BOULDER — If a game comes down to a last shot, who takes it?
That’s the question confronting Colorado basketball coaches Tad Boyle and Linda Lappe, whose teams open the season in a home doubleheader tonight, with the CU women facing Northern Arizona at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Buffs men going against Fort Lewis at 8.
In a rarity, both CU teams had to replace their all-time leading scorer in the same season — this season.
Gone is Brittany Spears, who finished with 2,185 career points to break the mark of 2,067 owned by Lisa Van Goor since 1985. And for the first time since 2007, Cory Higgins won’t be suiting up for CU’s men’s team. Higgins finished his college career last spring with 2,001 points — matching the career record set by Richard Roby three years earlier.
And, oh, by the way, Boyle also must do without Alec Burks, who declared for the 2011 NBA draft after two spectacular seasons in Boulder and was selected No. 12 overall by the Utah Jazz.
So, with that loss of star power, who takes that last shot?
“I think you’re going to see it in the hands of (guards) Nate Tomlinson and Carlon Brown, two of our seniors,” said Boyle, coming off a 24-14 first season at CU. “Those guys are pretty good decision makers. They can make plays for themselves and for others. Early on, you’ll see it in their hands, and (in those of forward) Austin Dufault. You always look to your seniors.”
Boyle then mentioned sophomore forward Andre Roberson, who has improved his shooting.
Lappe’s team has more depth than last season’s 18-16 squad.
“We’re going to be more balanced on offense this year,” senior center Julie Seabrook said. “Last year, teams tried to stop Spears and we struggled.”
Both coaches stressed that defense is the way to stay in a game, especially when the offense sputters.
Said Lappe: “Transition defense is something we’ve been working hard on the past couple of weeks. And defensive positioning, moving our feet. I’m always going to focus on defense.
Tip off
The Front Range college basketball season starts this weekend:
MEN
Today
Montana at CSU, 7 p.m.
Bemidji St. at Metro State, 7 p.m.
Army at Air Force, 7:30 p.m., CBSCS
Portland St. at DU, 7:30 p.m., ROOT
Fort Lewis at CU, 8 p.m.
Saturday
New Mexico St. at UNC, 7 p.m.
Winona St. at Metro State, 7 p.m.
Citadel or VMI at Air Force, TBD
WOMEN
Today
Air Force at Lipscomb, 4 p.m.
Loyola-Marymount at DU, 5 p.m.
NW Nazarene at Metro St., 5 p.m.
Northern Arizona at CU, 5:30 p.m.
CSU at Northern Iowa, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
UNC at Bradley, 1 p.m.
Neb.-Omaha at Metro State, 5 p.m.
Sunday
Air Force at Tenn.-Martin, 1 p.m.
Arizona State at CSU, 2 p.m.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Ducks-Stanford an elite matchup.
Network TV will host a prime-time college football battle Saturday — and we don’t mean between teams. ABC and NBC will go head-to-head with two night games: Oregon vs. Stanford on KMGH-7 against Maryland vs. Notre Dame on KUSA-9.
Consider the ABC affiliate a 4-1 favorite. While the much-hyped No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown last week between Alabama and LSU fell flat in a throwback low-scoring affair, the Oregon-Stanford game sets up as a high-flying classic. The Ducks and Cardinal rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the nation in offense.
The winner has an inside track on the Pac-12 title game, with Stanford still aiming for a BCS title bid.
Notre Dame, already bowl-eligible, and struggling Maryland are playing for — well, they’re playing.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Cool time for running.
Snow hasn’t piled up around town yet, but the heat has been chased away. It’s a perfect time for a run.
In this case, check out Saturday’s Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon in Highlands Ranch. The 8:30 a.m. trail race goes over a mostly dirt course on a loop around Douglas County back trails.
The race, in its third year, starts at Paintbrush Park and runs out toward great views — and possibly across the path of wildlife. It raises money to help the Douglas County Search and Rescue team.
is the place for more information.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Can’t pan this matchup.
Winless in its past four games, the University of Denver hockey team this week dropped out of the top 10 to No. 12. Colorado College, on the other hand, has been on a tear, rocketing to No. 3.
This week, the Pioneers and Tigers go head to head, with more at stake than simple rankings. The first of their four-game season series — with the annual Gold Pan Trophy on the line — is set for Saturday at DU’s Magness Arena. Last season, the series was split two games apiece, with the home team winning each time.
Drew Shore (three goals) and Jason Zucker (four goals) lead DU with 10 points apiece. Brothers Rylan (seven goals) and Jaden Schwartz (four goals) pace CC with nine points each.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. The game will not be televised.
