Quick Post: EuroTrip ends on a high note

The BasketBuffs wrapped up their exhibition schedule with a 96-57 victory over the Rotterdam Challengers yesterday afternoon.  Buoyed but yet another dominating night on the glass (55-29 rebound advantage), the result was never really in doubt, as the team enjoyed a 23-point advantage at halftime.

Josh Scott lead the way, yet again, scoring 19 points.  In the five games of the trip, he averaged 17.4 ppg, and lead the team in scoring four times.  While stats from these games are essentially meaningless, it's still very encouraging to see the freshman take on an offensive leadership role so quickly. 

Andre Roberson and Xavier Johnson each notched a double-double.  The 18/14 performance from 'Dre was his third in four attempts on the trip.  Sabatino Chen also had a big night, filling his stat line with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and six steals.

Much like the win from Saturday, I get the feeling that the Rotterdam Challengers weren't even close to the quality of the team in France.  Over the course of the two games, the Buffs out-rebounded Optima Ghent and the Challengers 105-48 (!!!!!).  Those are the kind of numbers you see when heavyweights are playing bad teams from the SWAC. 

Hell, even that French team, anchored by NBA big man Kevin Seraphin, got pounded on the glass 41-27 in the second game alone.  I'm starting to think European big mean are a little soft (big shock).  While I think CU will be very strong on the boards this season (the front-line additions of Scott, Johnson, and Wesley Gordon are a big boost), we'll have to wait and see what the rebound exchange rate is when the Buffs hit the court for real later this year.

With the win the Buffs improve their trip record to 2-3.  In a perfect world, that mark would've finished in the black, but the experience gained from the extra practices and in-game scenarios will be invaluable as this young team readies itself to take the floor in November.  Start the countdown clock: the team now has 80 days to rest up and prepare for Wofford on opening night.