Versatile Smith on Pace for Best Season Yet
Feb 04, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Everyone watches the basketball. I watch Mark Smith. He's captivating. He drains 3-pointers. He grabs rebounds over the bigger guys. He drives 50 feet and powers past two defenders on the way to the hoop. He hits turnaround jumpshots. He steals the ball. He draws the offensive charge. At times, watching the basketball and Smith is one in the same. Follow the ball. Odds are, you'll find Smith.
"I just try to gravitate to the ball," he says.
Smith did a little bit of everything in Kansas State's 71-68 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum. He had 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor to go along with 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 35 minutes. Nijel Pack hit the beautiful game-winning 3-pointer, which moments later became the top video on ESPN, but Pack received an assist of sorts: Smith grabbed a rebound after Bryce Thompson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 38 seconds remaining, which eventually led to an opportunity for Pack to scorch the nets with 2 seconds left on the clock.
K-State head coach Bruce Weber told Smith, "We've got to get this rebound."
Smith replied, "I'm getting the rebound no matter what."
And he did.
• • •
Mark Smith's first love was football. He played quarterback his freshman year at Edwardsville High School in Illinois. His best friend and former teammate, A.J. Epenesa, is a defensive end who was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In one game, a defender took out Smith's legs and he fell and dislocated his shoulder and had to sit out. He didn't want to sit anymore. So, he stopped playing football. He pivoted to baseball. He had a 93 mile-per-hour fastball and pitched a perfect game in one tournament. As a sophomore, he committed to play baseball at Missouri. Then he suffered an arm injury his senior season that ended hopes of dominating the diamond.
Fortunately, he had basketball. A four-year letterman, he helped Edwardsville to a 103-22 record, including a pair of 30-win seasons. He earned Illinois Mr. Basketball and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and was a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press.
Smith came from a basketball family. His mother, Yvonne, scored 1,118 points at SIU-Edwardsville, and his father, Anthony, scored more than 500 points in stints at Southern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville. While at Southern Illinois, Anthony played alongside Chris Lowery in 1991-92. Lowery, of course, is in his 10th season as K-State associate head coach.
"My mom taught me to be cordial to everybody," Smith says. "She helps me believe in my Catholic faith. She instilled in me being a good person, having good energy, and treating people the right way. My dad instilled into me competitiveness. Both are very hardworking. Doing whatever it takes to win, and the belief of giving yourself to the team and good things will happen — I got that from both of my parents."
Today, Smith is displaying all the tools that enticed Lowery the first time he saw Smith play at Edwardsville many years ago. Smith grew close to Lowery. He saw Weber at five of his games as well. But Smith says that he listened too much to the media and listened too much to "wrong things instead of what's real." He went to Illinois and entered the transfer portal after his freshman year. Smith says that he was late on the transfer market, and despite renewed talks with Lowery, pulled the trigger on transferring to Missouri because "it was late, and I wasn't sure if I'd get other offers." So, he went to Columbia.
Although Smith, as a sophomore, shot a blistering 45% (49 of 109) on 3-pointers, which led the SEC, his role as a spot-up shooter eventually grew stale. He wanted to show his athleticism. After three years at Missouri, which included a spot in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, he entered the transfer portal, and opted to utilize his extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Coach Lowery text me the day I entered the transfer portal and Coach Weber called me the next day," Smith says. "I just knew I was coming to K-State."
And he did.
• • •
"My passion is high because I like to win," Mark Smith says. "I really hate losing. I'll do whatever it takes. My role is just to do whatever is needed to help us win games — coming off the ball screen, making passes, rebounding, playing defense, guarding the post, whatever. That's my role on the team. They rely on those things from me. My passion? I want to win for Coach Weber."
It's Thursday morning, less than 12 hours after K-State's thrilling win over Oklahoma State that put the Wildcats, 11-10 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12 Conference, into a tie for sixth place in the league standings, and Smith sits on a zoom call rehashing the final moments against the Cowboys and his love for Weber and his teammates, which feels like family, and his desire for the Wildcats to reach the NCAA Tournament.
"I want our young guys to get to the NCAA Tournament so bad," Smith says. "Even last year when I went, it's like a rollercoaster when you go down the hill, that feeling, and it's so surreal that you can't really explain it. I just want them to get that taste and to feel that special feeling. These guys are great guys and I want that for them. I want Mike McGuirl to finish out his senior year the right way."
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Smith alternates between shooting guard, small forward and power forward. Although Smith admits that he can "just lose myself playing so hard and forget to do little easy things," he's a big reason why the Wildcats can still carry hopes of reaching March Madness.
Smith is the only K-State player to record 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a game since the NCAA began tracking assists in 1976-77. Actually, Smith had career highs with 25 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 5 assists and no turnovers in 39 minutes earlier this season at Oklahoma. This past Saturday, he registered his third 20-point game with a game-high 20 points and 16 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals at Ole Miss. He had a double-double — 18 points and 10 rebounds — in the second half alone.
Currently, Smith ranks 16th in the Big 12 in scoring (11.5) and first in rebounding (8.4). He ranks third at K-State in both assists (1.76) and steals (1.23). He averages 30.0 minutes per game and is also the only K-State player to play in all 21 games this season. He has five double-doubles and has scored in double figures in 13 of 21 games.
"If we're going to have any chance to make a run here, he's got to be consistent," Weber says. "That'll be important. But he's got to be up in that top 5 of newcomers (in the league)."
Since McGuirl began his career on the 2018 Elite Eight squad, he has had a total of 40 different teammates over the course of five seasons. One year after K-State fielded the third-least-experienced team among Power 6 schools (only Auburn and Duke had less experience), the Wildcats harbor a group that includes two super seniors, one senior, three juniors, eight sophomores, and two freshmen.
"We're just lucky to have Mark," McGuirl says. "He's one of the biggest pieces to our team, our culture. He's the heart. He brings that every day."
Adds Pack: "Mark is a very key piece to our identity. Mark was a huge pickup for us, especially the way he stretches the floor with his size, but he also plays bigger than his size. He's quick for his size so we can play small, but he gives us that 6-foot-8 type of guy. We can play small but won't be very small on the glass because he's a rebounding monster."
As was evident with his key rebound with less than 1 minute remaining against the Cowboys on Wednesday.
"Sometimes, I rebound a little better than I expected," Smith says. "I'm a good rebounder, but sometimes I grab a rebound over a big player."
And he did.
• • •
Shortly after Mark Smith arrived in Manhattan in late May, he began working out by himself at 8 a.m. each morning — shooting and weight training. Weber challenged him to watch film. He never took the tablet out of his hands. Weber told him that they didn't want him to be a "one-dimensional guy." That made Smith smile.
After starting 19 games as a freshman at Illinois, Smith started 63 games over three years at Missouri. His scoring average of 5.8 points at Illinois climbed to 11.4 points during his sophomore season at Missouri, then it dropped to 10.0 points, and then to 9.7 points last season. As a fourth-year senior, he ranked third in 3-pointers (40), field goals attempted (215) and steals (25), and fourth in scoring, field goals made (80) and assists (26) with the Tigers.
Now he's on pace for his best season yet.
Smith says that Weber is putting him in positions that are basically the same positions that Weber saw Smith play in high school when he was earning Mr. Basketball honors. And Smith says that the role feels natural to him, even admitting that "sometimes it's like I'm playing in high school again." Everything slows down. Smith has expanded his game and has vastly improved his basketball IQ since high school, of course, but continues to learn every day. He believes that the ways that Weber utilizes him and allows him to be more than a shooter benefits the team, and thus could help Smith reach his biggest goal: The NCAA Tournament.
"How do I want to be remembered?" Smith says. "I want to be remembered as a guy who came in and helped get the program back on track. Even though I'm only here for one year, I want to be known as a guy who's a good person, who played hard every day, and gave my all for the team."
Sometimes the journey seems to begin and end in a single second. First-game jitters to Senior Night sendoff in the blink of an eye. In between are a few memorable shots, a few memorable games, and a lot of life-long friends. Smith's journey has been unique and with it comes different perspectives. But it all comes down to two pillars: hard work and energy.
"I just think how much I've grown and how, when you work hard and have energy, good things tend to happen," Smith says. "Before, I focused so much and didn't really enjoy it. This year, I really enjoy it. No matter ups and downs, good game, or bad game, I enjoy it and come to work each and every day. I'm one of the leaders on this team and I bring that mentality of coming to work every day. I tell them 'Rent is due today. We've got to pay our rent.'"
He chuckles.
"Even though we might lose a tough one, we have to work hard to prepare for the next one," he continues. "When you have hard work and energy good things will happen."
And they will.
Everyone watches the basketball. I watch Mark Smith. He's captivating. He drains 3-pointers. He grabs rebounds over the bigger guys. He drives 50 feet and powers past two defenders on the way to the hoop. He hits turnaround jumpshots. He steals the ball. He draws the offensive charge. At times, watching the basketball and Smith is one in the same. Follow the ball. Odds are, you'll find Smith.
"I just try to gravitate to the ball," he says.
Smith did a little bit of everything in Kansas State's 71-68 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum. He had 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor to go along with 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 35 minutes. Nijel Pack hit the beautiful game-winning 3-pointer, which moments later became the top video on ESPN, but Pack received an assist of sorts: Smith grabbed a rebound after Bryce Thompson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 38 seconds remaining, which eventually led to an opportunity for Pack to scorch the nets with 2 seconds left on the clock.
K-State head coach Bruce Weber told Smith, "We've got to get this rebound."
Smith replied, "I'm getting the rebound no matter what."
And he did.
• • •
Mark Smith's first love was football. He played quarterback his freshman year at Edwardsville High School in Illinois. His best friend and former teammate, A.J. Epenesa, is a defensive end who was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In one game, a defender took out Smith's legs and he fell and dislocated his shoulder and had to sit out. He didn't want to sit anymore. So, he stopped playing football. He pivoted to baseball. He had a 93 mile-per-hour fastball and pitched a perfect game in one tournament. As a sophomore, he committed to play baseball at Missouri. Then he suffered an arm injury his senior season that ended hopes of dominating the diamond.
Fortunately, he had basketball. A four-year letterman, he helped Edwardsville to a 103-22 record, including a pair of 30-win seasons. He earned Illinois Mr. Basketball and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and was a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press.
Smith came from a basketball family. His mother, Yvonne, scored 1,118 points at SIU-Edwardsville, and his father, Anthony, scored more than 500 points in stints at Southern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville. While at Southern Illinois, Anthony played alongside Chris Lowery in 1991-92. Lowery, of course, is in his 10th season as K-State associate head coach.
"My mom taught me to be cordial to everybody," Smith says. "She helps me believe in my Catholic faith. She instilled in me being a good person, having good energy, and treating people the right way. My dad instilled into me competitiveness. Both are very hardworking. Doing whatever it takes to win, and the belief of giving yourself to the team and good things will happen — I got that from both of my parents."
Today, Smith is displaying all the tools that enticed Lowery the first time he saw Smith play at Edwardsville many years ago. Smith grew close to Lowery. He saw Weber at five of his games as well. But Smith says that he listened too much to the media and listened too much to "wrong things instead of what's real." He went to Illinois and entered the transfer portal after his freshman year. Smith says that he was late on the transfer market, and despite renewed talks with Lowery, pulled the trigger on transferring to Missouri because "it was late, and I wasn't sure if I'd get other offers." So, he went to Columbia.
Although Smith, as a sophomore, shot a blistering 45% (49 of 109) on 3-pointers, which led the SEC, his role as a spot-up shooter eventually grew stale. He wanted to show his athleticism. After three years at Missouri, which included a spot in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, he entered the transfer portal, and opted to utilize his extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Coach Lowery text me the day I entered the transfer portal and Coach Weber called me the next day," Smith says. "I just knew I was coming to K-State."
And he did.
• • •
"My passion is high because I like to win," Mark Smith says. "I really hate losing. I'll do whatever it takes. My role is just to do whatever is needed to help us win games — coming off the ball screen, making passes, rebounding, playing defense, guarding the post, whatever. That's my role on the team. They rely on those things from me. My passion? I want to win for Coach Weber."
It's Thursday morning, less than 12 hours after K-State's thrilling win over Oklahoma State that put the Wildcats, 11-10 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12 Conference, into a tie for sixth place in the league standings, and Smith sits on a zoom call rehashing the final moments against the Cowboys and his love for Weber and his teammates, which feels like family, and his desire for the Wildcats to reach the NCAA Tournament.
"I want our young guys to get to the NCAA Tournament so bad," Smith says. "Even last year when I went, it's like a rollercoaster when you go down the hill, that feeling, and it's so surreal that you can't really explain it. I just want them to get that taste and to feel that special feeling. These guys are great guys and I want that for them. I want Mike McGuirl to finish out his senior year the right way."
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Smith alternates between shooting guard, small forward and power forward. Although Smith admits that he can "just lose myself playing so hard and forget to do little easy things," he's a big reason why the Wildcats can still carry hopes of reaching March Madness.
Smith is the only K-State player to record 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in a game since the NCAA began tracking assists in 1976-77. Actually, Smith had career highs with 25 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 5 assists and no turnovers in 39 minutes earlier this season at Oklahoma. This past Saturday, he registered his third 20-point game with a game-high 20 points and 16 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals at Ole Miss. He had a double-double — 18 points and 10 rebounds — in the second half alone.
Currently, Smith ranks 16th in the Big 12 in scoring (11.5) and first in rebounding (8.4). He ranks third at K-State in both assists (1.76) and steals (1.23). He averages 30.0 minutes per game and is also the only K-State player to play in all 21 games this season. He has five double-doubles and has scored in double figures in 13 of 21 games.
"If we're going to have any chance to make a run here, he's got to be consistent," Weber says. "That'll be important. But he's got to be up in that top 5 of newcomers (in the league)."
Since McGuirl began his career on the 2018 Elite Eight squad, he has had a total of 40 different teammates over the course of five seasons. One year after K-State fielded the third-least-experienced team among Power 6 schools (only Auburn and Duke had less experience), the Wildcats harbor a group that includes two super seniors, one senior, three juniors, eight sophomores, and two freshmen.
"We're just lucky to have Mark," McGuirl says. "He's one of the biggest pieces to our team, our culture. He's the heart. He brings that every day."
Adds Pack: "Mark is a very key piece to our identity. Mark was a huge pickup for us, especially the way he stretches the floor with his size, but he also plays bigger than his size. He's quick for his size so we can play small, but he gives us that 6-foot-8 type of guy. We can play small but won't be very small on the glass because he's a rebounding monster."
As was evident with his key rebound with less than 1 minute remaining against the Cowboys on Wednesday.
"Sometimes, I rebound a little better than I expected," Smith says. "I'm a good rebounder, but sometimes I grab a rebound over a big player."
And he did.
• • •
Shortly after Mark Smith arrived in Manhattan in late May, he began working out by himself at 8 a.m. each morning — shooting and weight training. Weber challenged him to watch film. He never took the tablet out of his hands. Weber told him that they didn't want him to be a "one-dimensional guy." That made Smith smile.
After starting 19 games as a freshman at Illinois, Smith started 63 games over three years at Missouri. His scoring average of 5.8 points at Illinois climbed to 11.4 points during his sophomore season at Missouri, then it dropped to 10.0 points, and then to 9.7 points last season. As a fourth-year senior, he ranked third in 3-pointers (40), field goals attempted (215) and steals (25), and fourth in scoring, field goals made (80) and assists (26) with the Tigers.
Now he's on pace for his best season yet.
Smith says that Weber is putting him in positions that are basically the same positions that Weber saw Smith play in high school when he was earning Mr. Basketball honors. And Smith says that the role feels natural to him, even admitting that "sometimes it's like I'm playing in high school again." Everything slows down. Smith has expanded his game and has vastly improved his basketball IQ since high school, of course, but continues to learn every day. He believes that the ways that Weber utilizes him and allows him to be more than a shooter benefits the team, and thus could help Smith reach his biggest goal: The NCAA Tournament.
"How do I want to be remembered?" Smith says. "I want to be remembered as a guy who came in and helped get the program back on track. Even though I'm only here for one year, I want to be known as a guy who's a good person, who played hard every day, and gave my all for the team."
Sometimes the journey seems to begin and end in a single second. First-game jitters to Senior Night sendoff in the blink of an eye. In between are a few memorable shots, a few memorable games, and a lot of life-long friends. Smith's journey has been unique and with it comes different perspectives. But it all comes down to two pillars: hard work and energy.
"I just think how much I've grown and how, when you work hard and have energy, good things tend to happen," Smith says. "Before, I focused so much and didn't really enjoy it. This year, I really enjoy it. No matter ups and downs, good game, or bad game, I enjoy it and come to work each and every day. I'm one of the leaders on this team and I bring that mentality of coming to work every day. I tell them 'Rent is due today. We've got to pay our rent.'"
He chuckles.
"Even though we might lose a tough one, we have to work hard to prepare for the next one," he continues. "When you have hard work and energy good things will happen."
And they will.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
Wednesday, June 10
Tuesday, June 09
