Colorado Buffaloes
Overall Rank: #65
Conference Rank: #5 Pac-12
Colorado Team Page
2010-11: 24-14, 8-8
2010-11 postseason: NIT
Coach: Tad Boyle (24-14 at Colorado, 80-80 overall)
Coach Tad Boyle did a nice job with the talented team he inherited in 2010-2011. Colorado could have, or perhaps should have, made the NCAA Tournament during their last run in the Big 12. Heading into the Pac-12, this team will have a little reloading to do, but there were some talented players on the bench and Coach Boyle continues to bring in quality recruits. One of those emerging stars is Andre Robertson. The 6-7 wing never started a game last year, but managed to average 6.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. He even led the team in steals. With more opportunities available, Roberson should be in for a huge year and will be one of many players who step up and emerge as leaders on the floor.
Who’s Out:
And there certainly is a need for new leaders with the departure of the Buffaloes top four scorers. Alec Burks was a superstar who could do it all. He led the team with 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Replacing him alone would be tough. But add the rest of the starting backcourt to the list in all-around scorer Cory Higgins and sharpshooter Levi Knutson, and this backcourt has a ton of rebuilding to do. Forward Marcus Relphorde is also gone after averaging 11.2 points and 43 rebounds last season.
Who’s In:
Coach Boyle is bringing in some good freshmen, but it is the players with a little more experience who highlight the group of newcomers. Two years ago Carlon Brown led Utah with 12.6 points per game. The 6-5 wing is a fine rebounder and a quality all-around scorer. He should step right into a starting role. Junior college transfer Jeremy Adams spent just one year at Navarro College, but does have a little more experience than some of the other newcomers. Another 6-5 wing, the explosive scoring Adams will give Colorado some much needed depth on the wings. Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has the best chance of the incoming freshmen guards to make an impact right away. He will just be a backup for now, but he was a nice pickup for Colorado and will be the point guard of the future and can play off the ball in the meantime. Sabatino Chen, a transfer from Denver, and Askia Booker will add even more depth to the backcourt. Perhaps the best incoming freshman is power forward Damiene Cain. At 6-7, Cain is a versatile scorer who is a surprisingly good passer for his size. He is a good rebounder and shot blocker and should immediately help out from the bench this year.
Who to Watch:
Austin Dufault is one of two returning starters. The 6-9 senior has been a staple in the starting lineup over the last three years and will be looked to as a leader on the floor. He is an efficient scorer around the basket, but never really had to score too much. That may change this year. After tallying 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in 2010-2011, the Buffaloes will need Dufault to emerge as a more consistent interior scorer during his senior season. The return of Shane Harris-Tunks will provide the frontcourt with some more options. Harris-Tunks missed last season with a torn ACL, but showed some promise during his freshman campaign two years ago, mostly on the defensive end. At 6-11 and 250 pounds, Harris-Tunks is the big-bodied center on this team. If he can step up his game and stay healthy, it may allow Roberson to play at his natural small forward position on occasion instead of having to move him to the four spot due to lack of other options.
Final Projection:
Sophomore Shannon Sharpe has paid his dues and is ready to take over the point guard duties. He is an explosive athlete and a great playmaker who has been stuck down the bench. He is not a shooter and probably should stop pretending that he is, but as long as he takes care of the ball and finds his teammates, he will be doing his job. And that is a job that he can do. Nate Tomlinson started 29 games last season and will be asked to shoulder a large scoring load this year. Tomlinson is a fine outside shooter. In years past he did not really need to shoot much. That will not be the case this time around. If Sharpe can run the point effectively and Tomlinson is ready to score ten points per game, this backcourt will be in decent shape despite all the losses. This is not an NCAA Tournament team, but it is a team that has more talent than many are giving them credit for and a return trip to the NIT is certainly a possibility.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
Projected Starting Five:
Shannon Sharpe, Sophomore, Guard, 2.1 points per game
Nate Tomlinson, Senior, Guard, 3.1 points per game
Carlon Brown, Senior, Guard, DNP last season
Andre Roberson, Sophomore, Guard, 6.7 points per game
Austin Dufault, Senior, Forward, 6.6 points per game
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