LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jeff Bzdelik found out what the three previous Colorado men’s basketball coaches learned the hard way.
It’s difficult, if not downright impossible, for the Buffaloes to defeat Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.
“Everybody makes such a big deal about it (playing at KU),” Bzdelik said after a 69-45 loss extended Colorado’s losing streak at Lawrence to 25 years. “I’ve been coaching a long time and been in a lot of arenas. I applaud the Kansas fans and their support of their team, and it was an honor to sit there and coach.
“I just wish my team played better. But I’ve never seen fans come out of the stands to block a shot or grab a rebound or make a shot.”
It didn’t make it any easier that senior Richard Roby, CU’s leading scorer, had a rare off day against Kansas.
Roby, who averaged 18 points per game in his first three trips to Allen Fieldhouse — blowout losses of 29, 23 and 21 points — missed 10-of-11 shots from the field, both of his free throws and scored just two points.
“Richard contributed to Richard,” Bzdelik said of the 6-foot-6 Roby, who was guarded by KU big men Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson. “He did not cut hard to get himself open, he didn’t stay disciplined to the offense and he didn’t pass the ball to teammates. You have to be an active participant in your own rescue.”
Roby fell to 0-8 against Kansas.
“This is really disappointing that we didn’t compete tonight — and then my performance,” Roby said. “I take blame for that. I’m the person that needs to show up every game.”
It took Roby 23 minutes to finally sink his one basket after going 0-for-6 in the first half.
“You start thinking about it more when you start missing a lot of shots and missing a lot of easy shots and things aren’t going your way on the court,” Roby said. “It was all focus.”
Senior guard Marcus Hall did his best to pick up the Buffaloes. He scored a game-high 15 points.
“If I see Richard struggling, I try to put it on my shoulders to do a little bit more,” Hall said. “But one man can’t beat Kansas, and that’s the truth. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it’s going to be.”
The defeat differed greatly from Colorado’s first game against Kansas on Feb. 2. The Buffs were tied, 30-30, at halftime in a 72-59 loss.
“We just weren’t as mature.When you go on the road, you’ve got to be even more mature than you are at home,” Hall said. “Even coming into this environment, you’ve got to be mature enough to fight through the little runs and battle back like we did at home.”
This wasn’t home.
It was Allen Fieldhouse, where the Jayhawks were celebrating 110 years of basketball on Saturday. Former players and coaches, including former Nuggets coach Larry Brown, were on hand and introduced at halftime. Brown led the Jayhawks to the 1988 national title.
COLORADO (10-14, 2-8 Big 12)
King-Stockton 1-2 0-0 2, Hall 7-12 0-0 15, Higgins 3-6 2-2 9, Thorne II 0-1 0-0 0, Roby 1-11 0-2 2, Silas 1-6 4-4 7, Coney 0-1 0-0 0, Patterson 0-2 0-0 0, Knutson 3-4 0-0 8, Jackson-Wilson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 17-48 6-8 45.
KANSAS (24-2, 9-2)
Arthur 4-9 0-0 8, Jackson 5-7 2-4 12, Robinson 1-2 1-2 4, Chalmers 3-5 4-4 13, Rush 3-9 0-0 7, Teahan 0-1 0-0 0, Collins 2-6 0-0 5, Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Case 0-1 0-0 0, Bechard 0-0 0-0 0, Reed 2-3 0-0 6, Buford 0-0 0-0 0, Kaun 3-6 2-3 8, Witherspoon 0-0 0-0 0, Aldrich 2-5 2-2 6, Kleinmann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 11-15 69.
Halftime — Kansas 32-20. 3-point goals — CU 5-16 (Knutson 2-2, Silas 1-2, Higgins 1-2, Hall 1-3, Coney 0-1, Thorne II 0-1, Patterson 0-2, Roby 0-3), Kansas 8-19 (Chalmers 3-5, Reed 2-3, Robinson 1-2, Collins 1-3, Rush 1-5, Teahan 0-1). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — CU 24 (Hall 6), Kansas 38 (Rush 7). Assists — CU 9 (Higgins 3), Kansas 22 (Chalmers, Robinson, Rush 5). Total fouls — CU 16, Kansas 13. A — 16,300.
