Tuesday night in their home opener. "I think our team is still frustrated and upset.

"But we can't change things. We have to go on and try to have a good season. We have to realize that it's our season on the line."

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

Southeast officials have had no public comment on the situation since Thursday, and even then they did not give the reason for Smith being placed on leave.

Lyles, a returning player from last season, said probably the most frustrating thing about the entire situation is that the Redhawks really don't know what's going on. Smith is prohibited from having any contact with the squad during this period.

"Our whole team has tried to talk to different people, administrators," Lyles said. "But we're not getting any answers."

Smith's administrative leave leaked out to the local media on Thursday, which is also when the players found out in a meeting with athletic director Don Kaverman.

Lyles said it was difficult focusing on Saturday's season opener at Tulsa, where the Redhawks lost 67-54.

"When we first found out it was really hard not to think about it," she said. "But we've got to go on. We all feel like we're playing for coach B.J. and for ourselves."

Junior forward Missy Whitney, Southeast's heralded transfer from Three Rivers Community College, said the Redhawks can find motivation in Smith's absence.

"Our motivation is to stick together as a team. That's what B.J. would want," said Whitney, a Charleston High School product.

Added Whitney: "It has been hard, but we still have games to play. We want to win for him. That's kind of been our motivation."

Two other Southeast players asked about the situation, returning sophomore guard Tarina Nixon and junior college transfer guard Ashley Lovelady, declined comment.