He’s an All-America candidate and a possible first-round NBA draft pick.
But David Harrison, Colorado’s 7-foot, 270-pound center, doesn’t scare Jitim Young.
“I don’t care if they’re 8-3,” he said. “Yao Ming — I don’t think he could could keep me off the glass.”
The Wildcats kick off their season today, taking on Harrison and the Buffaloes at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Colorado, which reached the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, isn’t even close to a pushover for NU.
The Buffaloes return four starters from last year’s 20-12 team, including Harrison and Michael Morandais, who led the team in scoring, averaging nearly 17 points per game. Colorado finished fifth in the Big 12, beating Kansas, Iowa State and Texas.
NU’s T.J. Parker said he’s excited to see Morandais, a native of the French West Indies. The two players played against each other before college.
“You don’t see too many French speakers in the NCAA,” Parker said.
The Cats’ point guard almost didn’t get a chance for his reunion, as the Colorado game was a late addition to the schedule. NU had planned to participate in a tournament, but Carmody learned in September the Cats couldn’t participate. That left him scrambling for another opponent.
“The coach of Colorado didn’t want to play us and I didn’t want to play him,” Carmody said. “But they were open, we were open, so we said, ‘Let’s do it.'”
After more than a month of practices, the Cats are ready for their first regular-season test. But it won’t be as easy as last season when NU won its first two games — versus Maryland-Eastern Shore and New Hampshire — by a combined 46 points.
“It’s going to be like the Big Ten season is starting early,” Young said. “This schedule we have is really a true preparation for what we’re going to face in February.”
The Cats also face DePaul, Florida State, Arizona State and Illinois-Chicago during the non-conference season, but Young isn’t worried about taking on top-notch competition.
“I’m looking at these teams, up and down the rosters, and I really don’t see too many people that are better than me,” he said. “Because I work hard, I’m confident of the things I can do on the court.”
While teams like Elon, Buffalo and Long Island are gone from NU’s schedule, the Cats did keep a couple of lower-level opponents. The first, Chicago State, visits Evanston on Sunday afternoon, fresh off a 3-27 campaign. The Cougars failed to win a Mid-Continent Conference game last year, finishing in last place.
The Cats have never lost to Chicago State, winning all four meetings, including an 80-42 victory two season ago. Still, Carmody promises NU won’t overlook the Cougars.
The coach said his squad is ready for the season to begin — not that he has a choice.
“It doesn’t matter if you are or if you are not,” Carmody said. “Because you have to be.”
“I’m ready to get started,” Young said. “After all this practicing and beating up on everyone else, I’m ready to get some new meat in here.”
