The lights were on, the band was playing and the curious crowd was buzzing.

The college basketball season arrived on Friday night at the Coors Events Center with a little excitement and a lot of questions about the 2008-09 Colorado men's team.

Jeff Bzdelik said we would all find out about this young group together. So what did the head coach learn about the Buffs during the 76-56 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the opener?

"They're unselfish," Bzdelik said.

A total of nine CU players scored in the game, including four in double figures. The Buffs shot 51.9 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from behind the arc and had 18 assists on their 27 made baskets.

Nate Tomlinson didn't look like a freshman point guard while knocking down his first four 3-pointer attempts and finishing with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.

"Just get the win. That's what we're about," Tomlinson said. "Individual highlights are nothing. It might have been like that in the past, but not with this team."

Bzdelik was very appreciative of inheriting Richard Roby and Marcus Hall last season. But the senior tandem was not surrounded by a lot of talent and they felt like they had to score 25 points each in order for the Buffs to win.

This year's team -- which got 31 points from freshmen and 31 points from sophomores on Friday -- is obviously going to be more balanced.

"When you're on a team when only one or two guys are only scoring, I think guys might try to take shots here and there because they think it's their turn," junior Dwight Thorne said when asked what differences he see on this team compared to the first two CU teams he played on. "With the balance we have, guys feel like if you're open,"Just get the win. That's what we're about. Individual highlights are nothing. It might have been like that in the past, but not with this team."

CU guard Nate Tomlinson.

shoot the ball. If you're not, don't shoot."

Casey Crawford, the 6-9 sophomore who transferred from Wake Forest last season, was 6-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point land, with a team-high 14 points. Austin Dufault, a 6-8 freshman, added 13 points and four rebounds.

The ability of these big men to make outside shots spread the Arkansas-Pine Bluff defense out. And the few possessions the visitors attempted to play man-to-man defense, the Buffs attacked the rim with backdoor layups.

"Just because they have to come out and respect the fact that those players can really shoot the basketball," Bzdelik said.

Cory Higgins finished with 12 points, six assists and six rebounds. The sophomore tri-captain was anything but satisfied after the Golden Lions and Buffs each scored 36 points after the intermission.

"I think we definitely played better in the first half than the second half," Higgins said. "We probably got a little relaxed. But overall, for the first time out it was great."

The Buffs shot 51.9 percent from the field in the first half and led 40-20 at the intermission. Higgins was 4-for-6 shooting to lead the CU attack with 11 points.

Tomlinson, Higgins, Thorne, Dufault and Crawford started. Levi Knutson and Jackson-Wilson were the first ones off the bench. Trey Eckloff, the youngest player on a very young team, had four points in 14 minutes. And Toby Veal, the most heralded member of the freshmen class, did not get into the game until garbage time.

"He has to work a little harder in understanding the offense and making the adjustment to college," Bzdelik said of Veal. "He's a wonderful

young man and he's going to be fine in due time."

Notable

Tomlinson twisted an ankle late in the second half but said he will be fine. ... The CU athletic department will welcome former Buffs star and new Denver Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups home at tonight's football game against Oklahoma State at Folsom Field. ... Matt Favaro, a junior walk-on, made two free throws. Bzdelik will reward the hard-working practice player by letting him suit up for all home games. ... Dan Hawkins and his Buffs attended the game. Bzdelik agreed to push the starting time back to 8:34 p.m. so fans could attend the CU football rally on Pearl Street on Friday night before the basketball opener. ... Whitney Houston sang the national anthem. The CU women's point guard, not Bobby Brown's ex-wife. ... Attendance was 5,689.

Colorado 76,

Ark.-Pine Bluff 56

ARK.-PINE BLUFF (0-1)

Weathers 9-18 1-1 22, Barnett 1-7 1-3 3, Calvin 4-7 0-0 9, Washington 7-11 4-7 18, Townsend 0-2 0-1 0, Ootesey 1-4 0-2 2, Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Livisay 0-0 0-0 0, Lasker 0-0 0-0 0, Montgomery 1-3 0-0 2, Norman 0-0 0-0 0, Kennedy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 6-14 56.

COLORADO (1-0)

Dufault 5-11 3-4 13, Crawford 6-8 0-1 14, Tomlinson 4-5 0-0 12, Higgins 4-10 3-6 12, Thorne II 3-5 0-0 8, Favaro 0-0 2-2 2, Kelley 0-0 1-2 1, Coney 0-0 0-0 0, Veal 0-1 0-0 0, Knutson 1-5 0-0 3, Zehnder 1-1 0-0 2, Jackson-Wilson 2-3 1-3 5, Eckloff 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 27-52 12-20 76.

Halftime--Colorado 40-20. 3-Point Goals--Ark.-Pine Bluff 4-17 (Weathers 3-7, Calvin 1-2, Montgomery 0-1, Townsend 0-2, Ootesey 0-2, Washington 0-3), Colorado 10-23 (Tomlinson 4-5, Crawford 2-3, Thorne II 2-4, Higgins 1-4, Knutson 1-5, Dufault 0-2). Fouled Out--Calvin, Washington. Rebounds--Ark.-Pine Bluff 38 (Weathers 10), Colorado 31 (Higgins 6). Assists--Ark.-Pine Bluff 9 (Calvin 3), Colorado 18 (Higgins 6). Total Fouls--Ark.-Pine Bluff 19, Colorado 15. A--5,689. s the Owls s