Boulder – For the first time in a postgame news conference this season, Colorado coach Ricardo Patton dared to mention the “T word” Wednesday night after an 81-59 victory over Nebraska.
Not only can the Buffaloes (14-3) make the tournament, the NCAA Tournament, they are capable of making some noise in March Madness, Patton said. A Coors Events Center crowd of 6,988 watched CU sophomore Richard Roby continue his month-long tear with 30 points as the Buffs improved to 4-2 in the Big 12 Conference with their fourth straight league win.
“We’re past just trying to get into the tournament,” Patton said. “We’d like to get in and go deep in the tournament. If things fall into place, that’s a possibility for this group.”
Colorado claimed sole possession of second place in the league standings despite shooting just 29 percent from the field in the first half and 53.6 percent from the foul line for the game. CU also committed 15 turnovers, its most in a conference game this season, but never allowed Nebraska (12-6, 2-3) to pull closer than 10 points in the final 13:45. That’s an indication, Patton said, that his veteran team has room for improvement.
That’s a good thing, he added.
“I still think we have yet to scratch the surface,” said Patton, whose team hosts Kansas State on Saturday night.
If Roby gets much better, his half-brother, Kenyon Martin of the Nuggets, might call to ask for some advice.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, winner of the past two Big 12 player of the week awards, might be a top candidate for the next one. When nobody else could hit a shot early – CU missed 16 of its first 18 attempts – against Nebraska’s switching defenses, Roby carried the team without forcing bad shots. He finished the first half with 17 points, more than half of the team’s total (27).
“When guys were struggling, I tried to be more aggressive,” Roby said.
Nebraska started in a man-to-man, but sat back in a 1-3-1 or 2-3 zone for much of the first half.
“We tried to make it tough on (Roby),” Nebraska senior guard Jason Dourisseau said. “But against our zone, he got in a rhythm and it didn’t matter who was guarding him.”
Although Nebraska hasn’t shot well this season, CU’s defense deserves some credit. The Huskers shot just 35.7 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Joe McCray, who scored 21 points in both meetings last season, was held scoreless for the first time in his career.
“When (Roby) made some shots, they went back into a man defense,” said CU point guard Dominique Coleman, who contributed 11 points from off the bench. “No team can guard us in man with all the weapons we have.”
That’s not to say CU is Duke, Connecticut and Texas rolled into one. The Buffs have issues. Chris Copeland hit 2-for-8 from the field and remains in a shooting slump. Senior center Julius Ashby (1-for-6) hasn’t yet regained his 2004-05 form. And CU missed 13 free throws.
“We can’t beat many teams hitting 53 percent from the line,” Roby said. “We know it’s a long way to the (NCAA) tournament. If we start thinking about that, we might miss something. We have to take it game by game.”
NEBRASKA (12-6, 2-3 Big 12)
Wilkinson 6-13 2-2 16, Maric 1-5 1-2 3, Dourisseau 4-8 6-7 14, McCray 0-4 0-0 0, Richardson Jr. 2-4 2-3 7, B. Walker 1-5 1-2 3, Perry 2-5 0-0 6, M. Walker 2-5 0-0 6, Schliep 0-0 0-0 0, White 2-7 0-0 4. Totals 20-56 12-16 59.
COLORADO (14-3, 4-2)
Copeland 2-8 1-3 6, Ashby 1-6 3-6 5, Obazuaye 3-4 2-4 8, Roby 11-16 2-4 30, McGee 0-1 0-0 0, Osborn 1-6 0-0 3, Coleman 3-5 5-9 11, Freeman 4-6 0-0 9, Hall 3-8 2-2 9, King-Stockton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-60 15-28 81.
Halftime – Colorado 27-19. 3-point goals – Nebraska 7-21 (Perry 2-3, M.Walker 2-3, Wilkinson 2-6, Richardson Jr. 1-2, Dourisseau 0-1, White 0-2, McCray 0-4), Colorado 10-27 (Roby 6-9, Hall 1-3, Freeman 1-3, Osborn 1-5, Copeland 1-6, Coleman 0-1). Fouled out – Wilkinson. Rebounds – Nebraska 35 (Dourisseau 10), Colorado 44 (Osborn 8). Assists – Nebraska 9 (Dourisseau 3), Colorado 18 (Coleman 7). Total fouls – Nebraska 22, Colorado 18. A – 6,988.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
