With heavy hearts, Butler will take on St. John's
Scholarship Fund. His widow, Samantha, posted on Twitter:
“Andrew LOVED Butler. I am so honored and proud that this will be established in his name; it's a wonderful tribute.”
Players from Covenant Christian, where Smith played in high school, were to wear jerseys from his senior season in Friday’s game against Plainfield – including No. 33, which had not been worn since Smith graduated.
It has been the delicate task of Chris Holtmann, who did not coach Andrew Smith, to honor Smith’s memory while at the same time managing emotions of Butler players and preparing them for a Big East schedule. Players, who will wear “AS44” patches for the rest of the season, gathered after practice Wednesday to share and hear stories of the former Bulldog center.
The Butler coach has an ally in Curt Smith, father of Andrew. Holtmann said the father told him: “If your players start feeling sorry for themselves, just give me two minutes in the locker room.”
Smith family members, including Samantha Smith and Andrew's parents, are scheduled to attend Saturday’s game. Holtmann said tributes pouring in about Smith “made all of us certainly feel really good to be part of this program.”
Senior guard Kellen Dunham, a freshman in 2012-13, roomed with Smith for road games. He shares Smith’s Christian faith and said he became emotional when hearing the stories.
“He was a total window,” Dunham said. “People saw him, they saw Jesus.”
Dunham said Smith would have encouraged the Bulldogs to win because “that’s all he cared about as a player.” The Bulldogs are ranked No. 23, but have started 1-3 in the Big East. They face Providence and Creighton next week on the road.
St. John’s is 0-5 in the Big East and has lost 8 in a row. The Bulldogs are 19-point favorites, but it’s impossible to project how they might be affected.
“We really try to just take the day that’s in front of us, be genuine in our approach, care for our players the best that we can, keep their needs at the forefront of our program,” Holtmann said. “Take it one day at a time, and hopefully improve and grow. And out of this, become a closer team.”
Call IndyStar reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.
Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.
Honoring Andrew Smith
A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at Traders Point Christian Church, Whitestown. Doors open at 4. The service will be live streamed at TPCC.org. Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, the former Butler coach, is scheduled to deliver the eulogy.
Butler has introduced the Andrew Smith Scholarship Fund. Contributions may be made online at Bulldognation.butler.edu/andrewsmith or by check to Butler University Advancement, 4600 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46208. (Reference “Andrew Smith Scholarship Fund” in check memo.)
Flowers may be sent to Traders Point Christian Church. Donations may be made in Smith’s honor to Be The Match. The family will have tables at Traders Point to help people join the bone marrow registry.
>> Proceeds from Butler’s “Stay Positive Day” go to the Smith family. The organization is run by Butler graduate Eric Day, a two-time cancer survivor. Items for sale will be “Stay Positive” wristbands for $1, posters and bookmarks for $5, and 1,000 T-shirts for $10 each.
ST. JOHN’S at NO. 23 BUTLER
Tipoff: Noon Saturday.
TV: FS1.
Radio: WFNI-1070 and 93.5 FM.
ST. JOHN’S (7-11, 0-5)
Pos; Player; PPG; Key stat;
G; Felix Baalamou; 7.7; 3.9 rpg;
G; Federico Mussini; 12.8; 41 3s;
F; Christian Jones; 7.4; 5.5 rpg;
F; Ron Mvouika; 9.2; 41% 3FG;F; Kassoum Yakwe; 6.1; 4.3 rpg;
Coach: Chris Mullin
BUTLER (12-4, 1-3)
Pos; Player; PPG; Key statG; Tyler Lewis; 7.8; 4.1 apg;
Coach: Chris Holtmann
Storylines
F; Ron Mvouika; 9.2; 41% 3FG;F; Kassoum Yakwe; 6.1; 4.3 rpg;
Coach: Chris Mullin
BUTLER (12-4, 1-3)
Pos; Player; PPG; Key statG; Tyler Lewis; 7.8; 4.1 apg;
G; Kellen Dunham; 15.3; 35 3s;
F; Roosevelt Jones; 14.6; 4.6 apg;
F; Andrew Chrabascz; 11.8; 4.7 rpg;
C; Tyler Wideman; 9.3; 65.5 % FG;
C; Tyler Wideman; 9.3; 65.5 % FG;
Coach: Chris Holtmann
Storylines
>> The Red Storm are in their first year under coach Chris Mullin, a former Pacers guard. St. John’s will be without 6-11 center Yankuba Sima, who is sidelined by injury.
>> Since joining the Big East, Butler is 8-12 in conference home games. The Bulldogs have lost their past 3 Big East games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
>> Dunham is 9-of-15 on 3s over past three games. Before that, he missed 23 consecutive 3-point attempts.
— David Woods
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