University of Denver coach Terry Carroll couldn’t help but howl at the irony when he thumbed through a couple of college basketball magazines.
“The same bunch that picked us to finish dead last last year are now picking us to finish first,” Carroll said. “I mean, how much credibility is there? I told the kids that just shows you have to work hard and then do it on the floor.”
DU made the preseason prognosticators look silly last season by going 20-11, best among Sun Belt Conference teams. But any coach will say it’s easier to perform when expectations are low. The pressure is on this season, with DU favored to win the West Division despite having to replace the backcourt of Rodney Billups and Erik Benzel, who combined for 24 points per game as seniors.
“I hope our guys don’t read those magazines,” Carroll chuckled.
Junior college transfers Alex Cox, a 6-foot-2 Aussie, and 6-6 DaShawn Walker, could earn starting spots in the Pioneers’ backcourt.
New guards invariably struggle, but they’ll have the luxury of tossing the ball in to 6-11 senior center Yemi Nicholson, the preseason Sun Belt player of the year who averaged 18.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots last season.
The Pioneers also return 6-6 junior forward Antonio Porch, who averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Like Carroll, each of his coaching colleagues along the Front Range can build around a go-to player.
Colorado’s Ricardo Patton expects 6-6 guard Richard Roby to improve dramatically as a sophomore. That could have NBA scouts drooling because Roby, half-brother of the Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin, dazzled the Big 12 Conference in his debut.
He averaged 16 points to break Chauncey Billups’ CU freshman scoring record with 480 points, led the Buffaloes in steals (48) and finished third on the team in rebounding (4.8) and blocked shots (23).
“Roby is able to eliminate distractions and get things done on the court,” Patton said. “This year, we’re working on him moving more effectively without the ball.”
Colorado State coach Dale Layer has a budding sophomore star of his own. From rural Kersey, 7-foot Jason Smith lacks Roby’s high-profile pedigree but caught everybody’s attention by averaging 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds to earn Mountain West Conference freshman of the year honors – despite playing for an 11-17 team.
Former Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik, the third Air Force coach in three years, had hoped to get 6-8 senior Nick Welch back for the start of MWC play in January, but that won’t happen. Welch, who led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore, is out for the season while he recovers from knee (July) and ankle (September) surgeries.
In the meantime, Bzdelik will count on another senior, 6-4 swingman Antoine Hood, who averaged 13 points last season.
Wyoming coach Steve McClain must have put in an order for name tags because 13 players on his roster have played no more than one season in a Cowboys jersey. Replacing four-year starting point guard Jay Straight is a concern, but McClain can depend 6-10 Justin Williams to erase some mistakes with his leaping ability along the baseline.
Williams, the reigning MWC defensive player of the year, blocked 2.89 shots per game and figures to improve upon his 8.9 scoring average.
Northern Colorado 6-9 sophomore Kirk Archibeque, discovered on the Western Slope at Montezuma-Cortez High by coach Craig Rasmuson, appears to have a bright future.
Archibeque averaged 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds a year ago and doesn’t shy away from top competition.
Good thing, because the Bears, who must wait until 2006-07 before playing a Big Sky Conference schedule, have road games this season against Kentucky, Kansas, California, Oregon State and Nebraska.
Five of the six Division I men’s programs along the Front Range got a jump on the season with a Friday night practice. Carroll waited until Saturday morning.
“It’s an intense time for coaches,” Patton said. “We all go in with high hopes and feel pretty good, but there is so much uncertainty.”
Front Range hoops
Air Force
Coach: Jeff Bzdelik, first season at Air Force
Last season: 18-12, 9-5 in MWC (third)
Who’s back: 6-feet-4 G Antoine Hood (13.0 points), 6-6 F Jacob Burtschi (8.0, 4.3 rebounds), 6-2 G Matt McCraw (9.0), 6-5 G-F Dan Nwaelele (7.6)
Who’s gone: 6-3 G Tim Keller (7.2, 2.8 assists), 6-8 C Nick Welch (12.0, out for the season after foot and ankle surgeries)
Who’s new: 6-6 G Andrew Henke
Key to success: Bzdelik, the former Nuggets coach, begins with the monumental challenge of trying to devise a frontcourt defense without Welch. The 6-6 Burtschi may have to play center because the only other inside player with size, 6-10 John Frye, is an untested reserve who weighs just 215 pounds.
Colorado
Coach: Ricardo Patton, 157-130, 10th season
Last season: 14-16, 4-12 in Big 12 (11th)
Who’s back: 6-6 G Richard Roby (16.0, 4.8 rebounds), 6-8 F Chris Copeland (11.7, 5.6), 6-9 C Julius Ashby (7.5, 6.0, academically ineligible until second semester), 6-1 G Marcus Hall (11.2, 4.3 assists), 6-2 G Jayson Obazuaye (8.9), 6-9 Andy Osborn (8.2, 4.7 reb.), 6-6 F Glean Eddy (5.3)
Who’s gone: None
Who’s new: 6-3 G Dominique Coleman, 6-7 F Calvin Williams
Key to success: Patton hopes Coleman, who averaged 27 points in junior college last season, earns the starting job at point guard. He is regarded as the program’s most talented player at that position since Jaquay Walls (1998-2000).
Colorado State
Coach: Dale Layer, 70-78, sixth season
Last season: 11-17, 3-11 in MWC (tie for seventh)
Who’s back: 7-0 F Jason Smith (10.5, 5.8 rebounds), 6-4 G Micheal Morris (7.5, 3.1 assists), 5-10 G Sean Morris (8.3), 6-5 F Freddy Robinson (medical redshirt last season), 7-0 C Stuart Creason (4.2, 3.1 reb.)
Who’s gone: 7-1 C Matt Nelson (15.8, 5.9 reb.), 6-6 F Matt Williams (11.9, 4.6), 6-3 G John Rakiecki (6.9)
Who’s new: 6-9 F Michael Harrison, 6-0 G Cory Lewis
Key to success: Without feeling it must revolve its offense around Nelson, CSU plans to play quicker. Harrison, a junior college transfer, would fill a void if he can replace Williams at small forward.
Denver
Coach: Terry Carroll, 59-59, fifth season
Last season: 20-11, 12-3 in Sun Belt (first in West)
Who’s back: 6-11 C Yemi Nicholson (18.1, 8.4 rebounds), 6-6 G Antonio Porch (12.8, 6.3), 6-2 G Andrew Carpenter (8.1, 4.7), 6-5 G Brett Seger (4.8)
Who’s gone: 6-1 G Erik Benzel (13.7), 5-10 G Rodney Billups (10.2, 6.4 assists)
Who’s new: 6-2 G Alex Cox, 6-6 G DaShawn Walker
Key to success: For the first time, the Pioneers must handle the pressure of being a league favorite. Nicholson, an intimidating shot-blocker, could develop into an NBA prospect at center. But newcomers Cox and Walker may have to fill the vacant backcourt.
Northern Colorado
Coach: Craig Rasmuson, 58-105, seventh season
Last season: 8-21 as Division I independent
Who’s back: 6-9 C Kirk Archibeque (12.2, 6.0 rebounds), 5-11 G Matt Kline (9.9, 3.0 assists), 6-4 F-G Erik Olson (7.6, 5.1 reb.), 6-3 G Sean Taibi (9.1), 6-5 F Michael Gordy (6.4, 3.6 reb.)
Who’s gone: 6-3 G Sean Nolan (8.7), 6-7 F James Randle (6.7, 3.7 reb.)
Who’s new: 6-5 F-G Dwayne Birden, 6-2 G Darren Jefferies, 6-9 F-C Cory Lowe
Key to success: Archibeque, a 240-pound sophomore from Cortez, may be ready to blossom into a star. But Rasmuson had better develop some baseline help, or Archibeque will be double-teamed often.
Wyoming
Coach: Steve McClain, 126-82, eighth season
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| AP / Michael Smith |
| Wyoming’s Justin Williams is also a defensive force. |
Last season: 15-13, 7-7 in MWC (tie for fourth)
Who’s back: 6-10 F-C Justin Williams (8.9, 6.4 rebounds), 6-3 G-F Steve Leven (8.5), 6-9 F-C Derek Wabbington (6.3, 3.6 reb.), 6-6 G-F Kevin Lewis (4.7)
Who’s gone: 5-11 G Jay Straight (18.0, 5.3 assists), 7-0 C Alex Dunn (9.5, 8.6 reb.), 6-4 G Dion Sherrell (12.0)
Who’s new: 6-2 G Brandon Ewing, 6-0 G Brad Jones
Key to success: It will be up to newcomers Ewing or Jones to replace Straight, a four-year starter, at point guard. With 13 players on the roster having no more than one year of experience in a Wyoming jersey, expect some early struggles.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
