Andrew Smith to sit Wednesday with abdominal injury
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Butler center Andrew Smith will miss Wednesday night’s game against Charlotte, coach Brad Stevens announced Monday.
Smith suffered an abdominal injury during Saturday afternoon’s 59-56 victory over George Washington. Stevens said there was no damage to Smith’s ribs.
With the ball loose at one point, Smith attempted to pursue it but was inadvertently hit in the stomach area by another player. Smith was in pain after the game and underwent further evaluation when the team returned to Indianapolis.
Stevens hasn’t ruled out Smith for next Saturday’s game at Fordham but said the senior probably will not play in that contest, either.
“From what I’ve been told, it’s nothing long-term,” Stevens said. “He is doing well. He’ll be reevaluated this week and early next week.”
Butler (20-4, 7-2 Atlantic 10) moved up to No. 11 Monday in the AP Top 25 and to No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Smith, 22, is averaging 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the Bulldogs this season. Smith has played in every game for Butler since joining the regular rotation as a sophomore.
Either Erik Fromm or Kameron Woods will likely start at center in Smith’s absence, but Stevens said he hadn’t made a final decision yet.
“I trust that either will play well,” Stevens said. “Erik is certainly a guy I trust greatly and had a great last couple years and continues to improve. I definitely trust him. We might start another guard and go smaller and spread the floor. I don’t know exactly where we’re going to go.”
Star point guard Rotnei Clarke missed three games earlier this season with a sprained neck, but Butler only lost one of them. Stevens said losing Smith is different because it takes away from the team’s size.
“Andrew’s not only one of our best offensive players but one of our best defenders,” Stevens said. “With Charlotte coming in here, they pride themselves on winning the battle of the paint. That presents a great challenge for us with Andrew and even more of one without him. Just like with Rotnei, we’ve got to step up by committee and hopefully play as well as we can.”
