Ball State standout Smith out for season

Wednesday November 27, 2002

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) Ball State forward Theron Smith, who led the Cardinals to startling victories over Kansas and UCLA last season, will sit out this season due to knee tendinitis.

Smith, a 6-foot-8 senior from Auburndale, Fla., will seek a medical redshirt this season, Cardinals coach Tim Buckley said Tuesday.

Smith tore an anterior cruciate ligament in May during a workout for the Toronto Raptors, and had surgery in June. Since he resumed playing he's had recurring tendinitis in the knee, Ball State trainer Tony Cox said.

``Theron was back quicker than anyone thought, but he is not where he should be or wants to be yet. Being the competitor that he is, Theron wanted to give competition a try for himself and for his teammates,'' Buckley said.

``After playing, everyone involved agreed that he is probably only 65 percent the player he was.''

Smith led the Mid-American Conference in rebounding (10.9) and was third in scoring (19.6) last season. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games last weekend in the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)