BOULDER — Marcus Hall feels the pain. That crunched-over body language revealed how much the losses are eating at him. Swallowing a jar of ripened jalapeños might be more fun.
“The toughest part is knowing we could have squeezed out five or six more wins,” the Colorado senior guard said this week. “I had no idea it would be this rough.”
That’s not to say Hall has any regrets about returning for a fifth year. After sitting out last season to concentrate on academics, the 6-foot-2 Texan is having his best season — a career-best 12.9 points per game and a field-goal percentage in Big 12 games (55.8) that ranks third in a conference teeming with talented scorers.
But to Hall, success is defined by winning. Colorado (10-13, 2-7 Big 12) is in the league cellar entering a road game Saturday at No. 3 Kansas.
“We just have to play 40-minute games,” Hall said. “We’ve shown the capability of playing well and winning. That’s our focus, to finish sixth, seventh or eighth (in the Big 12) and get away from the bottom. We still have a chance to finish strong.”
Hall was suspended for academic reasons by then-CU coach Ricardo Patton for the fall semester last season. Although Hall had attacked the books with a vengeance (he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in December), Patton and Hall agreed during the semester break that it was best for him to redshirt the entire season.
Hall could not have been more excited when former Nuggets and Air Force coach Jeff Bzdelik was brought in.
“I could have transferred last year,” Hall said. “But I like the situation I’m in, even though I didn’t know the season would go like this. I’ve become a better player, and that was a goal. I want to play pro ball. With Coach Bzdelik being where he’s been and knowing what he knows, that’s only going to help my chances.”
Coming off a redshirt year, most players show some rust. Not Hall. The most competitive motor on the squad was already revved up.
“In the fall during open gym, if his team wasn’t winning, there was going to be a problem,” freshman guard Cory Higgins said. “I couldn’t even tell that he sat out a year.”
That’s a credit to the hard work Hall put in, coaches and players say. Assistant coach Steve McClain said the concern was Hall’s “game instincts.”
“There are things that happen in a game, and you kind of lose that,” McClain said. “Marcus didn’t miss a beat.”
As a shooting guard, Hall averaged almost 30 points during his senior year of high school in suburban Houston. The adjustment to point guard has not been easy, but Hall appears more relaxed in the role this season. Senior Richard Roby said Bzdelik and his staff “have done a great job helping Marcus out.”
Hall did his part as well, McClain said.
“Marcus went through some tough times, sitting in the film room and hearing some tough things from coaches,” McClain said. “But to his credit, he would come right back out and try to get better. He always tries to get better.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
