Boulder – Colorado’s Richard Roby put on a show. Texas freshman forward Kevin Durant stole it.
Causing a dozen NBA scouts to shake their heads in disbelief and delight, Durant went inside, outside and everywhere in between for 37 points in leading Texas to a 102-78 victory over Colorado on Saturday in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
The collective sound of jaws dropping could be heard from the 3,310 spectators at Coors Events Center as Durant established a single-game freshman Big 12 scoring mark, bettering the 34 points scored by Texas A&M’s Bernard King against CU in 2000.
Roby scored 30 points and finally found the basket with some consistency, connecting on 10-for-19 from the field. But the Buffaloes (4-7, 0-1), though trailing just 51-48 at halftime, couldn’t keep up with Texas (11-3, 1-0). And Roby couldn’t hang with Durant.
Who can? Durant, from suburban Washington, was rated the nation’s No. 2 high school senior last spring, behind only Ohio State 7-foot freshman Greg Oden. If they both make themselves eligible for the 2007 NBA draft, Oden and Durant are expected to go 1-2 when the names are called.
“He is real long and lanky,” Roby said of Durant, who made 13-of-23 shots, including five 3-pointers. “So you have to get in his chest.”
Trouble is, every time a defender gets too close, Durant drives past him with a quick first step.
“I saw (teammates) weren’t hitting shots or were in foul trouble, so I took it upon myself to get some buckets,” said Durant, who rarely forces things.
Durant played 35 minutes and also contributed a game-best 16 rebounds. Texas dominated the boards (49-27), swiping 20 off the offensive glass.
“I’m glad I don’t have to see (Durant) again,” said Patton, in his 11th and final season at CU. “I don’t see any flaws.”
Texas, with a roster as young as Colorado’s, has more than Durant. The Longhorns pulled away with a barrage of seven 3-pointers in the first 7 minutes and 35 seconds after the break. Sophomore guard A.J. Abrams made three 3-pointers during the flurry; Durant and freshman point guard D.J. Augustin accounted for two apiece as Texas widened its lead to 78-62.
“When (Texas) started making 3s and were dominating inside, they just had too much firepower,” Patton said.
Patton saw enough of his young team to be encouraged. Freshman guard Xavier Silas, an Austin native who wasn’t recruited by Texas, scored 17 points. Roby outscored Durant 22-21 in the first half.
“Certainly, Roby played his best game,” Patton said. “As one of the scouts said afterward, he has to learn to do that every game.”
Colorado always seems to draw some of the league’s toughest opponents early in its conference schedule. After playing at Oklahoma on Wednesday, the Buffs host 11th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday.
“I’ve asked that for 11 years. Next year the new coach can ask that,” Patton said of typically difficult early schedule. “Our athletic director (Mike Bohn) said he didn’t want to play against Kansas with our students on break. So they gave us Texas.”
TEXAS (11-3, 1-0 BIG 12)
James 7-10 1-2 15, Durant 13-23 6-6 37, Abrams 6-12 0-0 15, Augustin 5-11 3-4 15, Mason 2-4 0-0 5, Lewis 2-7 2-2 8, Hill 0-0 1-2 1, Winder 0-0 1-2 1, Atchley 1-4 3-6 5, Pittman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-71 17-24 102.
COLORADO (4-7, 0-1 BIG 12)
Silas 6-15 1-2 17, Jackson-Wilson 3-4 0-1 6, King-Stockton 1-3 0-0 2, Roby 10-19 5-5 30, Bay 1-3 0-0 3, Inge 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 2-7 2-4 6, Coleman 6-10 0-0 12, Thorne 1-3 0-1 2, Kowal 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 30-65 8-14 78.
Halftime – Texas 51-48. 3-point goals – Texas 13-25 (Durant 5-7, Abrams 3-7, Augustin 2-3, Lewis 2-5, Mason 1-2, Atchley 0-1), Colorado 10-26 (Roby 5-9, Silas 4-9, Bay 1-3, Coleman 0-1, Williams 0-2, Thorne 0-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Texas 49 (Durant 16), Colorado 27 (Coleman 7). Assists – Texas 19 (Augustin 9), Colorado 21 (Coleman 6). Total fouls – Texas 16, Colorado 17. A – 3,310.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
