Pepperdine rolls over hapless Buffs

This is why Ricardo Patton wanted the contract extension before the start of the season.

He knew there was no way he could lead CU out of a phone booth with the youth on his roster and hole in the paint he allowed to happen.

Athletic director Mike Bohn didn't bite and now all that's left is the waiting, which is, according to Tom Petty, the hardest part.

Watching the Buffs this season will be like watching the same movie over and over.

It's now all about endurance.

Pepperdine's 78-72 victory, hardly a surprise, is it? After all, CU has been playing pitiful against pitiful competition. So why would anyone be shocked?

Richard Roby's (pictured) 32 points and eight rebounds, encouraging to see, only because the man decided to skip the NBA to remain in school. Him being rewarded, at least for a night, is something positive.

Freshman Xavier Silas finishing with 19, well, nice to have something to chew on until next season. If CU can tie him down to avoid a transfer, the payoff will be big.

There were other bright spots -- Dominique Coleman's double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Jeremy Williams' 10 rebounds.

Will say it now and maybe once or twice more this season. The Buffs have some talent on this roster. Patton did some hunting and gathering on the recruiting trail. However, his "bigs" just aren't ready. There is also no chemistry on this team.

Here, I think you're old enough to hear this -- a source who attended the game told me something of interest. Patton allegedly felt the Pepperdine defense would not respond to the Buffs' offensive attacks on it so he instructed his hoops troops to, get this, play like this is a pickup game.

A pickup game.

And Patton wonders why so many question his ability as an offensive strategist?

As you will see in an interview posted on Tuesday, the next head coach will be the beneficiary of talent. He will need to go to work and get some rebounders, inside scorers, and infuse toughness into this group. Also on the "to-do list" will be to, um, how do I say this...inspire them to play defense while developing an offense that leaves the fans recognizing the movement on the floor as something they've actually seen before.

For now, look for moments, look for individual development, and be happy with it.

That's "victory."

Team cohesiveness and "W's" are not likely to happen in 2006-07.


blackandgoldbreakdown@yahoo.com