BOULDER — Cory Higgins doesn’t usually talk a lot, so Colorado sophomore guard Alec Burks learned much about self-discipline and composure by watching the facial expressions of his senior teammate during a prolonged shooting slump.
Higgins’ poker face never changed no matter how often his shots clanged off the rim. And it got pretty bad. A preseason all-Big 12 Conference selection, Higgins couldn’t have hit the ocean from a beach until recently. Through 12 games, Higgins had made just 41.2 percent of his shots.
Last season, he finished second in the league (behind Burks) at 50.5 percent.
“I know it had to frustrate Cory,” Burks said of the misfires. “But you couldn’t tell if anything was bothering him.
“That showed that when things weren’t going his way, he’s still going to do his job, he’s not going to hang his head, he’s going to keep fighting, he’s helping the team doing other stuff. He didn’t want anybody to see weakness. I respect that in him. That’s a real man.”
Of late, Higgins has been on a mini hot streak. Even so, the 6-foot-5 guard will enter conference play for the last time today knowing he needs to improve substantially on his current 43.3 percent clip if Colorado (11-4) is to make some noise in the Big 12 and contend for a postseason tournament. The Buffaloes have a difficult opening draw — hosting ninth-ranked Missouri (14-1).
“I’m really excited and encouraged to be heading into the Big 12 schedule,” Higgins said. “These last few weeks, we’ve been building to become more consistent at the defensive end. That’s what you need to beat Big 12 teams.”
Colorado also will need a bunch of points from Burks and Higgins to match Missouri’s fast break — and keep up with the rest of the Big 12, for that matter. The bouncy Burks ranks third among conference scorers (19.1) and is considered a sure first-round NBA draft choice whenever he decides to turn pro. But Higgins’ understated game impacts the court in so many ways, making him the unquestioned team MVP for three years running.
This much is certain: The son of former NBA player and current Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins never becomes intimidated by an opponent or a situation. Why would he? Cory Higgins has played pickup basketball against almost every member of the Bobcats. Michael Jordan is his godfather.
“Cory has had an opportunity to see how NBA guys work and prepare, and that’s been a great benefit to him,” Rod Higgins said in a phone interview. “When you put in the hard work, you’re not afraid to fail. Cory wants to take the shot to win the game. He’s not afraid to fail.”
Now, if Higgins would only become more vocal. Leading by example has always been his thing. And with the classy way in which Higgins conducts himself on and off the court, nobody does that better. But first-year Colorado coach Tad Boyle wants Higgins to speak up.
“I want to hear his voice more,” Boyle said. “I’m asking Cory to play a little bit out of character so he can take the next step.”
That means making his teammates better by directing traffic on the court, pointing out things, offering encouragement when a teammate makes a mistake, the coach explained.
“What I’ve tried to hammer home is, it’s one thing to believe in yourself, and it’s another to believe in your teammates,” Boyle said. “Cory has done a great job of making himself better, by working out in the summer, improving his game. The next challenge for a player is making your teammates better.
“Good players make themselves better. Great players also make their teammates better.”
Boyle doesn’t mean to insinuate that Higgins is a ball hog. But it’s not necessary for Higgins to believe that he has to win the game by himself. Especially with Burks, senior wing forward Marcus Relphorde (12.1) and senior super-sub Levi Knutson (11.4), Colorado has more go-to options than in years past.
Higgins needs to realize, Boyle said, that he no longer has to carry the weight of the team — as he did as a sophomore when he averaged 17.4 points with only one other player (Dwight Thorne with 12.0) averaging in double figures.
“It has always come easy to me leading by example,” Higgins said. “My parents instilled being a disciplined person in me early. But one of the things I’ve had to do over the years is be more vocal. I’ve had to work at that.”
Missouri coach Mike Anderson said he has always been impressed by Higgins’ toughness. But even on game films, Anderson said he can see a change in the senior guard.
“This year, I see he’s trusting the other guys,” Anderson said this week on the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “In other years, he put the burden on himself. Now, he trusts the other guys, and that’s making them a better basketball team.”
With less than three months remaining in his college career, Higgins continues to climb CU’s statistical charts. With 1,640 career points, he ranks seventh in all-time scoring. Higgins also is second in career starts, second in free-throws made, third in career minutes, sixth in steals and eighth in field goals made.
“Cory is so important to this basketball team, on a lot of different levels,” Boyle said. “He’s earned the respect of our team and on campus. He has earned respect throughout the league, which is not easy to do.
“What I appreciate about him is that he holds himself accountable, and he doesn’t make excuses when things don’t go his way. He knows the game and has a feel for the game in ways that you can’t necessarily coach.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
The 411 on opponents
CU guard Cory Higgins talks about the top-five Big 12 opponents he has faced since joining the Buffaloes in 2007:
Michael Beasley, 6-feet-10, Kansas State
“He’s a just a freak. Nobody could guard him because he’s a big guy with the skill and athleticism of a guard.”
Blake Griffin, 6-10, Oklahoma
“He was just a monster. He made it tough because he was always around the basket. You couldn’t drive in the paint against him.”
D.J. Augustin, 5-11, Texas
“He was as clever as anybody. He basically introduced me to playing in the Big 12 because he showed me I had a long way to go defensively.”
Sherron Collins, 5-11, Kansas
“He really helped me because I got to play against him for three years. He’s physical, but he’s a good guy. He showed me how to be a leader.”
LaceDarius Dunn 6-4, Baylor (current) “He has the reputation of being just a shooter, but he can drive, he can take you off the dribble. He’s really deceptive, which makes him hard to guard.”
