Colorado Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

The field at the Maui Invitational often resembles an Elite Eight bracket at the NCAA Tournament. Well, with the exception of tournament host Chaminade.

Colorado doesn’t really belong in such elite company, but the Buffaloes accepted an invitation nonetheless to the prestigious early-season tournament in Hawaii.

The appearance motivated the Buffs throughout the offseason.

“We definitely want to make an impact over there and put ourselves on the map, hopefully, early in the season,” point guard Nate Tomlinson told the Boulder Camera. “We’re just getting ready right now, doing all we can to get ready for that.”

If Colorado makes noise in Maui it’s a sign the program is climbing, particularly when it opens against Gonzaga and then plays either Arizona or Wisconsin in the second round.

Improvement has been difficult to measure considering the Buffaloes have suffered three consecutive 20-loss seasons, the last two under coach Jeff Bzdelik.

The Buffs feature one of the Big 12’s top returnees, shooting guard Cory Higgins. But other returnees, such as Tomlinson, must find ways to take some pressure off their talented teammate.

Colorado finished 9-22 overall and 1-15 as the last-place team in the Big 12, while depending on Higgins to lead the team in scoring 18 times.

At least, experience returns after freshmen and sophomore accounted for 72.3 percent of the Buffs’ scoring. The only player from last season’s team who exhausted his eligibility was Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, an undersized center who was not a scoring threat.

Marcus Relphorde, a 6-7 junior college transfer, will be counted on to help on the boards and also assume some of the scoring load. Austin Dufault and Trey Eckloff also need to assert themselves underneath after breaking in last season.

“We’ve been working extremely hard this offseason and hopefully with the new guys coming in, combined with the experience we got last year, we can put it together and have a good year,” Dufault said.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Statistics don’t always tell the whole story, but in Colorado’s case last season they helped explain a bleak last-place finish in the Big 12. The Buffaloes ranked last in the conference in scoring at 62.9 points, 27.6 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game.

• Rather than hire an assistant to fill an opening created by the departure of Charles Baker, Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik opted to re-arrange responsibilities among existing staff members. Drew Long, a volunteer assistant the last two seasons, will handle more coaching duties.

Last Year:   9-22 overall, 1-15 in the Big 12.

Head Coach:   Jeff Bzdelik (career 96-89); third year at Colorado (21-42).

Quote To Note:   “I got excited just looking at the (Maui) tournament link on-line. I think it’s something we’re looking forward to because it’s a great opportunity for us to win some big games.”—Colorado G Levi Knutson to the Boulder Camera.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Colorado hopes for an immediate impact from F Marcus Relphorde, the only junior college transfer among five newcomers. Many of the needs that exist underneath were addressed in recruiting and if 6-11 Australian import Shane Harris-Tunks contributes immediately, the Buffs might be able to wipe out the poor rebounding margin (minus-6) that hurt them last season. G Alec Burks is a 6-6 wing player who could emerge as a difficult match-up in time. G Keegan Hornbuckle could handle the ball some as Colorado looks for more production from the point.

Key Early-season Games:   Colorado scheduled some home tune-ups against inferior opponents before embarking on one of the most ambitious early-season trips in its history. An appearance in the Maui Invitational will definitely give the Buffaloes a chance to assess their development, including an opener against Gonzaga and a second-round game against either Arizona or Wisconsin. Even if Colorado fails to escape the seventh-place game, the experience should be worthwhile for a young squad and also allow the nation to catch a glimpse of underrated G Cory Higgins.

Program Direction:   Patience is required if Colorado is to pry itself from the Big 12 cellar. Third-year coach Jeff Bzdelik possesses the knowledge to develop a team, and also knows the area, after coaching previously at Air Force and with the Denver Nuggets. Bzdelik, who has lost twice as many games at Colorado as he’s won, prefers to patiently attack opponents and his deliberate system often keeps the overmatched Buffs in games, though it can be hard to recruit to. Watching him blend several newcomers into the mix this season will be interesting. An apathetic fan base and three consecutive 20-loss seasons keeps enthusiasm at a minimum.

Probable Starting Lineup:   F Marcus Relphorde, F Austin Dufault, G Cory Higgins, G Dwight Thorne, G Nate Tomlinson.

Roster Report:  

• F Toby Veal left the Colorado program at the end of the 2009 spring semester to be closer to his daughter and his home in Savannah, Ga. Veal played in 18 games last season as a freshman and averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds.

• F Casey Crawford added 18 pounds over the off-season, bulking up to help out more inside after transferring from Wake Forest, averaging only 5.5 points and 1.7 rebounds last season.

• C Shane Harris-Turks adds much-needed size underneath at 6-11 and also possesses unusual experience after playing on Australia’s under-19 national team. His international experience came after prepping at the Australian Institute of Sport.