Boulder – President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba to begin the missile crisis. Johnny Carson hosted his first “Tonight Show.” “Lawrence of Arabia” won the Academy Award for best picture. Jack Nicklaus played in his first golf tournament as a pro. And the Beatles failed to land a recording contract in London.
The year was 1962, the last time a Colorado men’s basketball team won nine games in a row. Until now.
Colorado (10-1) hardly broke a sweat Tuesday night in cruising 116-52 past a Savannah (Ga.) State squad that might have trouble hanging with Grandview High School. Undoubtedly the worst program in Division I, Savannah State dropped to 1-15 after going winless in 28 games last season. It was the Buffs’ most-lopsided victory in school history.
Savannah State’s only victory came in its opener against Wilberforce, a small NAIA school. One of the Tigers’ losses this season was to a business school, Webber International of Florida.
With a Big 12 Conference opener looming Saturday at 15th- ranked Texas, it’s hard to imagine CU coach Ricardo Patton could learn much about his team against weak competition. But the record book doesn’t discriminate. CU’s 10-1 mark matches 1978-79 and 1944-45 as the best starts for a Buffs team since the 1941-42 squad won its first 14 games. Colorado’s 1961-62 team won 12 straight games in the middle of the season.
“Wow, 1962,” CU senior forward Andy Osborn said. “Nine straight is an accomplishment. But we want to win our last nine games. That’s when you need to be playing your best to get in the NCAA Tournament.”
Speaking of the NCAA Tournament, an interested spectator in the Coors Events Center was former CU center David Harrison of the Indiana Pacers. Colorado last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2002-03, Harrison’s sophomore season. He left for the NBA after his junior year.
“They’re good; they’ve got a lot of dynamics that teams I played on didn’t have,” Harrison said, referring to CU’s quickness in the backcourt and plethora of jump shooters. “I just hope they play well enough in the Big 12 so that there won’t be any way the (NCAA Tournament) selection committee can leave them out.”
Patton told his team it graded an “A-minus” for its nonconference work, failing to earn a perfect score because of “the hiccup” loss at Colorado State.
Savannah State committed 18 turnovers – in the first half. Colorado jumped to leads of 12-0, 22-2 and then 67-16 by halftime.
It will be different in Austin.
“If this were our only game to prepare for Texas, I would be a little worried,” Patton said. “But we played a full nonconference schedule to get us ready.”
SAVANNAH STATE (1-15)
Bronner 1-4 0-0 2, Shaw 0-1 0-0 0, Linton 2-6 0-2 4, Flegler 1-4 0-0 3, Randolph 8-13 8-9 27, Edwards 0-2 0-0 0, Douglas 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 1-7 2-2 4, Hill 1-4 0-0 2, Benett 4-9 2-2 10, McKinney 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 18-56 12-15 52.
COLORADO (10-1)
Osborn 5-9 0-0 15, Copeland 3-4 6-7 13, Obazuaye 7-10 1-1 15, Hall 5-6 0-1 11, Roby 3-8 0-0 6, Eddy 7-8 0-0 17, Boidock 0-0 0-0 0, Carder 1-3 0-0 3, Senger 1-4 1-4 3, Coleman 4-4 1-3 10, Freeman 1-5 0-0 2, Williams 0-0 0-2 0, Arrington 0-1 1-2 1, King-Stockton 2-4 0-0 4, Ashby 6-11 4-4 16, Perkowski 0-0 0-0 0, McGee 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 45-78 14-24 116.
Halftime – Colorado 67-16. 3-point goals – Savannah St. 4-10 (Randolph 3-5, Flegler 1-2, Linton 0-1, Benett 0-2), Colorado 12-25 (Osborn 5-9, Eddy 3-4, Hall 1-1, Coleman 1-1, Copeland 1-2, Carder 1-3, McGee 0-1, Freeman 0-1, Roby 0-3). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Savannah St. 30 (Smith 6), Colorado 47 (Ashby, Eddy 9). Assists – Savannah St. 3 (Edwards, Hill, Randolph 1), Colorado 27 (Hall 5). Total fouls – Savannah St. 18, Colorado 15. A – 1,424.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
