Matchup to Watch: McKinley Wright vs. Remy Martin
McKinley Wright and Remy Martin are two of the best point guards in the Pac-12. So when Colorado and Arizona State meet at 8:30 p.m. tonight in China, we could be treated to one of the best individual matchups of the early college basketball season.
The two junior guards are remarkably similar, statistically. Wright last year averaged 13.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while Martin averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Wright is the better shooter, having shot 37 percent from the 3-point line and 81 percent at the foul line. Martin is a 31-percent 3-point shooter and shot 74 percent at the foul line last year. Wright was way better from the field, shooting 49 percent to Martin's 40.
But, then again, Remy Martin played in the NCAA Tournament last year and Wright played in the NIT.
Martin was the higher-rated prospect, ranked 128th nationally by Rivals.com, which had him as a four-star. Wright was a three-star who wasn't ranked.
It is only November, after all, but going into the most anticipated Colorado basketball season in years, there is no more important piece than Wright. He'll be relied on for all the normal point guard stuff, but Colorado is also going to need his shooting, such as it is.
The Buffaloes had a terrible time from the 3-point line last year. Some of that seemed a little fluky, and they did add a shooter in juco transfer Maddox Daniels, but nonetheless Wright is going to need to be a reliable outside shooter if Colorado is going to make the NCAA Tournament again.
As for tonight's matchup, Wright has a slight advantage historically. In five meetings between the two, Colorado has three wins.
