Scott McClurg/Journal-World File PhotoBoulder, Colo. ? For the first time in four seasons, David Harrison won’t be on the court today when Kansas University’s basketball team tangles with Colorado at Coors Events Center.
Harrison, who was Public Enemy No. 1 to KU fans, now is a budding millionaire with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, leaving a new cast of characters to play the Jayhawks at 3 p.m. today.
“I don’t think it’ll be as fun,” KU senior Wayne Simien said of the Jayhawks’ playing the Buffaloes sans Harrison. “Hopefully, we’ll still win. It was always fun competing against Dave personally. (Stephane) Pelle is gone, (Michel) Morandais is gone, but they’ve still got a good team.”
The Buffs went 1-6 versus KU with Harrison on board. Tempers flared in games several times.
Colorado is off to an 8-5 start this season, 0-2 in the Big 12, without the 7-foot first-round draft pick.
“I talked to David this summer when I was in Indianapolis for Nike camp,” Simien said. “I had a chance to holler at him. I watched him on TV last night. He’s a big body. It’s good to see him doing well in the league.”
In the first year A.D. (after David), the Buffaloes are led by freshman Richard Roby, a 6-6 guard from San Bernardino, Calif., who is averaging 14.9 points a game.
Chris Copeland and Marcus Hall contribute 13.6 and 11.9 points per contest, while Jayson Obazuaye averages just less than 10 points a game. Julius Ashby, a 6-9 junior, who is injured and won’t play today, averages 9.9 ppg.
Roby is bidding to become the first CU freshman since Chauncey Billups to lead the squad in scoring. Billups in the 1995-96 season averaged 17.9 points a game.
Blue-chip recruit Roby has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games. He had 20 points off 6-of-14 shooting in Wednesday’s shocking home loss to Nebraska.
“The thing I like about him,” CU coach Ricardo Patton said of Roby, “is he is not a typical immature freshman. I think he has a great work ethic. He wants to be a great player. He can do some different things. He is not just a guy that can shoot the basketball.”
Roby has hit 71 of 157 shots for 45.2 percent — including 18 of 55 three-pointers for 32.7 percent — and has dished 27 assists against 36 turnovers. He leads the team in steals with 25.
“He is definitely one of the premier young guys in our league,” KU coach Bill Self said. “He can score off the catch, score off the bounce. I like him.”
Roby has impressed his teammates already.
“I think he is more mature as a freshman,” junior guard Antoine McGee said. “He came in this summer and got a lot stronger. He has a lot of confidence and that will carry him a long way in the Big 12.”
Added Obazuaye: “He didn’t come into our program with a big head. I like his style of play. He gets after it on defense as well as offense.”
The Buffaloes are averaging 71.2 points a game off 45.2 percent shooting while allowing 72.3 points.
“We’ve got a lot of athletic players now,” Obazuaye said, “so we’re getting after people that way.”
So are the Jayhawks.
“They’ve got good players at every position,” Patton said. “If you have a solid point guard, as they do (senior Aaron Miles), it’s a great advantage. He’s been to the Final Four twice. They have excellent guards. The ones new are special themselves. They know how to play.”
Miles also misses Harrison.
“Who hates him?” Miles said with a laugh. “OK, our fans hated him. I had no problem with ‘Big Dave.’ He was cool. I’m sure they still have a good team. All the teams in the league are tough, especially on the road.”
6Sports video: Freshmen gain experience from Simien’s absence
Familiar faces long gone for new-look Buffaloes
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