Andre Roberson reminds CU Buffs coach Tad Boyle of Dennis Rodman

The hair isn't dyed blonde. There are no visible piercings or tattoos. Madonna isn't sitting court side.

But there is a player roaming the Coors Events Center in the mold of Dennis Rodman.

Tad Boyle said he has never coached a rebounder in the class of Colorado's Andre Roberson.

"He just reminds me of Dennis Rodman from watching Rodman play," Boyle said. "Rodman did the same thing tipping the ball and keeping it alive and just always pursuing it."

All 10 players on the floor want to rebound the ball. Roberson is usually the one who gets it.

During CU's 73-33 victory over Utah on Saturday, Roberson grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in 25 minutes. He also scored 17 points on 5-for-7

Andre Roberson, center, of Colorado, battles with Cedric Martin, left, and Josh Wadkins, both of Utah during the first half of the December 31, 2001 game in Boulder. For more photos of the game, go to www.dailycamera.com. December 31, 2011 / Cliff Grassmick ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )

shooting with three blocks, two steals and only one turnover.

"It's scary how good he is rebounding the basketball," Boyle said.

Roberson leads the Pac-12 and is third nationally in that department, averaging 12.0 rebound per game. The conference's second-most productive rebounder is Washington's Aziz N'Diaye (8.2 rpg).

So how does the Buffs' skinny -- worm-like? -- 6-foot-7 sophomore forward clean the glass better than Windex?

"You've got to have a knack for it and you also have to want to do it," Roberson said. "You can teach people to box out and rebound, but you can't teach them to go after it."

Roberson has accounted for 31.2 percent of CU's rebounds this season, grabbing 156 boards in 13 games. Austin Dufault (4.8 rpg) is second on the team with 63.

"He steals them," 6-5 freshman guard Spencer Dinwiddie said with a smile. "He is 6-7, long and athletic, and he has a nose for the ball. He sees where it is going and he just out-hustles everybody to the ball."

Offensively, Roberson is averaging 12.1 points, which is second on the team behind Carlon Brown (12.8 ppg).

Since going 1-for-7 at the free throw line in a disheartening 65-64 loss at Colorado State on Nov. 30, Roberson has made 28 of 34 attempts (82.4 percent).

"I just try to do what's best for the team," Roberson said.

Thanks in large part to Roberson's defensive domination, CU (38.5 rpg) ranks second in the conference in rebounding behind Washington (40.2 rpg).

The Buffs (9-4, 1-0) host the talented Huskies (8-5, 2-0) on Thursday at the Coors Events Center.

"We can't get too high off this one," Boyle said after the Buffs out-rebounded the Utes 44-28. "We know Washington is going to be a different animal."

Source: http://www.buffzone.com/ci_19657474?source=rss_viewed

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