In a crushing moment, Mick Cronin telling his star player that his UCLA season was over, it was Chris Smith who rose once more, consoling his coach with an arm around the shoulder.
A few hours later, the senior guard materialized at warmups Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion in a yellow T-shirt and long black pants, throwing his teammates passes, grabbing rebounds and casually burying a corner three-pointer. Smith smiled easily, as if he would be back next week, even though his next game probably will come in the NBA.
“He’s probably played his last game as a Bruin,” Cronin said after his team persevered for a 65-62 victory over Colorado in its first game since Smith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two days earlier.