Marcus Relphorde is one of the more well traveled players in college basketball.
So it’s not that surprising that Colorado’s versatile senior has played at Madison Square Garden before.
Before arriving in Boulder as a transfer before his junior season, Relphorde had played one season for Rick Majerus at Saint Louis and one season at Indian Hills Community College.
The Chicago native was a star at Homewood-Flossmoor (Ill.) High School. But prior to college he spent his senior year at a prep school in Alston, Pa.
It was during that senior season when Relphorde’s team, American Christian, competed in and won an elite tournament in New York.
Now Relphorde will finish his CU career trying to help the Buffs win a National Invitation Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s definitely going to be exciting to play there,” Relphorde said. “I played there in high school, but it’s a different story right now.”
One of Relphorde’s prep school teammates was Tyreke Evans, who played one season at Kentucky before beginning an NBA career with the Sacramento Kings.
American Christian beat a team led by current Washington Huskies star Isaiah Thomas en route to the title.
“We won there, so it was a good experience,” Relphorde said. “Hopefully we can win there now.”
The Buffs will face Alabama in the semifinals on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m., ESPN).
Relphorde’s play will go a long way in determining whether or not CU can advance and put itself in position to win an NIT championship on Thursday.
The Buffs are 17-6 (.739) this season when Relphorde scores 10 or more points and only 7-7 (.500) when the 6-7 forward scores fewer than 10 points.
More importantly, CU is 9-0 this season when Relphorde shoots better than 50 percent from the field.
“It means a lot from where I started from and where this program has been,” Relphorde said of enjoying a deep postseason run with the Buffs. “It means we’re moving forward and Colorado is going to be a household name in college basketball.”
Tomlinson update
Nate Tomlinson has spent most of CU’s spring break in the training room getting treatment on his separated left shoulder. The starting point guard has been able to practice with the Buffs the last two days.
Alabama is one of the best defensive teams in the country and will be pressuring the ball throughout Tuesday’s semifinal.
“Hopefully by Tuesday he will be ready,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said.
“We’re going to need his ball handling. He handles the ball pretty well, and you need a ball handler against a team like Alabama.”
Last (Big 12) team
standing
With top-seeded Kansas getting upset by VCU in the Elite Eight on Sunday, the Buffs are suddenly the only Big 12 team still playing.
Missouri and Texas A&M were one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas State and Texas were sent home in the round of 32. And Nebraska and Oklahoma State have been eliminated from the NIT. Former CU player Toby Veal will be playing in the Final Four for VCU. He scored six points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench during the Rams’ 71-61 victory over the Jayhawks.
New York itinerary
for the Buffs
The Buffs left for New York after Sunday’s WNIT game at the Coors Events Center. Today the team will visit the New York Stock Exchange and will conduct a practice at the New York Athletic Club.
Boyle and the other four coaches in the NIT Final Four — Alabama’s Anthony Grant, Washington State’s Ken Bone and Wichita State’s Greg Marshall — will participate in a press conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
