Richard Roby has a few simple goals this season.

Win some games, have fun and prove that last year was an aberration, not the beginning of a trend.

The Colorado senior, who considered leaving school after his sophomore year for a shot at the NBA, returned last season only to endure his worst season in three years as a Buff. A coach who resigned before the season ever started, a 7-20 record and a long list of blowout losses left a sour taste in Roby's mouth and an aching to prove himself in his final season as a Buff.

"It's fun again," Roby said after a 17-point, nine-rebound effort in CU's 64-42 exhibition win over Regis on Tuesday. "We know we have a system that's going to work. We know that if we work hard and do what we're supposed to do, good things can happen."

Last season, Roby became the CU coaching staff's fall guy, the player who was blamed the most for CU's struggles. Roby's play suffered, the team struggled and his confidence hit an all-time low.

New Buff coach Jeff Bzdelik, though, said he's been pleased not only with Roby's work ethic, but with that of every player on the team.

"There are things that separate players," Bzdelik said. "When their shot is not going down, what are they doing in terms of helping their teammates? Tonight, Rich got us nine rebounds, six of them defensive. He's working hard out there for us."

Roby admits he still has some lapses on the defensive end, a self-analysis that Bzdelik agrees with. But even there, Bzdelik said, Roby is working hard to improve his game.

"There's always room for improvement, no matter who you're talking about," Bzdelik said. "But Rich is working hard. They're all working hard."

The Buffs open the season for real on Friday, when they play host to New Mexico. The Lobos dealt the Buffs their worst loss of the season a year ago, handing Colorado a 106-65 loss in Albuquerque.

"We're ready to play," Roby said. "It's hard to simulate everything you might see in a game in practice. These exhibition games are good, but when the games count, it's just a different feeling out there."

Friday's season opener will be the Buffs' first of four nonconference contests against Mountain West foes. Along with New Mexico, Colorado will also play Wyoming, Colorado State and Air Force. Colorado went 0-4 against that MWC lineup a year ago.

"There are a lot of revenge games ahead of us," Roby said. "But I think the big thing is that we just have a bunch of guys who want to win more than anything else. We believe in this system. It doesn't matter who gets the shots, because that's going to change every night.

"What matters is that we work hard. If we do that, we'll get open guys."