Trey Smith (Photo by Max Bechtoldt)
By Matt Weiner (@MattWeiner20) – MBB Beat Reporter
Being a specialist in any pocket of the world is polarizing. Just like everyone loves to have a plumber and electrician on speed dial, the same thing goes for 3-point specialists. The best are praised as if they invented sliced bread.
San Jose State shooting guard Trey Smith knows this all too well.
In the Spartans seven wins, he’s shooting a glowing 41% from the perimeter. Each win has his fingerprints all over it. In the 14 losses, he’s shooting 24%, a 17% drop off.
Following a stellar 4 of 7 performance against Utah State on Feb. 3, Smith could be making his way out of the pit. The results changed, but the process remains the same.
“Sticking with my normal routine after practice and before practice,” Smith said. “Nothing changed, just staying consistent with my process.”
With a nine-game losing streak hanging like a dark cloud over the Spartans, they are like gold miners spotting a nugget of gold, and trusting that a gold rush awaits them.
“All the guys know how close we are,” Smith said. “One flip could snowball into a lot of victories.
“Everyone’s still hungry. We are excited to show up to work every day. Then come back later at night or early before practice and get work in. It’s really just a mindset we have here.”
Keeping spirits high during a losing streak is an arduous task, there’s a reason why the adage goes “losing is more contagious than winning” instead of the other way around.
With cackling and wisecracks in the background of the call, spirits aren’t in the doghouse. Smith mentions that the team is maintaining a family-like bond, but mentions one player in particular who’s been in his foxhole.
“Caleb Simmons has always been big in my corner, he’ll text me before and after games and practice.” Adding to that, “It’s a genuine thing he’s doing.”
Shooting cold streaks aren’t found in the fountain of youth, swimming around impervious to anything in its way. It’s something that needs to be worked on daily, but can be improved by stepping away from basketball and experiencing this enigmatic concept called life
“Can be as easy as getting food with Caleb and Omari [Moore] or playing video games. I might just go to the beach, go for a walk or read a book.”
“ITS ALL IN YOUR HEAD” authored by hip-hop artist Russ, has been on his bookshelf as of late.
One quote from the novel that can apply to Smith, a journalist, or a garbageman is, “Wind blows. You can set a wall against it, you can build up a windmill. The choice is yours.”
Utah State was hopefully the first panel on the windmill Smith is building to battle the wind hitting him and the Spartans.
