Buffaloes’ depth too much for Pios
Colorado made sure it was a rude homecoming for DU coaches Rodney Billups and Ricardo Patton.
On a night that saw both teams shoot well, the Buffaloes’ depth and athleticism proved too much for Billups’ Pioneers, as CU steadily pulled away for a 89-62 win Tuesday night to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Billups worked on the staff of CU coach Tad Boyle for six seasons before taking the job at DU, his alma mater, before last season. With older brother and CU legend Chauncey Billups sitting courtside, it also was the CU return for Patton, who coached the Buffs for a dozen seasons through 2006-07.
The Buffs led 43-33 at halftime but DU was able to pull within six points a little more than four minutes into the second half. But over the next three and a half minutes the Buffs outscored DU 12-1, a run capped by an electrifying all-freshman fast break alley-oop from McKinley Wright to Tyler Bey.
Four players scored in double figures for the Buffs, led by 14 points from Namon Wright. Sophomore Deleon Brown came off the bench to go 5-for-9 with 13 points, while McKinley Wright had 12 points, two assists and two steals.