USF Finding Production from Point Guards Early

The season is young, but the Bulls are 5-2 to start and are finding production from the point guard position, something the team lacked all of last season. Last year, Anthony Crater ran the point guard position, but struggled to move the offense and could not score a basket to save his life. He averaged just 3.9 points a game, had 137 assists on the year, but turned the ball over 76 times, not the way to win in the Big East. This season however, the Bulls have a new look in the backcourt.

The Bulls this season however, have found production from 3 point guards that bring something unique to the floor. Sophomore LaVonte Dority, who has started all 7 games so far, has 16 assists on the season, just 7 turnovers, and is averaging 3.9 points a game. He is seeing a reduction in minutes lately, but continues to do a solid job when he is on the count, running the offense and not turning the ball over.

The real surprise has been freshman Anthony Collins and the sophomore junior college player Blake Nash. Nash is averaging 9.4 points a game, has 12 assists, but has 14 turnovers, something he will need to fix. Nash is more of a scoring threat, creating baskets and getting his own shot, something new for the Bulls. USF did not have a guard last season that could create and drive to the basket on their own, but Nash is changing that for the Bulls.

Anthony Collins, who has only played in the last two games (missed the previous 5 games with a hamstring injury) has the fans excited. He has 13 assists in just 48 minutes of playing time this season (about an assist every 4 minutes of play for him), including 8 points a game and just 3 turnovers. Nash is fast, driving to the hoop, passing the ball well and getting his own shot through the paint, breaking ankles and showing his speed in the process.

It's early in the season and the schedule ahead is a rough one (Kansas is coming) but after a few games, there is reason to be excited about the guard play for USF. After a long season with Crater running the show, USF fans are looking for anything in the backcourt to give them reason to hope. With Dority, Nash, and Collins already making a splash, there is reason to hope.