RJ Smith had a front row seat for all 35 games last season. But all he could do was watch.
That finally changed for Smith when the Colorado men’s basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a win against Towson. After feeling his way somewhat deliberately in that opener, a more confident and assertive Smith has been on display the past two games, a mini-streak he looks to continue as the Buffs hit the road for the first time this season with a Monday date against Richmond (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network) at the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The 25th-ranked Buffs (3-0) will play either Florida State or UNLV on Tuesday.
“It definitely feels good to break that hump and get on the floor,” Smith said. “It was different at first adjusting, but it felt normal. I play against good guys at practice every day, so it’s nothing new. I feel pretty comfortable on the court. The first game, I was letting the game come to me, see if I got open shots. The second and third games I was trying to find my shots and be more assertive.”
Smith played nearly 14 minutes in his collegiate debut against Towson but didn’t score. Certainly it’s not as if Smith played poorly — he recorded two rebounds, one assist and one steal with only one turnover — but he didn’t pressure the defense the way he did in subsequent wins against Grambling State and Milwaukee.
Against GSU, Smith finally registered those first career points on three free throws after getting fouled on a long-range attempt midway through the second half. He later added his first career field goal on a 3-pointer and he was even more impressive against Milwaukee, going 3-for-4 on 3-pointers with 11 points.
“We talk about share and sacrifice on this team,” Smith said. “I’m a team player and I’m not selfish. If I’m not playing much, it’s obviously because coach has guys out there that can get the job done. I won’t take offense to that. But when I’m on the floor, I’ll show my ability and try to make a name for myself.”
With KJ Simpson and Cody Williams holding down the starting spots in the backcourt, and Julian Hammond III entrenched as the first guard off the bench, Smith’s minutes likely will become spotty as the schedule grows more demanding. But a strong preseason by Smith has bolstered the confidence head coach Tad Boyle has in the redshirt freshman.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in RJ. I really do,” Boyle said. “Our top seven is kind of set, and RJ and Assane (Diop) are kind of that eight and nine. RJ, to me it’s all about practice for him. He’s a freshman, and obviously he’s a redshirt. I have confidence in him. He might be a limited-minutes guy on certain nights, but he’s going to be part of the rotation.
“He’s got the ability to really guard. He’s got the ability to make shots. He doesn’t have to be a crazy play-maker, he just has to make good decisions with the ball. RJ just needs to make open shots, guard and rebound. And all three things he can do at a high level.”
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
from The Denver Post https://ift.tt/4b9HUPl
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment