Oklahoma City – Kal Bay believes Colorado’s season of hard knocks will accelerate the learning curve for him and the other seven freshmen on the roster.
The ride has to be all downhill from here, doesn’t it?
“We didn’t win many games, and everybody, including me, has been inconsistent,” the point guard said. “Going through what we did, with our coach leaving and having some struggles, it has already helped us mature.
“Playing in the Big 12 Tournament for the first time, that’s another experience that will help (the freshmen). I really believe if we stay together we can do some good things in years to come and be at the top of the league.”
A 12th seed after its last-place finish during the regular season, Colorado (7-19) faces fifth-seeded Texas Tech (20-11) today in the first round.
Ricardo Patton, who announced Oct. 25 this season would be his last as CU’s coach, predicts success for the program if the younger players focus as much on defense as they do on offense.
“Our freshmen have shown the ability to score,” Patton said. “(But) if I were coming back next year, they might not see a ball in practice until January. Every team has players that can score. Every team has a Richard Roby. But those teams that play solid defense are the ones that win.”
Colorado’s defensive deficiencies reared their ugly heads in the Feb. 17 meeting against Tech. The Buffs shot a season-best 59.6 percent but lost 95-74. CU defenders lost track of Tech senior guard Jarrius Jackson (28 points) and junior swingman Martin Zeno (24). Jackson begins the Big 12 Tournament 87 points shy of becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer. Jackson (2,170 points) trails only former teammate Andre Emmett.
The Buffs will be without one of their freshmen and could be missing another. Xavier Silas, a starting swingman, will serve a one-game suspension for fighting Saturday against Nebraska. Reserve point guard Dwight Thorne sprained his left ankle in practice Tuesday and is questionable for today’s game.
The Buffs’ lone senior, Dominique Coleman, can play both positions. Bay has logged more playing time at point guard than Thorne.
“It will become an issue if somebody gets in foul trouble,” Patton said of the shortened roster.
Patton said Wednesday he hasn’t reflected on what will be his final Big 12 Tournament at CU.
“I didn’t grow up with a lot of emotions,” said Patton, a black belt in taekwondo who was raised by his grandmother in Nashville, Tenn. “I’ve worked hard to try to control my emotions. And in martial arts you learn to control your emotions.”
CU men vs. Texas Tech
What: First round of the Big 12 men’s tournament
When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Ford Center, Okla. City
Records: 12th-seeded Colorado (7-19, 3-13 Big 12), fifth-seeded Texas Tech (20-11, 9-7)
TV/Radio: Altitude/KKZN 760 AM
Notes: In coach Ricardo Patton’s final season, the Buffaloes enter the conference tournament as the No. 12 seed for the first time. In 2005, CU became the only No. 11 seed in Big 12 Tournament history to win a first-round game (against sixth- seeded Texas). … In the only regular-season meeting, Texas Tech defeated the Buffs 95-74 in Lubbock.
