4
Eight is Enough
公
Buffaloes ready to make big move
By Jeffrey Auslander
Kansan sportswriter
Sticking a fork in this year's Colorado men's basketball team might have seemed like good idea after its all-time leading scorer Donnie Boyce played his last game in March.
However, there is an aura of optimism around this team because of its additions made since Boyce's departure.
Junior transfer forward Martice Moore, the 1993 Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year, is ready to play. Plus one of the team's biggest recruits in history point guard Chauncey Billups could be good enough to give players such as Kansas' Jacque Vaughn and Oklahoma State's Andre Owens fits.
"Everybody in the upper division of the Big Eight has a marquee name. Kansas has Vaughn. Oklahoma has [Ryan] Minor," Colorado sophomore forward Ted Kritza said. "Now we have these two guys."
Both players finished second in the vote for the preseason Big Eight Conference freshman of the year and newcomer of the year, respectively.
Colorado men's basketball coach Joe Harrington said that the pressure on Billups and Moore would be tough.
"They are both very talented, but it remains to be seen if they can carry this team," Harrington said.
Billups — a McDonald's High School All-American — said he was looking forward to testing his skills against the likes of Vaughn and Owens.
"I'm looking forward to playing against Jacque," he said. "I feel that he is the best point guard in the nation and that I can learn a lot from him."
Not only does Colorado have touted newcomers, but also it has some returning veterans who will fill in well.
Sophomore forward Mack Tuck — who averaged 14.3 points a game last year — is Colorado's biggest outside threat. Along with Tuck in the frontcourt are junior forward Fred Edmonds and Kritza.
Kritza said that Colorado finally had a team that could stack up against anyone and that it could make to a place where Colorado basketball hadn't been in 26 years.
"For the first time in a long time, Colorado will be able to play five or six guys who can compete with anyone in the Big Eight," he said. "We finally have a team that can go to the NCAA tournament."
Harrington said the Buffaloes would have to travel a long road to reach those heights.
"It could take a little while for us to become a good basketball team because of inexperience," he said. "However, it is exciting to watch these guys in practice. They are able to do things our other teams couldn't."
Kansas junior guard Jerod Haase dives for a loose basketball in front of Colorado's Donnie Boyce. After becoming Colorado's all-time leading scorer, Boyce moved on to the NBA.
Paul Kotz/KANSAN
26 The March to March
15 richem of los merit
*Hill* • November 15, 1995
8621.1 3.1 networm 0111