Like many across the country, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was blown away by the play of Arkansas forward Justin Smith on Friday.
The graduate transfer from Indiana added a career-high 27 points on 8 of 16 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Razorbacks’ 85-68 first-round NCAA Tournament win over Colgate. He scored 18 points in the second half on 5 of 10 from the floor and 8 of 10 at the free throw line.
“He had an amazing game, arguably the best performance in the first round of this year’s NCAA Tournament,” Beard said Saturday.