Boulder – A stretch of three weeks without a game is scheduled to end Saturday afternoon for the Colorado men’s basketball team. Assuming Texas Christian can make the trip from Fort Worth, Texas, that is.
“I don’t even want to think about that possibility,” CU coach Ricardo Patton said Thursday.
Last week’s blizzard forced the cancellation of Colorado’s scheduled Dec. 23 home game against Cal-Davis, meaning the Buffaloes (3-6) haven’t heard their names announced since a 72-69 loss to Colorado State on Dec. 9. Coaches worry about players losing their timing during prolonged layoffs. However, this may be a blessing in disguise. Patton used the additional practice time to install a new, faster-paced game plan.
The Buffs, with eight freshmen, plan to press more, hoping to force turnovers that will fuel fast breaks.
“Hopefully, this will free up the young guys to play a little more naturally and freely,” Patton said.
Through nine games, Colorado is shooting 38.8 percent from the field, including a horrid 26.9 percent from 3-point range. But Patton was encouraged by the Buffs’ play in the second half against CSU once his team forced a quicker pace.
“I think a more up-and-down style will fit our team,” junior guard Richard Roby said. “We have a lot of freshmen who have had to do a lot of thinking out there. With this style, the young guys can just react to things.”
Footnotes
A member of the TCU basketball program called CU and asked if the Buffaloes would consider moving Saturday’s game to Fort Worth. After CU coaches finished laughing, they rejected the idea. … X-rays were negative on Marc Van Burck’s right foot, but the freshman is wearing a protective boot and will miss at least a week. … Junior Marcus King-Stockton has replaced freshman Jeremy Williams in the starting lineup. Patton said Williams has played better off the bench. … Senior Dominique Coleman was moved to point guard, where he will share time with freshman Kalvin Bay. Freshman Dwight Thorne was moved from point to shooting guard.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
