Getting Back In The Groove
December 03, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Tolu Smith returned quicker than expected and he’s right back to being an impact player for the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – The Humphrey Coliseum was a quiet, mostly-empty place about a half hour after Mississippi State's 75-60 win over Lamar on Thursday night. Suddenly a loud voice carried through the arena.
MSU center Tolu Smith emerged from the tunnel and walked towards his family who was waiting for him in the lower bowl of the venue. As Smith walked, his Samoan mother erupted into a Samoan tribute song directed towards her son.
Smith was fresh off another big night for the Bulldogs as he racked up 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and 10th of his career. As sons tend to do, Smith had made his mom proud. And as Smith tends to do, he'd made MSU proud as well.
The Southeastern Conference's leading rebounder of a season ago had excelled again. It wasn't without a bump or two in the road. At the end of the first half, Smith didn't have a point. He didn't have a rebound.
"To be honest, that was probably the worst half I've ever had at Mississippi State," Smith said. "I just felt like mentally I wasn't there, and I had to pick it up."
With a little more effort and a little "encouragement" as head coach Ben Howland put it with a sly grin, Smith erupted for a huge second half. Why wouldn't he? He is the king of rebounds after all, both the literal kind and, apparently, the figurative ones too.
Remember, the fact Smith was even playing on Thursday was a rebound by itself. After offseason foot surgery, Smith returned quicker than expected. He missed only the first four games of the year before returning last week.
"His recovery has been amazing," Howland said of Smith. "Tolu's only had six practices and he's playing at a high level. I don't take it for granted."
Smith doesn't either. He's grateful that he gets the chance be back playing the game he loves.
"It feels great to be back with my brothers and be back with my team, my family," Smith said. "It's tough times sitting there watching the game go by, spectating and wishing for that day to come [where you can play again] and it came. It came pretty fast."
So just how tough was it to sit out for the first few contests?
"It's rough," Smith said. "You see players on other teams getting all these rebounds and I'm just like, 'Man!' I was just so eager to play."
Well Smith is now making up for lost time. He's scored in double figures in all three games since he's been back. He's had 11 rebounds in each of the last two contests. Once again, Smith is a centerpiece of the Bulldogs and, by the way, he's doing it playing a new position.
Smith is starting at the five this year after spending much of his career at the four. It's not without hiccup, but Smith certainly is looking more and more comfortable in his new spot.
"I'm getting there," Smith said. "It's not easy. It's not for everybody, but I'm open and willing to take the task."
Like a basketball off the rim, Smith is taking it and running with it. Meanwhile, his foot is getting better by the day. He's starting to get back into a groove.
Sure seems like Thursday won't be the last time Smith makes his mama and Bulldog fans everywhere happy. It started later than he'd have liked, but Smith's 2021-22 season is finally off and running.
"It's just a blessing and it's all to God's glory," Smith said.
