MJ Collins was not the freshman guard that most expected to be playing a big role this season, but Collins became that top backup guard with Rodney Rice out with an ankle injury. Collins proved to be more than just a fill-in at the time proving to be a solid backup player who could at least provide some quality minutes off the bench but not setting the world on fire.
However, Collins has turned it up to another level over the past few games playing with a high level of confidence and playing legitimate high level basketball that has led to him averaging almost 26 minutes per game in his past 4 games while also playing closer minutes against Clemson and Duke.
He's also rightly earned it with his play averaging 7.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in his past 4 games. He's doing it in an efficient manner as he's 11-18 from the field including 8-12 from three-point range during this four-game stretch that has featured three top 6-8 seed NCAA Tournament teams plus the unique Syracuse zone.
Combine that with Collins hitting big shots in some big moments in a couple of those tight games including the final 3 points in the 78-75 win over Duke and it's clear that Collins is playing like a freshman who you would assume was ranked higher than 186th by the 247 Sports Composite rankings.
So how is Collins doing this? Well, Hunter Cattoor points to Collins' growing confidence as a main reason for his surging play.
"His confidence, he works hard and he believes in the work that he's put in. Each day, you can tell he's going out there, he'll get a shot, you might get a split second and he's shooting that three with confidence. Earlier in the season, he might have had that and hesitated. So it's good to see him out there playing with confidence and being himself," Cattoor said.
Justyn Mutts also agreed that Collins' confidence is a big reason why he's playing as well as he is.
"I think the main thing helping him is his confidence level. He stays in the gym. He keeps working out. He doesn't let anything bother him. He continues to play his game and because of that, he's being rewarded. Not just rewarded with the ball going in, but he's being rewarded with confidence from the coaches. That's huge, that's bigger than anything else, the coaches believing in you and giving you opportunity to prove yourself. So I think everything he's getting right now, he deserves," Mutts said.
Following the win over Duke, Collins had this to say about how much confidence he's playing with and where that has come from.
"A lot (of confidence). I feel like my teammates are looking for me more. Me and my coaches have been putting in the work in the gym, after practice, before practice, on my free time. The confidence has been built up. It was more of an adjustment transitioning from high to college and it took me a minute, but now I feel like my confidence is sky high and I plan on keeping it there," Collins said.
As we saw after this comment against Syracuse, Collins is definitely keeping that confidence at a sky high level.
MJ Collins may have started the year as a solid but unspectacular backup guard, but he's found his confidence as he's gotten more comfortable at the collegiate level and taken his game to the next level. While Hunter Cattoor's return may be the biggest reason for the Hokies' recent surge, Collins' growing confidence and improved play have also played a key role in turning around VT's season.
