Colorado University Athletics
Balanced Buffs Set To Host South Dakota
December 03, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Through six games this season, the Colorado Buffaloes are the second-highest scoring team in the Pac-12, averaging 85.8 points per game — yet the Buffs don't have a single scorer in the league's top 10.
Instead, they have balance. Sophomore point guard McKinley Wright IV is 15th in the league in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game. Right behind is junior forward Lucas Siewert at No. 16 with 14.2 per game, and two other Buffs are also averaging double-digit scoring, sophomore Tyler Bey (11.5) and senior Namon Wright (10.5), with guard Shane Gatling (9.3) and forward Evan Battey (8.7) knocking on the door.
Colorado clearly doesn't depend on one — or two — players to assume the scoring duties. In six games, the 5-1 Buffs have had five different players lead the team in scoring, and out of CU's top six scorers, five are shooting at least 50 percent from the field. Colorado leads the Pac-12 in shooting percentage, hitting 50.4 percent of its field goal tries.
"That's what makes this team a little unique, is that we have so many weapons," head coach Tad Boyle said. "If we will understand that on any given night it might be somebody else's time to achieve and be happy for that guy, good things will happen to this team. We just have to continue that unselfish offensive mindset."
The Buffs' next chance to maintain that balance comes Tuesday, when they play host to 4-3 South Dakota in a 7 p.m. game at the CU Events Center (Pac-12 Network).
The Buffs are coming off an 86-80 win over Colorado State, a game in which three players — McKinley Wright, Siewert and Bey — all recorded double-doubles, the first time three Buffs have accomplished the feat in the same game in 15 years. But Colorado may have a difficult time hitting its offensive averages against South Dakota, as the Coyotes are allowing just 61.1 points per game thus far.
"They're solid," Boyle said. "They don't have great size but they make up for it by really being in the gaps. They stop dribble penetration pretty well, they double the post, so we're going to have to be ready for that. … We still want to get the ball in the paint, whether it's on a drive or a post up, but we have to understand once we get it in there, we have to be able to make plays after that."
The Buffs have seen a similar defensive style this year — and it didn't end well, as San Diego's defense stifled Colorado for much of the night in a 70-64 CU loss. It was by far CU's lowest scoring output of the year, with the next lowest a 79-75 win over Omaha.
"San Diego was in the gaps," Boyle said. "They wanted to play that game in the 60s. They got to 70, we got 64. South Dakota wants this game in the 60s."
To get the offensive output the Buffs want, they need to create their opportunities on the defensive end with stops, then get the ball moving in transition. But if they can't get quick transition buckets, Boyle said, Colorado needs to operate its halfcourt offense at a high level — something the Buffs did against Colorado State.
"Understand if they take us out of (transition), we have to be able to have some patience," Boyle said. "Offensively we want to take care of the ball and get a great shot every time we have it."
The Coyotes, who finished second in the Summit League last season, are led by 6-foot-6 forward Trey Burch-Manning, who averages 16.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. USD owns wins over Northern Arizona and Maryland-Baltimore County, but also lost to Air Force, a team Colorado beat by 37 points earlier this year.
STEADY SENIOR: Eight different Buffs are averaging at least 20 minutes per game. That includes senior Namon Wright, who thus far has assumed the role of sixth man, coming off the bench to provide an offensive spark as well as a boost on the defensive end and on the boards.
Thus far, he is fourth on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (4.3 rpg). He also has six assists and just three turnovers, and is shooting 55.3 percent from the field — second only to Siewert, who is hitting 63.3 percent of his shots.
"We need to get Namon more shots because he's a good shooter," Boyle said. "I just want him to take great shots. As long as he takes good shots, good things are going to happen for us."
Wright has been a starter for much of his career, beginning with his first two years at Missouri before transferring to Colorado. As with any player, he would prefer to be in the starting lineup — but he is also aware that he's providing a valuable boost coming off the bench.
"It's still something I'm getting used to," Wright said. "Not getting into the flow right away is sometimes difficult. But whatever the coach wants me to play, I'm going to do it and play to my full abilities. What you learn is that you have to make the most of every opportunity you get."
SIEWERT SURGE: Maybe one of most pleasant developments this year has been the steady output from junior Lucas Siewert.
In his first 57 games at Colorado, Siewert averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per year.
But in his last 11 games — the final five of last year and the first six this year — he is averaging 14.1 points and six rebounds per game. That includes back-to-back double-doubles in CU's last two games.
THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
BROADCAST: Handling the telecast for the Pac-12 Network will be JB Long and Casey Jacobsen while Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke will be on the call for KOA radio (850 am).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
