BOULDER — College athletes never seem to look past their next practice. So, understandably, Colorado senior basketball stars Richard Roby and Jackie McFarland couldn’t fathom the thought that someday they might be invited back to campus as inductees into the school’s athletic hall of fame.
Pretty cool, both said recently after staring into the future while reflecting on their collegiate careers. Roby, a 6-foot-6 guard from San Bernardino, Calif., and McFarland, a 6-3 forward from Derby, Kan., will finish no lower than third on the CU career scoring lists.
“Hall of Fame? Wow. It would be amazing to be part of something like that,” Roby said. “That would be a blessing.”
Roby and McFarland arrived in 2004, hoping to help their programs get on the national map. That hasn’t happened despite their best efforts. Instead, they have seen wholesale roster turnover, coaches come and go, and even a change in athletic directors.
Substantial careers
“When you get here as a freshman, you never expect those things to happen,” Roby said. “But then you realize things are always changing.”
Roby will become the first player since Donnie Boyce (1991-95) to lead his team in scoring all four seasons. McFarland has topped the women’s team in points the past three years and tied for the team lead as a freshman.
While consistency will define McFarland’s college career, Roby’s time at CU has been more like a roller coaster. After earning first-team all-Big 12 honors as a sophomore, he regressed during Ricardo Patton’s lame-duck season a year ago. He moped, crawled into Patton’s doghouse and shot just 38.3 percent from the field. He dropped off the radar of NBA scouts.
“It’s been a difficult experience for Richard,” CU coach Jeff Bzdelik said of Roby’s career. “But now, in this system, he’s having perhaps his best season. He’s battled through this year in a way that I’m really proud of.”
Roby began this week ranked eighth among Big 12 players in field-goal shooting in conference games (48.5).
McFarland was named to the 10-player, all-Big 12 women’s team following her junior season and figures to receive that honor this season.
“In so many ways, Jackie has been the face of this program,” CU coach Kathy McConnell- Miller said. “There’s not a possession she lets down.”
Team success has not followed the individual accomplishments. The CU women (15-13) need at least one more victory to clinch the first winning season during McFarland’s four years. Roby will have played on only one winner, the 2005-06 squad that went 20-10.
But neither regrets the decision to choose CU.
“I’ve always liked being the underdog; that’s one of the reasons I came here,” Roby said. “The things that I had to push through here mentally, those are going to help me throughout life.”
McFarland’s older sister, Jessica, played basketball at Kansas State, and Wildcats coaches must be kicking themselves for not recruiting Jackie. There were no hurt feelings because the Kansan wanted to leave her home state.
“I love Boulder. I love this university,” McFarland said. “Carrying the weight on my shoulders academically and with the team — it’s been tough. But looking back on it, I’m glad it happened.”
Life after college hoops
Both aspire to play professionally, even if it means starting in Europe. McFarland, named this week as a first- team academic All-American, already has signed with the Denver offices of Ernst & Young, an accounting firm. Ernst & Young agreed to defer her employment for a year so McFarland can determine where her basketball career might lead.
“There’s already a teeter-totter, roller coaster of emotions I’m going through,” McFarland said. “I’m just as excited for the future as I am dreading that this is about to be over.”
McFarland and point guard Susie Powers will be honored at the team’s last home game Wednesday night against Missouri.
Roby, who ranks fifth among the Big 12’s career scorers, was among three seniors saluted before Saturday’s win at home against Iowa State.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been four years,” Roby said. “Everything is just a whirlwind.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
