It certainly wasn’t a flawless run through nonconference play for the offense of the Colorado men’s basketball team.

But the Buffaloes, for the most part, haven’t been guilty of hoisting an overload of bad shots. Sophomore forward Assane Diop has been one of the best examples of that approach.

Still just nine games into shouldering the responsibilities of a starter, Diop put together the best offensive showing of his still-young career during the Buffaloes’ rout of Bellarmine on Saturday in the nonconference finale.

Diop hasn’t hunted shots, and he didn’t attempt a single one while logging nearly 38 minutes combined during the first two starts of his career in November. Opposing defenses have sagged off accordingly, and against Bellarmine Diop took advantage of the space, scoring CU’s first six points before finishing with a career-high 16.

“I’m trying to do my job every time, every night that we play,” Diop said. “Just do whatever coach wants me to do. It feels good to score the ball every time that you can. But like I said, it was not about me at all. It was just my teammates just getting me open. It was not me doing nothing special.”

Not only did Diop finish with 16 points — more than the previous four games combined — but he also set new career-highs in made field goals (seven) and attempts (11) against Bellarmine. He did finish with a season-low one rebound, yet Diop has been one of the Buffs’ most productive players on the glass, ranking second on the team at 4.8 rebounds per game.

When the Buffs (9-2) return from a holiday break to host No. 3 Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference opener on Dec. 30, the scouting report on Diop likely still will say to give the 6-foot-8 forward space outside the paint. Diop is showing signs of being more capable of taking advantage of that space.

“If they’re going to guard us like that, that’s what Assane needs to do,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said . ”Not that he’s going to get that every night. We may or may not be guarded like that every night. But you’ve got to take what the defense gives you, and I thought Assane did a really good job of that. Played a really mature game.”

Diop assumed a starting role with the third game of the season, replacing Bangot Dak. But lately, the sophomore duo has provided a promising one-two punch at the three-four spot in CU’s rotation. Diop has excelled in the Boyle-coveted facets of defense and rebounding, and he has shot .556 (10-for-18) over the past four games. Diop also has made nine of his last 10 free throw attempts.

Dak, meanwhile, is finding his niche off the bench. After going 3-for-4 against Bellarmine, Dak is now shooting .633 (19-for-30) in the past five games. Dak also recorded multiple steals for the first time in his career against Bellarmine, finishing with three.

Diop, though, got his chance to start due to his defense. And despite the big game offensively against Bellarmine, when the Buffs get back to work Boyle wants Diop to bounce back from what he viewed as a sub-par game defensively.

“I was disappointed in (Diop) defensively on the ball (against Bellarmine). I thought he got beat off the bounce,” Boyle said. “I know he gave up six points there. Their first six points were on him the second half. (Billy Smith) just kind of went by him like he wasn’t there.

“I keep challenging him on that end of the floor. Because that’s what Assane can bring to us every single night. Offensively, he was great (against Bellarmine). Defensively, I don’t think he was as good as he can be.”