BOULDER — Colorado men’s basketball begins tonight with a new look on and around the court.
The 7 p.m. exhibition game against a Canada-based team called Basketball Travelers marks the debut of first-year CU coach Jeff Bzdelik and also features the unveiling of a new student section intended to make the Coors Events Center intimidating to visiting teams.
“If you want to make it a home-court advantage or give yourself a chance for a home-court advantage, you have to put the students in a position where they can make an impact; everybody else does,” said Bzdelik, the former Nuggets coach who guided Air Force to a two-year record of 50-16 before being named CU coach on April 5.
The student section and pep band were moved to the south “end zone” seats, not far from the visiting team’s bench. There will be room for as many as 4,200 students, some sitting on court level along the baseline behind the south basket. That’s where opponents will run their offense in the second half.
Previously, most students sat in sections across the court from the team benches. The pep band had been tucked into an isolated area near the service tunnel, on the north side.
“This will bring enthusiasm and excitement to the game,” CU athletic director Mike Bohn said. “That’s what college athletics is all about.”
Bohn said approximately 350 season-ticket accounts were displaced by the new student section. Most season-ticket holders who had been seated in the south end were moved to the north end. Bohn said he heard complaints from some displaced ticket-holders and a few chose not to renew.
“Our intent was not to alienate any of our fans,” Bohn said. “Every fan is important. But this was an important change for us.”
Colorado returns four starters – seniors Richard Roby and Marcus King-Stockton, junior Jermyl Jackson-Wilson and sophomore Xavier Silas – from a team that went 7-20 in Ricardo Patton’s final season. Also returning is senior point guard Marcus Hall, a 2005-06 starter who was suspended last season by Patton for academic reasons. Hall has recovered from thumb surgery and has been cleared to play tonight.
Three scholarship freshmen are expected to make their debuts tonight: 6-foot-5 guard Cory Higgins, from Danville, Calif.; 6-4 guard Levi Knutson, from Arapahoe High School; and 6-11 forward Caleb Patterson of Ringwood, Okla. Bzdelik said he plans to spread the minutes among players in the Buffs’ two exhibition games.
CU hosts Regis University in an exhibition on Tuesday. The regular season begins Nov. 9 at home against New Mexico.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
