ACCIDENT WON'T STOP UW GUARD
Madison Capital Times
Madison, Wis.
Dec 25, 1999
Authors: Todd Finkelmeyer The Capital Times
It's been nearly four months since Cand as Smith suffered serious facial
injuries - including a severed nose - in a one-car accident on Madison's
northeast side.
And while the freshman point guard on the University of Wisconsin women's
basketball team is attempting to move on, Smith admits the scars - both
emotional and physical - are still present.
"Every time I look in the mirror, I go, `You know, that was a day that
set you back,' " said the former Madison West star, whose nose and forehead
show the physical scars from the Aug. 28 accident. "Then I go, `But now
you have to move forward with your life.' "
All things considered, it's amazing Smith has come as far as she has -
both on the court and off. She recently finished her first semester of
school, while her playing time with the Badgers is increasing with almost
every game.
Today, it's hard to believe that, immediately after the accident, many
didn't know what the future held for Smith. Privately, some feared the
worst. At the very least, her freshman season with the Badgers appeared
to be in jeopardy.
"I never told Candas this, but when I went to see her in the hospital,
I had to sit down when I saw her," said UW coach Jane Albright. "I think
as a coach you tend to think that all these kids are like your daughters,
especially when you don't have children.
"And I sat down when I saw her - in amazement that she was alive. I am
totally amazed that she is on the basketball court with us."
Aside from her facial injuries, which required a couple surgeries, Smith
came out of the whole ordeal in surprisingly good shape. She returned to
practice Oct. 30 and was ready to go in the Badgers' exhibition opener
Nov. 9.
Through the Badgers' first five regular-season games, Smith averaged 6.8
minutes, 0.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per contest. But over the last three,
she is averaging 15.3 minutes, 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds as the backup
to senior point guard Dee Dee Pate.
"I think she's really improved a lot in the last couple of games," Albright
said of Smith. "Her minutes have gone up and, offensively, she's really
done a nice job.
"Conditioning and defense is where she needs to get better right now. She
really has the potential to be one of our best defensive players. But I
think we kind of threw her into the fire when she returned, and we never
when back and built the proper foundation under her there."
While Smith's quick recovery has surprised almost everyone, she is still
dreaming of the day when she can return to full strength.
Prior to the accident, many figured Smith would push Pate for a starting
job. To date, however, Smith has only shown flashes of being a first-rate
point guard, as overall inconsistent play has kept her from seriously threatening
Pate's role as a starter.
"I don't think I'm really even close to being 100 percent, and sometimes
I feel like I'm letting the team down," Smith said. "I think I have at
least 20 to 25 percent more to go to get where everybody else is at. At
least that much.
"Mentally and physically, right now I'm very tired."
Mentally, Smith has had to push hard to keep up in the classroom after
missing her first couple days of school while recovering in the hospital.
"But I think school went pretty good," she said following finals week.
The daily grind, however, has sometimes made it difficult for Smith to
stay focussed during the Badgers' fast-paced, late- afternoon practices.
Physically, Smith missed out on the Badgers' preseason conditioning program,
and she still tires easily. It hasn't helped that Smith has had a hard
time breathing during workouts - a problem brought on mostly by a nagging
cold, but partly by the accident.
In an attempt to get in better physical condition, she is working out with
UW assistant coach Kate Peterson each day at the Kohl Center while the
rest of the team is currently off from practice. The UW last practiced
on Dec. 20, and won't return to the court as a team until Monday.
The Badgers (5-3) then open Big Ten Conference play Thursday vs. defending
NCAA champion Purdue.
And if she's called on, Smith vows she will provide a spark off the bench.
"Going out there as a point guard, you have to be confident that you can
get your job done," said Smith. "If you're not, then who is going to be
your leader?
"So when I step on the floor, I have to have the mindset that I can run
this team. I will do what I'm supposed to and get things going."
In Smith's mind, it's time to start moving forward.
"I'm just trying to put this whole thing behind me," she said.