Colorado University Athletics
Senior Gatling Stepping Up For Buffs
February 05, 2020 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER — Senior guard Shane Gatling has been an important asset to the Colorado Buffaloes this season.
Gatling is currently averaging 6.3 points per game and is third on the team in 3-pointers made with 24. He is also averaging 1.3 assists per game, which is tied with junior D'Shawn Shwartz for third most for the Buffaloes. In the past three games, Gatling has had eight assists and only four turnovers, with one of those games a five-assist, one-turnover effort in a 76-62 win over Washington.
Gatling started 33 of 36 games last season for the Buffaloes, but did not start the first 12 games this year. He was moved to the starting lineup this season for the first time on Dec. 28th against Iona, the 13th game of the season, and has started every game since.
"I started almost every game last year and the coaches wanted to try something new this year," Gatling said. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes for my team to win, whether it's starting or coming off the bench."
The senior has proven to be a player that can step up when other players are not playing well. In a 56-48 win at Colorado State on Dec. 13, Gatling had a season high 20 points to help the Buffs in a game in which Colorado's current leading scorer, McKinley Wright IV, was 1-for-11 with just two points.
Gatling is one of just two seniors on the Colorado roster, along with forward Lucas Siewert. Colorado is the third stop of Gatling's college career. He played his freshman season at Niagara University in New York, then transferred to Indian Hills Community College for his sophomore season before coming to Boulder.
"I feel like I can help a lot because I have experience playing against a lot of different levels of players." Gatling said, "It feels good to be a leader after only two years because a lot of guys trust and believe in me."
