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Tampa subregional
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 17, 2003
LOCATION: Boulder, Colo.
ENROLLMENT: 29,000.
CONFERENCE: Big 12.
TOURNAMENT BID: At-large
SOUTH REGION SEED: No. 10.
STRENGTHS: The Buffaloes live and die with their frontcourt play. David Harrison, Stephane Pelle and Lamar Harris all are solid rebounders. Only five times in 31 games have the Buffaloes been outrebounded. That allows for second- and third-chance points offensively, and defensively, opponents rarely get more than one shot. That was never more evident than in an 80-57 dismantling of Ivy League champion and NCAA-bound Pennsylvania in January. Colorado also defeated Texas, a No. 1 seed in the tournament. When Colorado scores, it usually comes from the big men underneath. Harrison, Pelle and Harris account for 43 of Colorado's 75 points per game. Guard Blair Wilson has also been able to keep teams honest from the outside. As the main 3-point shooting threat, Wilson has averaged 12.9 points, third on the team.
WEAKNESSES: The Buffaloes do not play well on the road. They were 6-10 away from home, including the Big 12 tournament, and 14-1 at home, including 8-0 against Big 12 opponents. Their guards also have struggled. Antoine McGee and James Wilson share time at point guard. McGee is a freshman who was not expected to start before the season. He is not a scoring threat, so opponents don't worry about his shooting. Wilson missed 13 games during the season for an off-campus incident. He did make amends for that in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinal, when he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Kansas State.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Advancing past this weekend would be a surprise. Colorado hasn't played in the postseason in two years, and with only one senior starter, experience is lacking. If it does defeat Michigan State, a likely game against Florida awaits, which would be like a home game for the Gators (see weaknesses). History also points to Colorado going home early. Since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams, the Buffaloes never have advanced past the second round. In its last appearance in 1997, Colorado defeated Indiana but lost to top seed North Carolina in the second round. Colorado is 9-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
HE SAID IT: "We're not going to see anything (from Michigan State) that we haven't seen. We've played physical teams and we've played teams with good point play and good post play. It's time to turn it up a notch." -- Coach Ricardo Patton.
-- Compiled by Rodney Page.
Michel Morandais
GUARD/FORWARD, 6-5 JUNIOR
17.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg
He has been hampered by a sprained left ankle sustained March 1 against Baylor. He is the team's leading scorer but slumped lately.
David Harrison
CENTER, 7-0 SOPHOMORE
13.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg
A force in the middle all season, he leads the team in blocks (99) and is second in rebounds. His 11 blocks vs. Nebraska are a school record.
Blair Wilson
GUARD/FORWARD, 6-6 JUNIOR
When Colorado needs a 3-pointer, it usually looks to Wilson. He has attempted 232 3-pointers, the most on the team by almost 200.
Stephane Pelle
FORWARD, 6-8 SENIOR
12.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg
He is the only senior starter and only Colorado player to play in all four seasons. He is the team leader in rebounds.
Antoine McGee
GUARD, 5-10 FRESHMAN
2.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg
His job is to distribute the ball and play defense. He became a starter early in the season and will share minutes with guard James Wright.
Coach: Ricardo Patton
RECORD: 125-102, eighth season at Colorado.
He replaced Joe Harrington in January 1996 and has led Colorado to two Tournament appearances and two NIT appearances.