INDIANAPOLIS – As if Butler opponents didn’t have enough worries. Now they have a 7-foot center to confront.
Zionsville’s Derrik Smits came off the bench to score 16 points, and 11th-ranked Butler held Louisiana-Monroe to 23% shooting in a 67-36 victory Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Smits, a transfer from Valparaiso, played 13 productive minutes. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 6-of-7 on free throws. Smits was especially effective in a first-half duel between 7-foot centers, scoring 10 points against ULM’s Chris Efretuei.
Smits had missed most of the nonleague season while recovering from two knee injuries.