CU point guard McKinley Wright IV landed on another watch list Thursday, as the junior was one of 44 players named to the watch list of the Oscar Robertson Award, which is given to the player of the year as voted upon by the US Basketball Writers Association.
Wright scored 16 points with five assists and two steals during Wednesday’s win against Loyola Marymount, moving to within three points of the 1,000-point plateau in his career. On Saturday, Wright will face two other players featured on the Oscar Robertson Award watch list in the Kansas duo of Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson.
Other future CU opponents on the Robertson watch list are Oregon guard Payton Pritchard, Arizona freshman Zeke Nnaji, USC forward Nick Rakocevic, Oregon State’s Tres Tinkle, and Dayton’s Obi Toppin.
Wright also was named to the preseason watch lists for the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy, both player of the year honors, as well as the Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in the nation.
Despite CU recording more turnovers (18) than assists (nine) against Loyola Marymount for the fifth time in seven games, Wright nonetheless expressed confidence the Buffs’ offense soon will get on track.
“Our offense obviously isn’t clicking as well early in the season. It’s something that will change,” Wright said. “We aren’t too stressed about it right now because we’re really good on the defensive end and rebounding the ball. It will come, though. It will come. We’ve just got to stay patient, keep hanging our hats on defense and rebounding, and the offense will come.”
