Mississippi State men’s basketball received some devastating news this week as star power forward Tolu Smith sustained a foot injury in practice. The Bulldogs announced in a statement from head coach Chris Jans that Smith will be sidelined until at least the start of Southeastern Conference play.

“We’re going to support and care for Tolu’s mental and physical well-being during every step of the recovery process,” Jans said. “We will continue to move forward with our preparations for the upcoming season as Tolu and his family would expect us to. He will continue to serve as a team leader from the sidelines until we welcome him back on the floor.”

Smith led MSU last season in both scoring and rebounding, with 15.7 points and 8.5 boards per game. He was also a force on the defensive end with a team-high 23 blocks.

The injury is a major blow for a Bulldogs team with high internal and external expectations this season. Smith was named to the all-SEC Preseason First Team by Lindy’s, Field of 68 and Blue Ribbon Magazine, with Blue Ribbon also listing him as a second-team preseason All-American. He was one of just five players from a high-major conference to average at least 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting at least 55% from the field last season.

Still, MSU has the personnel to make up for Smith’s absence. Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis and Cameron Matthews are also returning starters, and the Bulldogs were active in the transfer portal, bringing in Jimmy Bell Jr. from West Virginia and Andrew Taylor from Marshall.

Forward Keshawn Murphy, who made 19 appearances off the bench last year, will also be out until around Christmas, Jans told reporters earlier in the week. Davis is recovering from surgery in the offseason, but Jans said he expects him back soon.

The Bulldogs’ non-conference schedule is manageable — only North Texas (31) and Rutgers (39) finished last season in the top 50 of Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. MSU could also play Northwestern, which finished 38th, on the second day of the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Uncasville, Conn.