Colorado University Athletics
Reserves Playing Important Role For Boyle's Buffs
December 19, 2019 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER — Colorado has benefited from quality performances off the bench in the Buffaloes' first 10 games of the season.
Colorado has a deep rotation, with 10 players averaging over six minutes a game. In this rotation, anyone can have a big game on any night.
In the Buffaloes' game last week against Colorado State, Colorado's two All-Pac-12 players, junior forward Tyler Bey and junior guard McKinley Wright IV, were not putting up big scoring numbers. Bey ran into early foul trouble and Wright shot just 1-11 from the field on the night for two points. That meant someone else needed to step up and that person was senior guard Shane Gatling. The senior had 20 points off the bench, including a huge jumper in the second half to give the Buffaloes the lead for good after CSU had tied the game at 39.
In the past two games the leading scorer for the Buffaloes has not been a starter. Senior forward Lucas Siewert scored 21 points against Northern Iowa and Gatling had 20 in a win over CSU. Head coach Tad Boyle has been very pleased with his bench's performances in the past few games.
"We're substituting in strength and scoring," Boyle said. "They saved us against Colorado State and kept us in the game against Northern Iowa."
These games were not the first instances that the bench had performed well for the Buffaloes. The Buff's bench is outscoring opponents benches by an average of 5.9 points per game this season.
Gatling, Siewert, junior forward Dallas Walton and sophomore guard Daylen Kountz have all been in the starting lineup for the Buffaloes before. Although none of them are currently in the starting five, they have played well in their new roles. Gatling, Siewert, and Kountz all have at least one double-figure scoring game this season.
"You just have to accept your role." Siewert said, "I think just being on the bench for the first four minutes helps a little bit to see what they're doing. I am just making the time count."
Junior college transfer Maddox Daniels is another important player that has made an impact this year, averaging 4.2 points per game. The CU junior did not score any points against Colorado State, but still made a difference.
"If you look at Maddox Daniel's stat line, he doesn't look like he did much. But he made some extra passes to help get Shane some shots." Boyle said. "That's really unselfish play."
Boyle's bench is currently averaging 21.1 points per game. The bench for Colorado is going to have to continue to play well as the Buffaloes close out their non-conference schedule and prepare for Pac-12 conference play beginning in January.
