Fresh off a home win against San Francisco, the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team heads west for the 2009 Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
Their opponent: the 2-3 Oregon State Beavers, a team whose national recognition comes from their head coach, but in an unusual way. Tip-off is 9 p.m. MST Friday.
Craig Robinson, the former head coach at Brown University, is in his second year at Oregon State. Robinson is the older brother of first lady Michelle Obama, which makes U.S. President Barack Obama his brother-in-law.
However, Robinson is more than just a famous sibling as he guided Oregon State to 18 wins last year after the Beavers went 0-18 in the Pac-10 Conference two seasons ago. After a successful first season, expectations are high in Corvallis, Ore. as the Beavers are picked to finish fifth in the Pac-10.
So far, they are off to a rocky start, losing at home to Sacramento State and dropping their season-opener to Texas A&M Corpus-Christi by 24 points. Despite their recent setbacks, however, the Buffs agree they are not a team to be overlooked.
“They’re going to be a tough team to play,” senior guard Dwight Thorne II said. “They like to slow it down on offense and play tough defense. We haven’t seen much of (their style of play).”
The style of play Thorne is alluding to is the fact the Beavers are averaging 58.4 points a contest and allowing 60 per game, a pace a little different than CU’s. Associate head coach Steve McClain doesn’t want CU falling into their opponent’s trap.
“They’re a team that likes the score in the 50s or 60s, and we want it in the 70s or 80s,” McClain said. “Keeping the pace of the game at a high-tempo is going to be key.”
Colorado enters the contest at 5-2, a very respectable mark, but they said they know they let a few games slip away at the Maui Invitational last week. Although their final tournament game against Chaminade was technically a road win, breaking an 18-game skid, everyone realizes the importance of breaking through away from Boulder.
“We are getting closer and closer to going on the road and getting a win,” McClain said. “There’s a whole different confidence with these kids and it’s growing with each passing game.”
Thorne added, “(Maui) gave us a confidence we haven’t had before.”
The Buffs’ lone senior knows how big a win the upcoming game could be for the season. Despite his recent scoring troubles, he’s ready to lead the team any way he can.
“I’m approaching every game the same way,” Thorne said. “Anything I can do on either side of the floor to get us a win, I’m going to do.”
McClain reiterated Thorne’s sentiment and is glad the players are heeding the coaches’ advice.
“We’ve been telling these guys for a while, the next game is the most important and that’s where the focus needs to be,” McClain said. “Another great opponent with a great crowd and a great atmosphere is just another opportunity for this team.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer David Starcer at David.starcer@colorado.edu.
