The abdominal injury to center Andrew Smith is the latest hurdle to confront the Butler Bulldogs, who have been clearing them as Edwin Moses used do.
?We keep being thrown curveballs,? said coach Brad Stevens, who obviously likes analogies to baseball more than track.
Stevens said Monday that Smith was injured while trying to retrieve a loose ball during last week?s 59-56 victory at George Washington. The injury is not long-term, the coach said, but will keep Smith out of Wednesday?s home game vs. Charlotte and probably Saturday?s game at Fordham.
The Bulldogs have already endured the dismissal of Chrishawn Hopkins, the transfer of Chris Harrison-Docks, a scary injury to Rotnei Clarke and the death of Erik Fromm?s father. It was going to be a bumpy season anyway with introduction to a new conference, the Atlantic 10.
Stevens said the Bulldogs have shown maturity in their approach. Fromm epitomizes that.
?We always have people willing and eager to take the next role,? Fromm said. ?That?s what?s made us good in the past.?
The Bulldogs especially will miss the 6-foot-11 Smith against Charlotte?s big front line. He is the team?s No. 2 scorer (11.4) and rebounder (5.4), and his contributions have extended beyond statistics.
Butler has the 6-foot-8 Fromm or 6-foot-9 Kameron Woods to fill in up front. It would not be surprising if 6-foot-8 Emerson Kampen, a fifth-year senior walk-on, also is employed.
Stevens would not commit to a conventional lineup and said he would consider using three guards to spread the floor. If the Bulldogs do that, the lineup would have one player, 6-foot-6 Khyle Marshall, taller than 6-foot-4. That appears risky against a strong rebounding team like Charlotte, but that could also create match-up problems for Charlotte.
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?We keep being thrown curveballs,? said coach Brad Stevens, who obviously likes analogies to baseball more than track.
Stevens said Monday that Smith was injured while trying to retrieve a loose ball during last week?s 59-56 victory at George Washington. The injury is not long-term, the coach said, but will keep Smith out of Wednesday?s home game vs. Charlotte and probably Saturday?s game at Fordham.
The Bulldogs have already endured the dismissal of Chrishawn Hopkins, the transfer of Chris Harrison-Docks, a scary injury to Rotnei Clarke and the death of Erik Fromm?s father. It was going to be a bumpy season anyway with introduction to a new conference, the Atlantic 10.
Stevens said the Bulldogs have shown maturity in their approach. Fromm epitomizes that.
?We always have people willing and eager to take the next role,? Fromm said. ?That?s what?s made us good in the past.?
The Bulldogs especially will miss the 6-foot-11 Smith against Charlotte?s big front line. He is the team?s No. 2 scorer (11.4) and rebounder (5.4), and his contributions have extended beyond statistics.
Butler has the 6-foot-8 Fromm or 6-foot-9 Kameron Woods to fill in up front. It would not be surprising if 6-foot-8 Emerson Kampen, a fifth-year senior walk-on, also is employed.
Stevens would not commit to a conventional lineup and said he would consider using three guards to spread the floor. If the Bulldogs do that, the lineup would have one player, 6-foot-6 Khyle Marshall, taller than 6-foot-4. That appears risky against a strong rebounding team like Charlotte, but that could also create match-up problems for Charlotte.
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