The latest bad news is that Mark Caviness -- arguably SEMO's co-top signee for the 2008-09 season-- did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements and will not play for the Redhawks this year.

Caviness, a junior college transfer, was admitted to SEMO and has been attending classes since school began in late August.

Caviness, a 6-foot-5 forward, was an all-conference performer at Indian River Community College in Florida.

SEMO coach Scott Edgar said Caviness will continue to attend SEMO, although he will have to pay his own way and will not be allowed to practice with the team.

As long as Caviness meets future NCAA eligibility requirements, he will still have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Caviness and Martino Brock were regarded as SEMO's co-top signeees for this season.

Brock, a 6-5 swingman who would have been a freshman, was never admitted to SEMO after failing to meet eligibility requirements.

Two of the Redhawks' key players from last season transferred, starting point guard Roderick Pearson to Oral Roberts and 6-foot-10 center Will Bogan to Shawnee (Ill.) Community College.

In addition, point guard Hank Harris -- the probable starter following Pearson's departure -- suffered an achilles tendon injury during a pickup game and will likely miss the entire season.

SEMO is down to 11 scholarship players, including Harris.

And all of the above is in addition to the program being under NCAA investigation, with alleged rules violations expected to be announced soon.

Ouch!

By the way, for anybody who read my story on Caviness being ineligible in the print edition of the Missourian, you might have noticed one screw-up I made (nothing new in that regard).

I wrote that Pearson transferred to Wichita State, when he actually is now at Oral Roberts.

The only thing I can think of is I had Wichita State on the brain because at one time Pearson was said to be considering that program.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.