MSU star Tolu Smith suffers foot injury, back during SEC play

Another foot injury for a standout big man in the SEC, this time in Mississippi State star Tolu Smith. The 6-11, 245-pound forward, who returned for his sixth season of college basketball this offseason, went down in a recent practice and is expected to miss the entire non-conference schedule.

The Bulldogs expect Smith to return for SEC play, head coach Chris Jans announced Thursday.

“Tolu Smith injured his foot at a recent practice and is expected to return during SEC action,” Jans said. “We’re going to support and care for Tolu’s mental and physical well-being during every step of the recovery process. We will continue to move forward with our preparations for the upcoming season as Tolu and his family would expect us to. He will continue to serve as a team leader from the sidelines until we welcome him back on the floor. We will pray for a healthy and speedy recovery for Tolu and his family.”

The 6-11 star spent one year at Western Kentucky before transferring to Mississippi State. He averaged 12.6 points and 8.5 rebounds during his redshirt sophomore campaign in 2020-21, followed by 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest in 2021-22. Smith’s best season was his last, putting up a career-high 15.7 points per contest on 57.2 percent shooting to go with 8.5 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game.

He closed out the year as a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.

“I shed my tears already till empty. Asked God “why me?” Wondered why I continue to give this game all I got, and I get the short end of the stick. Life can really suck sometimes!” Smith responded Thursday. “You know most people give up after all these obstacles… But I’m a MF DRAGON! Quit? Hell na.”

Smith declared for the NBA Draft back in the spring while maintaining his college eligibility. He also considered entering the transfer portal — Kentucky was briefly rumored as a potential landing spot — before he ultimately decided to return for one final run in Starkville.

The Bulldogs made it to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals last season, a two-game run that saw Smith go for 28 points and 12 rebounds in the opener vs. Florida and 17 points and 11 rebounds vs. Alabama. MSU then made the NCAA Tournament, the 6-11 forward finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds in the team’s First Four loss to No. 11 seed Pitt.

Expectations were high for Mississippi State in 2023-24, the program setting its eyes on a return to the Big Dance, a chance at consecutive appearances for the first time since 2008 and 2009. How much will Smith’s absence hurt the Bulldogs during the first half of the season? And just how quickly will he return when SEC play rolls around?

Kentucky plays Mississippi State in Lexington on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET, that game broadcast live on ESPN2. The Wildcats then head to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Will Smith be in the lineup for both of those matchups?