Smith Keeps On Pushing
March 08, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Despite injuries and setbacks, Bulldog vet Tolu Smith has grown over the course of a tumultuous year.
STARKVILLE – Like a lot of young men, Tolu Smith leans heavily on the support of his family.
It was earlier this season following a Mississippi State win when the Bulldog center emerged from the locker room into a nearly-emptied-out Humphrey Coliseum. The building was near silent when the sound of a Samoan tribute song was directed at Smith by his mother – both giving a nod to the family's heritage and showing love for her boy.
Then there's Smith's father. In a season that's been full of bumps in the road both personally for Smith, as well as collectively for MSU, Smith has heard a consistent message from his dad, urging him to continue.
"My dad always just tells me to keep pushing," Smith said. "My dad is always very optimistic about the season, which I am too. He just always tells me to keep pushing, greater things are going to come."
Keep pushing, no matter what.
It's been said that it's hard to beat a person who never gives up. Well, this season has certainly taken its fair share of swings at Smith and each time he's gotten right back up. He's still figuratively punching.
"Here's a guy that's had to persevere through a lot," Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland said. "Four different stoppages [overall this season] between the broken foot, the broken toe, COVID and the dislocated patella. He's had so much to deal with and yet he continues to stay positive and keep grinding. So, I'm really proud of him. I'm happy for him that he's playing well now and playing as he's capable."
Indeed, Smith's resilience is paying off. The numbers bear it out. It's taken awhile, but here down the season's final stretch, Smith has once again become the All-Southeastern-Conference-caliber performer Howland knew coming into the year Smith could be.
In and out of the lineup over the first three months of the season, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest over his first 12 games this year. Not shabby at all.
But look at what Smith has done over his last four times out. He scored 21 at South Carolina. He scored 22 and brought down eight rebounds against Vanderbilt. Smith notched a double-double with 22 more points to go along with 12 boards versus No. 5 Auburn. Then, in the regular season finale against Texas A&M, Smith finished with 18 and six.
To recap, that's 20.8 points and seven rebounds per game for Smith in his last four appearances. What if State could've had this healthy version of Smith all year long? We'll never know for sure.
Instead, the Bulldogs and Smith had to adapt to the hand they were dealt. They all did the best they could.
On the occasions Smith was out, Garrison Brooks had to switch to center. It wasn't the situation Brooks signed up for when he transferred to MSU from North Carolina as Brooks is more comfortable at power forward, but he made the most of it.
"I give Garrison a lot of credit," Smith said. "That's a hard transition, to play the five and then go to the four and then back. Him going back and forth is hard to do for any player. Him adjusting to that role and being a veteran guy like he is just helps us and shows the kind of leadership and the veteran capability he has. I have a lot of respect for him."
As for Smith, he used his difficulties and times where he didn't get to play as opportunities to grow in areas that don't involve shooting, rebounding, blocking and the like. His development continued, even if it wasn't the way he'd have ideally drawn it up.
"I learned to be patient in everything and every aspect on and off the floor – not rushing things," Smith said. "And I'd say I became more of a vocal leader. I had to still use my voice off the court, even when I was hurt. So, it kind of helped me transition when I got to get on the court to be a leader and be the vocal guy everybody needs."
There's no statistical measure for how much Smith's background leadership has helped MSU, but there are examples. How about Andersson Garcia for one?
Garcia has used this season as a coming out party as he's blossomed to become a key Bulldog reserve. You've seen Garcia's steals, hustle plays and the highlight-reel jams. What you didn't see was Smith being an uplifter of Garcia behind the scenes.
"He gives a lot of support," Garcia said of Smith. "Even though sometimes I might not be having a good practice, he's always there to tell me what to do."
The bond has shown up when Smith has been in action, too.
"I love playing with Tolu because we have a great connection," Garcia said. "Every time he catches the ball in the post, I know he's looking for me because I'm cutting every time. It's kind of the same thing. He's looking for me and I'm looking for him most of the time."
The truth is, all Bulldogs look to Smith. He has that kind of presence. He has that kind of impact. And now, with an all-important SEC Tournament looming, Smith is playing his best basketball at the most critical part of the year.
He only wishes it could've come sooner to have helped put his team in a better postseason position.
"At the end of the day, I just want to win," Smith said. "That's what's most important. I could have zero points and if we win, I'd be satisfied. We've just got to try to get these wins. Going into the tournament, I think we have a really good shot. Just trying to stay levelheaded…Just take it one game at the time."
And no matter what happens or what adversity comes, don't quit. Or in the words of Smith's father, just keep pushing. You never know what could happen from there.
