However, Smart had said that entering Saturday's game he would have a different mindset. In addition, he apologized to teammates after struggling through a four-point game against West Virginia in which he kicked a chair on the bench. Smart also previously displayed his frustration with emotional outbursts on the court. Smart, who decided to return to Stillwater for his sophomore season despite being considered a lock as a high-lottery pick in the 2013 NBA draft, expressed frustration to ESPN this past week about his growing reputation as a flopper and the inconsistency with officiating. The former GM said Smart's character hadn't been called into question in the past. "I felt sick for the kid, truly saddened by it."Ī former NBA general manager who is currently a scout said Saturday's incident shouldn't affect Smart's draft status, should he declare for the NBA draft, since he will have time to talk about it during the interview process this spring. "When you are loved more for your intangibles than your tangibles to begin with, how can it not?" the general manager told ESPN. One current NBA general manager told ESPN that he does not think Smart's draft stock has slipped as a result of the "overblown" incident, saying that Smart is "too good a kid."īut another current NBA GM told ESPN that he thinks the situation will negatively impact Smart's draft stock. 6 overall prospect on ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford's latest Big Board.īut Saturday's incident has drawn mixed reaction from NBA executives. Smart is the Big 12's third-leading scorer and is the No. I'm sure he regrets doing that, whatever he did, so things like that happen in the heat of the battle." The frustration when you're losing sometimes on a losing streak, I've been there before, it can be tough. "I assume the officials saw what happened. "You really have to find the film to see what happened," he said. Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith said he had turned away from the play and didn't see the altercation. The Cowboys next play at Texas on Tuesday night. Smart, a unanimous selection to the preseason All-America team, had 22 points and four rebounds in Saturday's loss. Oklahoma State (16-7) has lost four straight games and five of its past six contests. No Cowboys players were made available to reporters after the game. I want to make sure I see it and see what happened," Ford said. Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford declined to discuss the incident in his postgame news conference. I know he's a crazy fan, a big supporter and a loyal guy, and I know him as a great guy. "He's one of the most loyal fans you'll ever find," Knight told ESPN about Orr. Lucas also said that in conflicts with fans, players have more to lose.įormer Texas Tech coach Pat Knight called Orr "a great guy" and said he was surprised by the Saturday's altercation. And he is a grown man talking to kids the way he does - John Lucas III February 9, 2014 Smart has claimed to Oklahoma State coaches that Orr called him a racial slur, a member of the basketball program confirmed to ESPN. The fan who Smart shoved is Jeff Orr, an air traffic controller in Waco, Texas, who travels thousands of miles each year to attend Texas Tech basketball games, according to athletic department spokesman Blayne Beal. Officials assessed a technical foul but did not eject him, and he remained on the bench until the final buzzer. Smart then walked away, pointing back in the fan's direction. The fan, wearing a black Texas Tech shirt, stumbled backward but did not fall. As he was being helped up, he appeared to exchange words with a fan in the front row before lunging for the fan and pushing him with two hands. Smart tried to block Jaye Crockett's dunk attempt from behind with 6.2 seconds to go but stumbled out of bounds behind the basket. — - Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart shoved a Texas Tech fan in the final seconds of the 19th-ranked Cowboys' 65-61 loss to the Red Raiders on Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas.
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