By: Neill Woelk, cubuffs.com Contributing Editor
BOULDER — With just one game this week and five consecutive practices, the Colorado Buffaloes have had plenty of opportunity to work on their individual games as well as team improvement.
For junior guard Shane Gatling, that individual time always includes his regular shooting regimen, the skill that landed him a spot on the CU roster out of Indian Hills Community College last spring.
But this week, his individual work has also included a little more time in the ball-handling and playmaking department. Those areas have become more important this week, as there is a chance he will see some substantial time at point guard Sunday when the 10-6 Buffs (1-3 Pac-12) play at Utah (8-8, 2-2) in a 4 p.m. at the Huntsman Center (ESPNU).
Gatling found himself the point last week against Washington after regular McKinley Wright IV suffered a shoulder injury in the first half. Wright did not return, but has done some light work this week and could play Sunday.
But Gatling is still preparing for the possibility that he will be running the CU offense when they tip it off against the Utes.
"We don't know if McKinley is going to play, so I might play some point guard and have to run the team," Gatling said. "I've been working on that because I want to make sure I'm ready."
When he was thrust into the role against the Huskies, Gatling responded with eight points, six assists, four steals and just one turnover in a 77-70 loss. The downside was a 1-for-10 shooting night, which came on the heels of a 5-for-10 performance — all 3-pointers — in a win over Washington State.
Now, he would like to combine the best of both of those games.
"I'm just working on knocking down shots," he said. "I've really emphasized making shots, taking time with my shots, taking good shots. I just have to make sure I can do other things to help the team."
Another candidate to see some time at the point if Wright can't go is freshman Daylen Kountz, who played a season-high 34 minutes against the Huskies. Kountz finished with eight points, one rebound and one blocked shot.
"He and Daylen both are capable of running that," head coach Tad Boyle said. "We've kind of got a two-headed monster there. Obviously when McKinley is in, the ball's in his hands a lot. I feel really good about them."
But Boyle stressed that while he wants Gatling to continue to be a scoring threat, he also wants him to concentrate on his playmaking abilities, whether he is at the point or at the two-guard spot.
"My thing is, it's not about the position that you play, it's about how you play," Boyle said. "Shane can have six assists and one turnover playing the two spot, just like he can playing the one spot. You don't have to be playing the one to have assists. You can have those in transition. We want to attack the basket."
Gatling came to Colorado with the reputation of a long-distance gunner after he hit 102 3-pointers last year at Indian Hills.
But this year, he's been hot-and-cold from the field, currently shooting just 33.6 percent from the field this season (38-for-113) and 32.3 percent from 3-point range (21-for-65).
"Scoring is definitely a big part of my game," Gatling said. "My teammates tell me to stay confident and keep shooting the ball. I just have to find good shots and take good shots."
TOUGH PLACE: The Buffs have not fared well against the Utes in recent years, especially on Utah's home floor.
Last year, CU finally ended a seven-game skid at the hands of the Utes with a win in Boulder, but Colorado's losing streak in Salt Lake City now stands at six. Colorado's last win in Utah came in 2012.
"They've got great fans," Boyle said of the Huntsman Center atmosphere. "They average over 10,000 fans a game. They're second in the league behind Arizona in terms of home attendance. They have a passionate fan base that cares about basketball. They have good basketball tradition and Larry and his staff do a very good job."
The Utes do indeed enjoy great home crowd support. Last season, Utah averaged 11,710 per home game, second in the Pac-12 only to Arizona's 14,435.
UPDATE ON WRIGHTS: Boyle said McKinley Wright donned his brace Thursday and got some shots up in practice, and will participate in Friday's workout.
He'll give it a go in practice (Friday) and we'll see how he responds," Boyle said. "He feels good and he's going to play with the brace, which will give him a little extra security and peace of mind. Hopefully we'll have him Sunday, but we don't know that."
As for guard Namon Wright, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury, Boyle said the guard still isn't practicing and is day-to-day.
BOULDER — With just one game this week and five consecutive practices, the Colorado Buffaloes have had plenty of opportunity to work on their individual games as well as team improvement.
For junior guard Shane Gatling, that individual time always includes his regular shooting regimen, the skill that landed him a spot on the CU roster out of Indian Hills Community College last spring.
But this week, his individual work has also included a little more time in the ball-handling and playmaking department. Those areas have become more important this week, as there is a chance he will see some substantial time at point guard Sunday when the 10-6 Buffs (1-3 Pac-12) play at Utah (8-8, 2-2) in a 4 p.m. at the Huntsman Center (ESPNU).
Gatling found himself the point last week against Washington after regular McKinley Wright IV suffered a shoulder injury in the first half. Wright did not return, but has done some light work this week and could play Sunday.
But Gatling is still preparing for the possibility that he will be running the CU offense when they tip it off against the Utes.
"We don't know if McKinley is going to play, so I might play some point guard and have to run the team," Gatling said. "I've been working on that because I want to make sure I'm ready."
When he was thrust into the role against the Huskies, Gatling responded with eight points, six assists, four steals and just one turnover in a 77-70 loss. The downside was a 1-for-10 shooting night, which came on the heels of a 5-for-10 performance — all 3-pointers — in a win over Washington State.
Now, he would like to combine the best of both of those games.
"I'm just working on knocking down shots," he said. "I've really emphasized making shots, taking time with my shots, taking good shots. I just have to make sure I can do other things to help the team."
Another candidate to see some time at the point if Wright can't go is freshman Daylen Kountz, who played a season-high 34 minutes against the Huskies. Kountz finished with eight points, one rebound and one blocked shot.
"He and Daylen both are capable of running that," head coach Tad Boyle said. "We've kind of got a two-headed monster there. Obviously when McKinley is in, the ball's in his hands a lot. I feel really good about them."
But Boyle stressed that while he wants Gatling to continue to be a scoring threat, he also wants him to concentrate on his playmaking abilities, whether he is at the point or at the two-guard spot.
"My thing is, it's not about the position that you play, it's about how you play," Boyle said. "Shane can have six assists and one turnover playing the two spot, just like he can playing the one spot. You don't have to be playing the one to have assists. You can have those in transition. We want to attack the basket."
Gatling came to Colorado with the reputation of a long-distance gunner after he hit 102 3-pointers last year at Indian Hills.
But this year, he's been hot-and-cold from the field, currently shooting just 33.6 percent from the field this season (38-for-113) and 32.3 percent from 3-point range (21-for-65).
"Scoring is definitely a big part of my game," Gatling said. "My teammates tell me to stay confident and keep shooting the ball. I just have to find good shots and take good shots."
TOUGH PLACE: The Buffs have not fared well against the Utes in recent years, especially on Utah's home floor.
Last year, CU finally ended a seven-game skid at the hands of the Utes with a win in Boulder, but Colorado's losing streak in Salt Lake City now stands at six. Colorado's last win in Utah came in 2012.
"They've got great fans," Boyle said of the Huntsman Center atmosphere. "They average over 10,000 fans a game. They're second in the league behind Arizona in terms of home attendance. They have a passionate fan base that cares about basketball. They have good basketball tradition and Larry and his staff do a very good job."
The Utes do indeed enjoy great home crowd support. Last season, Utah averaged 11,710 per home game, second in the Pac-12 only to Arizona's 14,435.
UPDATE ON WRIGHTS: Boyle said McKinley Wright donned his brace Thursday and got some shots up in practice, and will participate in Friday's workout.
He'll give it a go in practice (Friday) and we'll see how he responds," Boyle said. "He feels good and he's going to play with the brace, which will give him a little extra security and peace of mind. Hopefully we'll have him Sunday, but we don't know that."
As for guard Namon Wright, who has missed the last three games with a foot injury, Boyle said the guard still isn't practicing and is day-to-day.