College basketball season tipped-off with a bang Friday night in China as the Colorado Buffaloes took on the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Buffs avoided a second-half comeback attempt to win 81-71 victory. The Buffs controlled the tempo for the majority of the game, and have a lot to build on as they head back to Boulder.
Here’s what we saw:
The Buffs’ rotation was what we expected
We came into the season not knowing exactly what the rotation would look like, but knowing most guys would be getting a fair share at minutes. Friday night’s game only further emphasized that any given player has a chance at a big game in any outing.
The Buffs’ starting five was Mckinley Wright IV, Daylen Kountz, D’Shawn Schwartz, Tyler Bey, and Evan Battey; with Lucas Siewert, Shane Gatling, and Maddox Daniels also gaining significant minutes. Battey and Bey anchored a frontcourt that outrebounded ASU 52-38, including seven more offensive boards.
The backcourt played strong as well, as D’Shawn Schwartz saw three of his five deep balls go through to give him 15 points. Daniels also dropped in a pair of threes to help the Buffs’ percentage reach 38%, a solid number for their first outing. Deep-ball shooting was a big offseason emphasis, and we saw flashes in the first half that cooled into the second.
The Buffs seemed to be easing Dallas Walton back into live-action, as he had limited minutes in their preseason exhibitions and did not see much time against ASU. Colorado already had a size advantage that proved instrumental when passing low to Bey and Battey, so perhaps head coach Tad Boyle did not think Walton was needed and therefore could continue getting back to game speed. It will be interesting to monitor how the frontcourt rotation takes shape as the season progresses.
The Buffs’ experience lived up to the hype
Two separate alley-oop dimes from McKinely Wright to Tyler Bey best exemplify the experience of the Buffs this season.
The team just looked comfortable out there, completely ignoring the fact they were playing a conference opponent in a different country. Not to say they did not have their struggles, but overall Colorado was playing together in a way that most programs cannot achieve in their opening game.
Besides the rotation, the players on the floor all looked confident and hungry. There were times last season that fans could cringe at the sight of a certain lineup due to inexperience and inability to move the ball, but tonight we saw a team that across the board looked ready to play.
McKinley Wright is in for a phenomenal season
The “straw that stirs the drink,” as head coach Tad Boyle put it at media day, is stirring up a high-powered offense just one game in.
We knew McKinley Wright was the spark for this team, but he proved to be that and so much more on opening night. Ignoring his impressive stat line of 17 points 7 rebounds and 6 assists (which, mind you, should not be ignored), Wright controlled the pace of the offense while also playing physically on the boards and defense.
In a game that saw two very talented Pac-12 guards go head-to-head, Wright showcased just why he was on so many watchlists heading into the season. Certain attributes are simply unmeasurable by a stat book, and one of those is a feel for the game. He knows when to sit back and rack up assists and he knows when to put his head down in the lane to take over on a possession.
Doing the basics can look advanced at times
The good news is that all this is relatively easy to fix, but late in the second half, the Buffs struggled to hold onto the ball and knock down their free throws. Eighteen turnovers combined with a 60% free throw percentage, is normally a recipe for a loss in college basketball.
The turnovers, in particular, can be largely attributed to the Sun Devils’ speed and athleticism, as ASU’s guards were pressing hard and intercepting passes on inbounds frequently. The Sun Devils were also playing without their starting frontcourt, both of whom were benched for violating team procedures. That meant ASU was forced to play small ball.
Overall, Colorado looked very strong in its opening performance. There are some things to study the tape on, but as they head into a full week of preparation for a game against San Diego, the Buffs should be feeling excited about earning an opening-night win.
