Women’s Basketball Boosted by Dynamic Center Duo
2/26/2019 4:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton moved into the Montana State dorms in the summer of 2016 as college freshmen. It was the first time the two basketball players met. Since then, they’ve become best friends off the court and split the role of playing center on the court.
Madeline Smith and Blaire Braxton moved into the Montana State dorms in the summer of 2016 as college freshmen. It was the first time the two basketball players met. Since then, they've become best friends off the court and split the role of playing center on the court.
One of the two has started every game at center over the last three seasons for the Bobcats. Their minutes have been split almost even. The two have combined to average 39.7 minutes per game on the court this year. Smith edges Braxton in minutes played, but by a small margin, as Smith averages 20.0 per game and Braxton 19.7. Braxton started all 31 games for MSU their freshman year during the 2016-17 and Smith followed her up starting 24 out of the Bobcats' 31 games last season.
"As far as rebounding and defense goes, there was more of a need in that department (freshman year)," Braxton said. "Last year, there was more of a need for scoring. I kind of got the opportunity to watch Madeline go through that. The roles were reversed those two different years."
The two described Braxton's defense and rebounding as her strengths while Smith's offensive abilities led her to playing time. Going into their freshman years, the Bobcats had more of a need for Braxton's physical style of play. She went on to average 3.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game that season. Smith took somewhat of a backseat in the rotation averaging 13.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game.
Last season the team benefitted from Smith's offense in the starting role. She went on to average 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 23.1 minutes. Braxton still averaged 21 minutes per game. The stat lines from those years show a contrast in play.
This season their stats have been almost identical.
Smith averages 8.3 points, 5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.42 blocks per game. Braxton is averaging 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 blocks per game.
"Early on, Madeline (Smith) was more of an offensive player, Blaire was our defensive stopper." Montana State assistant coach Kati Mobley said. "Over the last couple of years, they've become more well-rounded players. They get to see what the other one is successful with and how to get better in those areas. It definitely helped them playing against each other."
Playing time has never been a major issue for the two. They both admitted at times there have been struggles with a certain rotation or a prolonged stretch off the court. Two dominant players rotating in and out of the lineup throughout their first three seasons could have led to some tension. But the two good friends respect the other's abilities and stressed knowing their roles on the team.
They also have personal benefits from playing with each other. The rotations allow them to expend more energy in their 20 minutes a game rather than if they were continuously in the lineup for 30 minutes a night.
"I think it helps our bodies definitely," Braxton said. "We're able to bring a different kind of energy and we're not playing those 30 minute-games. Knowing we're getting the same thing from each person is definitely helpful."
The duo's bond stretches off the court. From living together freshman year through their new life experiences of being student-athletes at the Division I level, they bonded. Spending an almost endless amount of time together at home and while with the team, the two would hardly ever get tired of each other. After breaks, they would always look forward to hanging out.
The bond has led the two to take extra pride when one of them has a big night or a career game. Instead of feeling threatened, they relish the opportunity to make each other better and be their biggest supporters. Smith put up a career high of 25 points on only 12 shots in 21 minutes against Weber State on Feb. 16. A month prior, Braxton came in off the bench to score a team-high and career-high 18 points against Idaho in a home game on Jan. 18.
If one of them is playing well, essentially both are because of the minute allocations.
"We want everyone to do well obviously," Smith said. "But, I feel like when we do well we almost get something extra out of it too. We kind of think of each other as one person because we end up splitting so much time."
The relationship does have competitive moments. The two went through summer camp their freshman year matched up against each other through various drills. The competition started then and has dissipated a bit over the years, but when the two get the chance to match up against each other in practice, they look forward to it.
"When we get to split up post and guards we definitely get some time to go against each other," Braxton said. "Talk a little bit of smack, I think it's fun. What's cool is when we struggle, we really struggle together. Getting to go through that at the same time and understanding where the other person is coming from is huge."
Braxton and Smith have stuck together through their time at MSU and will cap off their careers next winter. Basketball brought the two together and now it's almost an afterthought in terms of their relationship.
"I think we both like to rely on each other for sanity at this point," Braxton said. "Getting through school together, we like to hangout when we travel, it's a fun relationship."
Montana State heads to Northern Arizona in its return to the court at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
One of the two has started every game at center over the last three seasons for the Bobcats. Their minutes have been split almost even. The two have combined to average 39.7 minutes per game on the court this year. Smith edges Braxton in minutes played, but by a small margin, as Smith averages 20.0 per game and Braxton 19.7. Braxton started all 31 games for MSU their freshman year during the 2016-17 and Smith followed her up starting 24 out of the Bobcats' 31 games last season.
"As far as rebounding and defense goes, there was more of a need in that department (freshman year)," Braxton said. "Last year, there was more of a need for scoring. I kind of got the opportunity to watch Madeline go through that. The roles were reversed those two different years."
The two described Braxton's defense and rebounding as her strengths while Smith's offensive abilities led her to playing time. Going into their freshman years, the Bobcats had more of a need for Braxton's physical style of play. She went on to average 3.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game that season. Smith took somewhat of a backseat in the rotation averaging 13.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game.
Last season the team benefitted from Smith's offense in the starting role. She went on to average 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 23.1 minutes. Braxton still averaged 21 minutes per game. The stat lines from those years show a contrast in play.
This season their stats have been almost identical.
Smith averages 8.3 points, 5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.42 blocks per game. Braxton is averaging 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 blocks per game.
"Early on, Madeline (Smith) was more of an offensive player, Blaire was our defensive stopper." Montana State assistant coach Kati Mobley said. "Over the last couple of years, they've become more well-rounded players. They get to see what the other one is successful with and how to get better in those areas. It definitely helped them playing against each other."
Playing time has never been a major issue for the two. They both admitted at times there have been struggles with a certain rotation or a prolonged stretch off the court. Two dominant players rotating in and out of the lineup throughout their first three seasons could have led to some tension. But the two good friends respect the other's abilities and stressed knowing their roles on the team.
They also have personal benefits from playing with each other. The rotations allow them to expend more energy in their 20 minutes a game rather than if they were continuously in the lineup for 30 minutes a night.
"I think it helps our bodies definitely," Braxton said. "We're able to bring a different kind of energy and we're not playing those 30 minute-games. Knowing we're getting the same thing from each person is definitely helpful."
The duo's bond stretches off the court. From living together freshman year through their new life experiences of being student-athletes at the Division I level, they bonded. Spending an almost endless amount of time together at home and while with the team, the two would hardly ever get tired of each other. After breaks, they would always look forward to hanging out.
The bond has led the two to take extra pride when one of them has a big night or a career game. Instead of feeling threatened, they relish the opportunity to make each other better and be their biggest supporters. Smith put up a career high of 25 points on only 12 shots in 21 minutes against Weber State on Feb. 16. A month prior, Braxton came in off the bench to score a team-high and career-high 18 points against Idaho in a home game on Jan. 18.
If one of them is playing well, essentially both are because of the minute allocations.
"We want everyone to do well obviously," Smith said. "But, I feel like when we do well we almost get something extra out of it too. We kind of think of each other as one person because we end up splitting so much time."
The relationship does have competitive moments. The two went through summer camp their freshman year matched up against each other through various drills. The competition started then and has dissipated a bit over the years, but when the two get the chance to match up against each other in practice, they look forward to it.
"When we get to split up post and guards we definitely get some time to go against each other," Braxton said. "Talk a little bit of smack, I think it's fun. What's cool is when we struggle, we really struggle together. Getting to go through that at the same time and understanding where the other person is coming from is huge."
Braxton and Smith have stuck together through their time at MSU and will cap off their careers next winter. Basketball brought the two together and now it's almost an afterthought in terms of their relationship.
"I think we both like to rely on each other for sanity at this point," Braxton said. "Getting through school together, we like to hangout when we travel, it's a fun relationship."
Montana State heads to Northern Arizona in its return to the court at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
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