BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Every time Stef Smith went to the free-throw line, he was bombarded with a nasty chant.
The Assembly Hall sellout crowd of more than 17,000 zeroed in on the Vermont transfer, directing its venom his way. Smith didn’t just shake it off. He responded by helping shoot St. John’s back into the game.
“I like to stay even-keel. I always do my meditation before games. That kind of helps me, especially when I did struggle in the first half,” the veteran guard said after the Johnnies fell short, 76-74, to Indiana in the Gavitt Tipoff Games Wednesday night. “I kind of put that to the side and kept playing.
“This is my fifth year playing college basketball. I’ve experienced it all.”
The crowd repeatedly chanted “sloppy seconds,” a sophomoric and over-the-line reference to Smith now dating the ex-girlfriend of Indiana star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis. Her family was in attendance, though she wasn’t.
The 6-foot-2 Smith shook off a poor start to score 16 points and add four assists, three rebounds and three steals. He was essential to the Johnnies’ rally from 13 down, scoring in a variety of ways. He played 33 minutes, more than expected after the first half ejection of Montez Mathis due to a Flagrant 2 foul. But he was up for the challenge, even as the large crowd viciously went after him.
“I’ve played in great environments, I’ve played at Kansas. I’ve played in the [NCAA] Tournament against Florida State,” Smith said. “The biggest thing is to just lock in and block out all of the outside noise, especially at the free-throw line you have to lock in and focus on what you have to do.
“We knew it was going to be a tough crowd, not just on me, but everybody. We had to stick together and we fought back in the second half. I’m really proud of the way we played in the second half.”
Of St. John’s five transfers, Smith was by far the best. Coach Mike Anderson is admittedly still learning about his new players.
He saw what one of them is made of Wednesday night.