Buffs Sophomore Brown Provides Spark As Sixth Man

BOULDER — Colorado's Deleon Brown is doing his best to make sure CU's sophomores aren't forgotten.

One of the Buffs' main storylines this year has been a freshman class that is already turning heads. But Brown, a sophomore guard, is providing an offensive spark off the bench that head coach Tad Boyle said will be resulting in more playing time.

In Tuesday night's 89-62 win over Denver, Brown came in to score nine points in the first half, then add four more in the second half on 5-for-9 shooting in 22 minutes of play.

"I just want to keep being aggressive and attacking the rim," Brown said.

Most of Brown's points did come from slashing drives to the basket.

"I'm really pleased with his aggressiveness, attacking the basket and defensive intensity," Boyle said. "He's no doubt found himself more playing time."

Brown last season averaged 3.2 points in 12 minutes per game as a true freshman, with his season-best a 15-point effort against Fort Hays State. Now, with freshman McKinley Wright IV taking over as the starting point guard, Brown has found a niche as an offensive boost.

"With this team there's a lot of competition," Brown said. "So going into each and every practice, battling and ultimately making yourself better while trying to make each other better is where I'm at."

Brown's five field goals were a career high and he also had a pair of steals.

RETURN FOR RODNEY: Tuesday night's game marked the return of Rodney Billups to the Coors Events Center. Billups, now DU's head coach, served six years on Boyle's staff in Boulder.

"It was weird," Billups said. "Last night we practice here and had shootaround this morning. It was almost like I had a Buffalo shirt on and I was coming in for work. At the end of the game, the reception was great. It was good to see (assistant coach Mike) Rohn and Coach Boyle. … It was bittersweet, now I go back to Denver and we probably won't talk very often. It was definitely fun being here."

Billups' brother, former CU and NBA star Chauncey Billups, attended the game.

"He and I will talk," Billups said. "He'll give me some suggestions."

BIG ON THE BOARDS: Colorado thoroughly dominated the Pioneers in the rebounding department, doubling up Denver by a 46-23 count. George King and Lucas Siewert led the Buffs with seven apiece.

"Rebounding is effort, toughness and boxing out," Boyle said. "I thought we exerted our will on the boards."

SPREADING OUT MINUTES: Eleven different Buffs played at least 12 minutes Tuesday, with McKinley Wright getting the most at 25.

Boyle said that's something that will no doubt change as the season progresses.

"We're playing a lot of guys right now," Boyle said. "But eventually we're going to have to get that rotation whittled down."

GOOD DEFENSE DOWN STRETCH: Early in the second half, the Pioneers were shooting 56 percent for the game and had closed CU's lead to just six points, 51-45. But the Buffs' defense stiffened and forced DU to miss its next six shots in a 12-1 run, and Denver ended up shooting just 42 percent for the game (24-for-57).

NOTABLE: CU improved to 58-25 all-time against Denver, including seven straight wins. … Colorado has won 18 of its last 19 nonconference home games. … The Buffs had 12 players score Tuesday, with 10 having at least two rebounds and eight different players with at least one assist.

— George King (11 points, 7 rebounds) is now 32nd on CU's all-time rebound list (466), tied with Askia Booker and Fred Edmonds.

— Lucas Siewert (7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) had a career high seven rebounds, one game after his previous career high of six against Northern Colorado.

— McKinley Wright IV (12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assiss) has now scored in double figures in both games as a Buff (10 vs. Northern Colorado).

— Alexander Strating had four points in his college debut and Dallas Walton scored his first points as a Buff on a 3-pointer.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu