BOULDER — Colorado unveiled its new quicker-tempo offense Friday night in the season opener against Drexel, and it allowed the Buffaloes to spread the floor, make some pretty passes and cause the visitors to gulp for air.
Colorado limited Drexel to 19 points in the second half en route to a 65-48 victory in front of 10,058 fans at the Coors Events Center.
“The formula worked,” CU coach Tad Boyle said. “There’s no question with that pace that Drexel got worn down.”
Located in Philadelphia, Drexel plays in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association. Last season, the Dragons took UCLA and Arizona to the final minutes. But Drexel doesn’t have a Josh Scott.
Scott, the Buffs’ 6-foot-10 junior center, became the difference Friday with 21 points and 11 rebounds, his 16th career double-double. The 21 points tied his career best.
Scott was the only CU player to score in double figures, but that was more than enough.
“He’s one of the best centers in the country,” CU guard Xavier Talton said. “A big focus of our offense is to get him the ball.”
Fouled while banking in a driving layup, Scott converted the old-fashioned, three-point play with 11:06 remaining to make it 51-39. Colorado pulled away from there, even getting Scott’s second 3-point basket of his college career.
“I worked on my outside shooting in the summer,” Scott said. “I’m not going to do it a lot. But if I’m open, I have to.”
Boyle would like to see the Buffs shoot better (42.3 percent), but he loved their defensive effort. Drexel (0-1) shot just 29.1 percent for the game. The 48 points allowed were the fewest by a Colorado team in a home opener since 1949.
CU surprised the home crowd by opening with an odd lineup that included only two regulars, Scott and Talton.
But with sophomores Tre’Shaun Fletcher, Jaron Hopkins and Dustin Thomas joining the juniors, that lineup scored 11 points without committing a turnover.
Returning starters Askia Booker, Xavier Johnson and Wesley Gordon entered the lineup later in the first half. But Boyle continued to substitute frequently.
“We’re cleaning up some disciplinary, internal things,” Boyle said of the “odd” lineup, adding that Booker didn’t start because of a virus. “I was proud of the way that (opening) lineup responded.”
Booker hit just 2-of-14 shots and finished with seven points. But nine CU players scored, and Thomas, a 6-7 forward, led the Buffs with four assists. Last season, he dished out a total of 16 assists.
“We’ve got a lot of players that can make plays,” Thomas said. “We shared the ball. We enjoy this offense.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
