Fortune Proving To Be More Than Just Shooter For Buffs

BOULDER — When Josh Fortune made the decision to transfer from Providence to Colorado, the Buffs knew they were getting a scorer. He'd been one of the Friars' best 3-point shooters, an area in which Tad Boyle's team needed a boost.

But what Boyle and his staff didn't know is that they were also getting a playmaker, someone who can not only create his own shot, but can create opportunities for teammates as well.

Thus far this season, Fortune is proving to be one of the 8-1 Buffs' most versatile players. He's third on the team in scoring (11.6 points per game), third in rebounding (5.0 per game) and is tied with point guard Dominique Collier for the team lead in assists (30). Throw in the fact that he also leads the team — and is 11th in the Pac-12 — in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7 per game), and it's safe to say the Buffs got far more than they bargained for in the transfer.

“We knew he was a shooter, a good shooter, when we got him,” Boyle said earlier this week as the Buffs prepared for a pair of weekend contests against Nicholls State and Hampton. “I didn't know how good of a playmaker he was. That's the pleasant surprise with Josh, not his ability to shoot the ball, but his ability to make plays for others.”

Not that Fortune's scoring ability hasn't been on display this year. He's had five games in double figures, including 18 points against Air Force and 16 against Colorado State, and he's second on the team behind George King in 3-point field goals (16).

But even in the games when he hasn't produced big numbers on the scoreboard, he's been a factor. In last weekend's win over Brigham Young, he finished with just seven points, but added a team-high five assists, six rebounds and a steal.

It's a facet of his game that's improved significantly, one that he's worked on since transferring.

“Obviously everyone wants to score, but if I'm not, if my shot's off, I can do other things like rebounding, getting assists to my teammates, playing good defense,” Fortune said. “If I'm not shooting good, I can do other things and get in the mix of things and not be a one-dimensional player.”

Fortune has had the benefit of sitting out last season after the transfer, a year that helped him not only become familiar with the Buffs' system, but also gave him the chance to view the game from a different perspective.

The result has been a substantial increase in virtually every statistical category, despite playing fewer minutes per game than he did at Providence.

With the Friars, he averaged 3.0 rebounds and 8.4 points in 33 minutes per game. With the Buffs, he's bumped those numbers to 5.0 and 11.6 while playing less than 25 minutes per game.

“I feel like I've improved my game in a lot of aspects, offense and defense,” Fortune said. “I'm just trying to play within the system, and it's a great system. If I can do that, and play as hard as I can, I'll be fine.”

Fortune's continued reputation as a shooter has also benefitted the rest of his game. Opponents are hesitant to leave him unguarded on the perimeter, which creates a variety of options.

“Because he has that reputation, guys are coming out on him and crowding him,” Boyle said. “That allows him to put the ball on the floor and make plays off the dribble, not only for himself, but for others. He's done a very good job of that. He's a good playmaker”

Fortune, King and Tre'Shaun Fletcher are currently part of a rotation system Boyle has devised for his wings. Each has started six games this year, a system Boyle says he won't change unless one of them separates themselves from the pack defensively. Thus far, Boyle says that hasn't happened.

“They've all gotten better, they've all gotten more conscientious on the defensive end,” Boyle said. “But they haven't separated themselves defensively. Because I'm a defensive-minded coach, that's how I'm going to make my decisions.”

Thus far, none of the three seems to be suffering from the system, another reason Boyle said he's in no hurry to settle on two full-time starters.

“I've got one of those that if it ain't broke, don't fix it,” Boyle said. "It's not the top of my priority list.”

It certainly hasn't affected the Buffs' overall performance. Colorado has won eight straight games, is ranked in the nation's top 15 in RPI and this week received votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches' polls. CU is also leading the Pac-12 in scoring (84.8 per game) and is third in scoring margin (plus-12.7).

For his part, Fortune said he's adjusting to not starting every game.

“It's obviously different starting and not starting,” Fortune said. “But playing is the same. When you're on the bench you see things and come in with different energy because you're fresh. I see it as just another challenge.”

UP NEXT: The Buffs play a pair of home games Friday and Saturday as part of the Las Vegas Classic. CU hosts Nicholls State on Friday and Hampton on Saturday, with both games slated to tip off at 7 p.m., with the Pac-12 Networks carrying the broadcast.

PAC-12 TOURNEY TICKETS: All-tournament passes for the 2016 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament, set for March 9-12 in Las Vegas, went on sale Thursday.

The passes, good for all 11 games, have sold out in years past and the conference is encouraging fans to act quickly.

Additional ticketing information is available on pac-12.com/tickets or by calling 866-740-7711.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu