Boulder, CO (U-WIRE) -- The Colorado men's basketball team is off to a 4-2 start. One of the big reasons for the Buffs' early success is the stellar play of freshman guard Richard Roby, who is tied for the team lead in scoring (15.2 points per game). The Colorado Daily had a chance to sit down with Roby after practice last Thursday for the following question-and-answer session.

COLORADO DAILY: After five games, you're leading the team in scoring and minutes played, and you're second in rebounding. All that's pretty rare for a freshman. How have you been able to come in so quickly and adjust to the college level?

RICHARD ROBY: Well, I knew I had to have a big role on this team. Coach (Ricardo Patton) pointed out before I even got here that I'd be having a heavy scoring role. He didn't really expect me to be rebounding like I am, but now that I am, I have to keep it up. And the guys on my team look for me, they believe in me, so that helps, too.

CD: How have some of the older players on the team helped you adjust to the college level and the challenges that brings?

ROBY: Every time I have a question, I can always ask them. They're always pointing stuff out to me to help me improve my game. So they're kind of like my critics on the court.

CD: You were a standout player in Massachusetts at the high school level .What have you found to be some of the biggest challenges, either on or off the court, as you come from the high school to college level?

ROBY: In high school, I was used to the ball always being in my hands, no matter what happens. Now, I have guys on my team that can score. So I'm trying to get used to looking for them, too.

CD: After each of the press conferences that I've been to, coach Patton is always dogging you about your defense.

ROBY: (Laughs) Yeah, every day.

CD: As far as your own analysis of your game, what are some of the things you think you need to work on the most?

ROBY: On the defensive end, it's not necessarily guarding people, it's more off-the-ball type of stuff I struggle at. Stats-wise, I get steals, I get blocks, but it's just the little stuff coach Patton sees that I need to work on.

CD: Being the Massachusetts high school player of the year last year, I imagine a lot of schools had their eye on you. Why did you choose CU?

ROBY: I knew if I came here, I had a chance to play right away. And I have a good relationship with the coach, and Antoine (McGee) was here, too. We used to play on the same AAU team. So I felt like it was a good decision.

CD: I know SLAM Magazine just talked to you. There's starting to be some national interest in your game already. How do you balance that with staying focused on improving at your own pace?

ROBY: That kind of stuff, I don't try to let it get to my head, because just like they're doing that to me, they probably have to do it to another player next month. Just as fast as they find you, they could forget about you.

CD: How often do you and Kenyon Martin (Denver Nuggets star and Roby's half-brother) talk about your game? Does he call to give you advice?

ROBY: Yeah, when he sees me play, he always gives me some kind of advice - what I could work on, what I need to do better on the court.

CD: Are there specific areas he harps on with you?

ROBY: Yeah, he always tells me don't worry about the scoring all the time, try and fill up the other categories like rebounding and blocks.

CD: Did your decision to come to CU play any role in Kenyon's decision to come to Denver, or vice versa?

ROBY: I don't think so. I think it's just more along the lines of what's good for him, what's good for his family, where he felt comfortable at. And it just happened to be in Denver, which was a plus, knowing that I was coming here, but I really don't think I was the main factor.

CD: You guys have a lot of new players that are either underclassmen or junior-college transfers. Where do you see the team's chemistry being right now?

ROBY: I think it's improving every day. Guys are starting to figure out their roles, what they need to improve on. And off the court, we all get along well.

CD: I know you guys try not to get caught up in this, but most of the (preseason) national magazines had you guys finishing in the lower half of the Big 12. Where do you think, and where does the team think, it can go this year?

ROBY: We feel like we have a lot of talent on this team and anybody that takes us lightly, they're gonna see that, too. And when the Big 12 (season) starts, we're definitely gonna be ready for that type of competition, and I have a feeling we're gonna surprise some people in the Big 12.

CD: Can you guys make the (NCAA) Tournament this year?

ROBY: Definitely. I feel we have enough talent to make the tournament.

CD: People watching your game would notice right away that you're a tremendous all-around player. Is there somebody growing up that you idolized or modeled your game after?

ROBY: One guy I always idolized was Scottie Pippen. But I don't really try to model my game after him. I try to take stuff from different people I like. Like I might see Reggie Miller come off a screen so I want to come off screens like Reggie Miller. I wanna have a pull-up (jumper) like Kobe (Bryant). I just take little stuff from everybody's game that I like to try and form myself, I guess.

CD: Who is Richard Roby off the court? What are some of your hobbies and interests, favorite music?

ROBY: Well, what's in my CD player right now is NAS. He just came out (with a new CD) not too long ago, so I'm playing him a lot. Basically, I'm just laid back, just like to have fun, joke around, not be too serious off the court. When it's time to be serious, that's when I'm serious, but off the court, I'm just joking around all the time with my teammates.

(C) 2004 Colorado Daily via U-WIRE