The video tribute and moment of silence for Andrew Smith today at Hinkle Fieldhouse…. https://t.co/MLMRQbE3sc
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) January 16, 2016
On Saturday Butler played its first game since the death of former player Andrew Smith, who died on Tuesday from leukemia. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs earned a 78-58 home victory over St. John’s, which fell to 7-12.
Prior to the game, Butler put on a video tribute and held a moment of silence for Smith, who graduated in 2013 as an Academic All-American and a player who helped the program to three NCAA Tournament trips in his four seasons, including back-to-back runs to the national championship game in 2010 and 2011.
“Our mountain, our miracle, our Moose,” was the defining phrase of Saturday’s tribute, which you can watch above. The considerate and considerable Smith spectacle led to a home sellout as well. Check out this great graphic.
Third straight sellout at Hinkle. 9,144 strong today. pic.twitter.com/4PHYSmBTTX
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) January 16, 2016
The salutes have been pouring in for Smith, including a scholarship made in his honor by his alma mater and this patch, which will be part of Butler’s uniforms for the next couple of months.
Butler will wear an AS44 patch on its jersey for the remainder of the season in tribute to Andrew Smith pic.twitter.com/7NnzXEM5f5
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) January 16, 2016
Saturday was also long planned to be “Stay Positive Day” at Butler, a campaign put on in earnest to raise awareness of Smith’s condition, help raise money toward his cause — and now will help his widow, Samantha. St. John’s donned Stay Positive shirts in warmups, too
Thank you to St. John’s for joining us in wearing Stay Positive t-shirts today. pic.twitter.com/MuVn1ukPzJ
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) January 16, 2016
At halftime, Sam Smith did the incredible: she took the microphone, stood at center court and addressed the crowd. Smith told the fans, “I’m here because it meant so much to him” and “the thing Andrew was so worried about was who was going to take care of me. You guys have answered that.”
Erik Fromm and Samatha Smith speak at halftime. #AndrewSmithStrong #StayPositive pic.twitter.com/rm8b6kA9fQ
— Jimmy Lafakis (@JJLII30) January 16, 2016
Powerful words and incredible act of strength by the love of Andrew’s life. Smith was joined at halftime by Erik Fromm, a teammate of Smith’s at Butler and someone who lost a loved one, his father, to leukemia.
Andrew Smith’s memorial service will be held on Sunday in his hometown of Zionsville, Ind. Brad Stevens, who coached Smith throughout his Butler career, is scheduled to give the eulogy.
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