“Give him credit,” said CU coach Jeff Bzdelik about Michael Beasley’s performance. “He outhustled us.”
The 6-10 freshman, who lead the country in rebounding coming into the game, had three points and four rebounds at the half. Granted, he sat for half of the first 20 minute period with minor foul trouble. But Beasley returned to play like a beast in the final 20 minutes, totaling 29 points and 13 boards on the night.
At the same time, Colorado only need look in the mirror to see how they lost the game. This was one where a 16-point deficit at the final horn could have been much greater.
CU (9-9/1-3) struggled at the foul line, failed to box out Kansas State (13-4/3-0) too often in the low blocks, and had trouble handling the ball when the Wildcats went into a half-court press in the first half.
Let Bzdelik fill in the details: “You’re not going to win a lot of basketball games when you yield 17 offensive rebounds, turn the ball over 17 times and miss 14 free throws,” he said.
The Buffs shot 37.8 percent from the field and just 54.8 percent from the foul line.
Richard Roby led Colorado with 27 points and nine boards. But Bzdelik was reluctant to praise the senior’s game afterwards, hinting that too many times Roby tried to find his offense outside the team’s system.
The coach, who said responsibility for his team’s play lies with him, nonetheless said, “I know I look at myself in the mirror first, but (the players) have to look at themselves and see how they need to play better, too.”
Bzdelik said too many times, the Buffs broke down when one player didn’t do his job. Whether it was a failure to box out or an offensive move outside the scheme or dribbling ill-advisably into a double team, too often, the Buffs didn’t do their job, he said.
“I have to do somehow a better job of disciplining my team, motivating my team and giving them confidence,” Bzdelik said.
Meanwhile, the 6,996 in attendance got to witness a top 5 — possibly top 1 or 2 — NBA Draft pick in Beasley.
Bzdelik said that if Beasley keeps “his head and his heart in the right place,” he could be as good as he wants to be.
“He’s very impressive,” Bzdelik said.
Statistical Leaders
Colorado
Points: Richard Roby 27
Rebounds: Roby 9
Assists: Hall 5
Turnovers: Xavier Silas 4
Blocks: two tied with 2
Steals: Hall 2
Kansas State
Points: Michael Beasley 29
Rebounds: Beasley 13
Assists: Blake Young 4
Turnovers: Rod Beasley 3
Blocks: Beasley 1
Steals: two tied with 3
Notes
Roby moved into fourth place on CU’s career field goal attempts list. He passed Stevie Wise, and now has 1718 field goal attempts. …Up next for the Buffs, a 2 p.m. game at home vs. Missouri on Saturday.