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Bonzie Colson Now Part Of Notre Dame's 'Big Three'

Bonzie Colson started 24 games as a sophomore in 2015-16.
Bonzie Colson started 24 games as a sophomore in 2015-16. (Andrew Ivins)

Bonzie Colson came off the bench and had his best game at Notre Dame.

His 31-point, 11-rebound performance in a comeback road win over Duke in January opened eyes, and the now-junior is looking to have similar performances in the Irish starting lineup.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound versatile forward is ready for the challenge of getting back to the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach (Mike) Brey has given us a lot of confidence, saying that we can do whatever we can to do that,” Colson said at media day this week. “We’ve been in a lot of crunch time games, we have a lot of experience, so we’ve had a lot of guys that’ve played in big time games, so that really helps us with our identity as well having a lot of experience. I feel like that can get us to the next level of where we want to go.”

Colson started 24 games for the Irish last season. He also came off the bench in 11 contests. For the season, he averaged 25.3 minutes per game and averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, the second-most on the team behind Zach Auguste.

Brey is now looking for the New Bedford, Mass., native to join the Steve Vasturia and V.J. Beachem duo and emerge as a team leader.

Thursday, Colson was one of 20 players named to the Karl Malone Award watch list, which goes to the top power forward in college basketball.

Colson’s role could be flexible again in 2016-17. He could be Notre Dame’s only big if the Irish downshift, a lineup that would bring sophomore wings Matt Ryan or Rex Pflueger on the court. Or he could play the 4-spot and

“It’s up to me to have a feel in the game of when to do that,” Brey said of Colson’s role. “He’s playing facing the bucket a little bit more, and he seems to get more comfortable every year facing the bucket. Certainly he can make a jump shot out there, his 3-point shot is something we want him to take. Not in heavy volumes.”

Colson shot 33.3 percent from 3 last year and 40 percent in ACC play last season.

No matter where Colson is on the floor, he’ll be a valuable rebounder for Notre Dame.

Brey said he expects Colson to be up around double-digit rebounds, a big contributor a department that Brey said is a concern entering the season.

“Every time the shot’s up, I’m trying to go and grab it, no matter where the ball is,” Colson said. “Whether it’s me diving, if it’s me trying to push someone out of the way — not trying to get a foul, but I’m trying to get every ball that I can get. That’s going to be important for us, but Martin Geben and V.J. and Steve, everybody is doing a great job rebounding and going to the glass, it’s not just myself and Martin.

“We’re all rebounding as a unit and that’s really special for us. Rebounding, outlet and going can start an offense up more, and V.J. rebounding and going. Everybody rebounding can really help us out.”

Colson’s production should see an uptick based solely on his increased minutes. Only seven times last season did Colson play over 30 minutes. He’s now going from an occasional off-the-bench spark to an entrenched starter.

“We’ve got to get him in great shape to play longer minutes, and he’s done a great job in the offseason with his body to understand that,” Brey said. “He’s going to have to play longer minutes for us.”

Brey has also been impressed by Colson’s passing skills through the first dozen practices.

“The one thing we’ve found, playing through him, he’s really passing well,” Brey said. “He’s been up there leading us in assists a couple practices and he’s been kicking out to shooters and making really good plays with the ball. That’s an area I’ve really been impressed with.”

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