Yet those routes have merged together into one combined elite point guard leading Auburn’s highly efficient, high-scoring offense to begin the 2023-24 season. It was once again evident in Auburn’s 83-59 win over Notre Dame on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The two combined for 25 points, 6-9 shooting on 3-pointers, 10 assists and just two turnovers in the win.
Holloway has been the flashier player, making deep and contested 3-pointers in all three games this season. Donaldson has been a reliable ball-handler running the offense. Both have been very efficient in playing their own styles. Both had an equal +15 efficiency rating against Notre Dame and both had a positive +/- rating — Holloway was second on the team at +21.
“Tremendous,” head coach Bruce Pearl said of his point guard guards. “It’s been a great competition all summer and fall. They’ve been pushing and pulling each other. We’re going to have a good point guard out there at all times. They’ve both got to improve defensively for us to have a chance to do what we want to do. But they’re both brilliant shooters.”
Pearl mentioned the competition throughout the leadup to the season which largely was led by Donaldson. Pearl has said it was largely Donaldson as the first point guard out during many drills and scrimmages. Donaldson was the starter during Auburn’s open practice scrimmages in October. Holloway injured his ankle in the opening minutes of a scrimmage against Furman, which meant Donaldson would have the vast bulk of the point guard load in those two exhibitions (Furman and Auburn-Montgomery).
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