Point guards Collier, Wright could share floor for Buffs

There are two natural point BOULDER guards on the Colorado men’s basketball team. And early indications are they could begin the season by frequently sharing the floor at the same time.

FreshmanMcKinleyWright is the Buffaloes’ point guard of the future. Dom Collier is a senior who has weathered all sorts of ups and downs during his CU career and hopes to finish on a strong note.

While on the surface it appears they are the only players at coach Tad Boyle’s disposal capable of running the offense, sharing theworkload simultaneously may be as common for the duo in the 2017- 18 season as one point guard sitting while the other runs the show.

“I’d throwLaz in there too,” said Boyle, referring to freshman guard Lazar Nikolic. “You put Laz and Dom and McKinley on the floor together and you have three really good ball handlers, three really good passers, three guys that can shoot it. I think there’s going to be a lot of multipletype lineups that we’re going to be able to use. It’s nice to have two ball handlers on the floor at all times. Not that we’ll always have two on the floor, but it sure is nice.”

Collier played the role of the Buffs’ primary point guard during the 2015- 16 season, which ended with the Buffs’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons. Collier was a sophomore then, and it was a seesaw season for him as he finished with a career- best average of 7.5 points per game and a 3- point percentage of .440 ( 40- for- 90), which would have been the fourth- best season performance in CU history had he maintained that accuracy for just 10 more attempts.

But Collier often struggled late in games that season while compiling a belowpar, assist- to- turnover rate of 1.32.

With eventual NBA first- round draft pick Derrick White in the mix last season, his only season of eligibility with the Buffs, Collier was forced to accept a reduced role. A foot injury early in the season sidelined Collier for nine games, and his 3- point percentage dipped to .333.

While it appeared there was a chance that Collier might be supplanted this season byWright, Boyle seemed to indicate four- fifths of the starting unit he unveiled in Monday night’s exhibition game against Colorado Mines has the inside track at being in the starting lineup for the season opener against Northern Colorado on Nov. 10. That means Collier could beworking in tandem withWright, allowing the freshman to get his feet wet.

“It’s really helpful formetohavesomeone likeMcKinley back there with mewho can handle the ball also,” Collier said. “When teams press, it will be much more comfortable for meknowing he’s back there.”

Unlike Collier, who has balanced playing off the ball and playing the point throughout hisCUcareer, Wright is a lifelong point guard who may have to adjust somewhat to playing without the ball. Boyle doesn’t believe that nuance will be an issue, and having Collier and Wright on the floor at the same time will benefit the Buffs’ rebounders.