Nick Martineau and Mike Loyd were about the same age the last time they served as reserve basketball players.

"It seems like it's different everyday," said the walk-on Martineau, who will leave for an LDS mission after the season. "It keeps you on your toes and makes you real nervous. But you just have to battle it out everyday and it's good both of us have an opportunity."

BYU head coach Dave Rose decided just before the season opener at Long Beach State on Nov. 10 to redshirt junior college transfer Lamont Morgan.

Murdock has averaged about 27.7 minutes for 11-4 BYU heading into today's 4 p.m. Mountain West Conference opener against Colorado State (6-9, 0-1).

Not much for shooting, he's been stable protecting the ball. He has 62 assists and 24 turnovers and only twice (losses to North Carolina and Boise State) has he recorded more gaffes than dimes.

But it still leaves about 12 minutes on the floor to battle for. Who's going to get them?

"It's gone back and forth. I don't know, to tell you the truth," Martineau said. "Coach tries a lot of different things and you have to go out and impress him -- be ready to play all of the time."

The job was mostly Loyd's early in the year. He said he's relishing getting playing time as a newcomer from Las Vegas, who last came off the bench during AAU ball as a ninth-grader.

But the last four games Martineau has a three-minute advantage on his classmate, 34-31.

The case study presents two questions that college coaches face every year: How will their players handle not being the stars at this level right away? (Both backup points appear to be just fine.)

And how will they handle competition for playing time, when most haven't had to battle so much?

Martineau last served as a backup in eighth grade. The coach, he said, preferred to start the ninth-graders.

"Then I'd come in after a minute or two, and play rest of game," Martineau said.

Loyd admits to being frustrated when Martineau has been summoned first.

"At times, you know I'd be like, 'why didn't I go in?' " he said. "But I guess (Martineau) might have got the best of me the day before at practice, and I understand that. I just have to keep working hard. It's a battle between us everyday. We bring out the best in each other -- especially on defense."

Rose sees the best of both worlds in his options to spell Murdock, aside from the detriment that both will be playing their first league games.

"A lot of it is based upon just kind of a feel for what we need," Rose said. "Mike brings us a lot of energy in the open floor and Nick has done a pretty good job of running our half-court offense. So we're in a process where we go with the matchup that's best for us."

BYU enters league play the most battle tested, with games against Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and Wake Forest. But questions linger.

Besides backup point guard, Rose has a couple of options at center to spot Trent Plaisted -- senior Vuk Ivanovic and sophomore Chris Miles. The pair is also, like Loyd and Martineau, a distinct contrast but no one has separated himself from the pack.

Jimmer Fredette, arguably the best pure shooter on the team, is still learning the offense. He has a point guard pedigree but has been mostly filling in off the bench at shooting guard.

Rose also appears to have a decision to make at power forward. Jonathan Tavernari is the more prolific shooter, but if the reigning MWC freshman of the year can't start making some shots, it will be interesting to see if freshman Chris Collinsworth -- who is more sound at defense and rebounding -- begins to do more evening out of the 26-16 floor-minutes disadvantage.

Although Tavernari is 9 for his last 32 from the field, and 7-of-25 from 3-point range, there is hope. It was last year at this time that he made a name for himself.

BYU (11-4, 0-0) vs. Colorado State (6-9, 0-1)

4 p.m., Marriott Center

Radio: KSL 1160 AM (102.7 FM)

TV: The Mtn.

Tip-ins: CSU should be without center Stuart Creason (foot). ... The Rams are led by 6-foot junior transfer Marcus Walker (16.3 ppg). ... BYU has a 39-game home winning streak, two behind the active mark of Memphis. ..Fans who purchase two tickets to this game will receive two of equal or lesser value to see the Cougars at home against either SDSU (Jan. 23) or TCU (Feb. 6). ... BYU, 8-0 in Provo this year, has won the last 8 against CSU in Provo.