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Three's company

Posted February 29, 2008

Richard Roby, Marcus Hall and Marcus King-Stockton will play their final home games for the Buffs on Saturday against Iowa State.

After everything they've been through in this program they deserve a standing ovation. And a victory.

Say what you want about this group's performance on the court, but at least they didn't quit.

Ricardo Patton made it tough on them by announcing that he would be a lame duck before last season began. Not surprisingly, the Buffs lost 20 games and RP moved on to NIU.

Jeff Bzdelik, to his credit, used these three as a bridge from the past to the future. But CU's new head coach is naturally more excited about what the program's going to look like next season when his five-man recruiting class arrives to join Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson, Jeremy Williams and Casey Crawford.

The Buffs might very well lose 20 games again. But it should be noted that:

Roby has bought into the new system and played a more efficient all-around game. Hall, already a CU graduate, has been an ironman and is well-respected by his Big 12 peers. King-Stockton, who obviously doesn't have the kind of talent Michael Beasley and other big men in the conference were born with, seems to be a great human being who represents the program well in the classroom and out in the community.

In case you can't make it to "Senior Day" at the Coors Events Center, Bzdelik gave me a preview before Friday's practice of what he's going to say about these three in front of the crowd.

"Their attitudes have been great. Unfortunately, it's not reflected in wins as much as we would like, but the competitiveness and the spirit in which we've played is a testimony to who they are as people."

Now, a little homework for you Buffs/Big 12 diehards. Who do you think should be named first-team All-Big 12 this season?

As the new hoops beat writer for the Camera I do get to cast a ballot and I welcome your two cents.