2006 Colorado Buffaloes Basketball Preview

2006 Colorado Buffaloes Basketball Predictions

Coach Ricardo Patton (177- 140 in 11 years at Colorado) enters his 12th season with the Buffaloes. During his tenure, especially in the last few seasons, his team has performed below expectations. Patton’s job is in jeopardy. He’s got a good team but are they good enough to save his post?

The backcourt is the best thing that this team has going. Junior Richard Roby (17.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 42.2 FG%, 73.6 FT%) decided to forego the NBA for at least one year! Roby is a great two-way player. Senior Marcus Hall (8.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 41.0 FG%, 68.8 FT%) is a lethal 3-point man who can also take it inside. Senior Dominique Coleman (4.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 42.1 FG%, 48.5 FT%) offers quick, crisp play from the point and scoring off the bench. Three talented freshman—Kalvin Bay, Xavier Silas and Dwight Thorne—join the team.

The guys upfront are all young. The only returning player is junior forward Marcus King-Stockton (1.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 42.1 FG%, 31.3 FT%), who’s proven to be a dependable, energetic defender. His scoring and rebounding must improve. Sophomore forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, a transfer from Ohio State, will have an immediate impact. Freshman center Sean Kowal will get plenty of playing time.

Here’s the problem for Patton—no NCAA appearance since 2003. Here’s another dilemma—59% of his scoring and 69% of his rebounding is gone from last season. One more difficulty—woefully few players on this team have substantial college playing time. Ten of Colorado’s players from last season’s 20- 10 (9- 7 conference) club did not return. Can Patton get his team up to speed by the time conference play rolls along?

With only two seniors on the team and only 5 players returning, this club will have to make major strides in the first few weeks. Last season Colorado got to the NIT where they lost in round one. This season they will be hard-pressed to be invited to that tournament. Anything short of the NCAA Tournament or a NIT championship will result in Patton being released.

If you want more info on the 2006 Colorado Buffaloes College basketball team check out the NCAA's official basketball team page of the program or check out some rival previews from Maddux Sports of schools like the Baylor Bears and Iowa State Cyclones.