Wyoming Teaser

I'm flat scared of the trip to Laramie. Hell, I'm scared to death about every game on the schedule over the next two weeks (@Wyo, CSU, @KU, @Fresno St), but there's something particularly nervy about the start of the dangerous two-week stretch in the Equality State.  It's not just that Wyoming is undefeated - albeit against seven opponents of varying degrees of suspect pedigree - it's that they've historically had their way with our heroes from Boulder.  Despite playing them 17 times since 1986, the Buffs have only managed to beat Wyo four times in the last 26 years, and not once since December of 1996.

If that historical hip-check of an opener doesn't chill your blood, just think back to last season's matchup with the Pokes.  CU hosted them in early December as a seemingly innocuous continuation of the 27-game non-conference home winning streak.  Stunted by a 17-2 Cowboy run to open the second frame, the Buffs watched dumbfounded as Wyoming pushed them around through the game's final 20 minutes.  The 65-54 final ushered the vaunted streak to it's death, and had me cursing Coach Boyle for both his inactivity during the fateful run, and the generally poor offensive showing.

Let's just say last season didn't go well.  From: the BDC

That weekend sucked. It didn't help that My Bears shit the bed against the Tebow-lead Broncos that weekend.  I was feeling feisty.  But life goes on, and the sports calendar offers the Buffs an opportunity for a second taste of sweet, sweet revenge this season.  Things went well the first time against Baylor, so maybe "Revenge Tour '12" will continue to serve the Buffs well.

CU will look to beat back the steamroller of history, taking their 19th ranked show on a true road trip for the first time this season.  Tip off tomorrow evening is set for 8pm, with television coverage on ROOT Sports, and the radio broadcast tabbed for 850 KOA.

Head coach Layy Shyatt worked a strong start to his second coaching stint in Laramie, guiding the Pokes to their first 20-win campaign since '02-'03.  Once again he has tasked his team with a seriously weak early schedule.  While the Buffs were fighting with heavies in Charleston, Wyoming was taking on minnows like North Carolina Central, South Dakota, and Cal St Bakersfield.  Accordingly, Kenpom ranks their non-conference schedule somewhere in the mid 320s nationally.  This game will be, by far, the Cowboy's toughest challenge to date, but that didn't mean much last season when they stormed into Boulder after breezing through a similarly weak early slate.

A pair of seniors power the Poke attack: Leonard Washington and Luke Martinez.  Washington, a bullish 6-7 power forward transfer from USC, has been scoring over 14/game this season.  However, it's his solid rebounding (27.3%) and block (9.9%) rates that will cause the most headaches.  The 6-4 Martinez, labeled as the best player from North Dakota by all-mighty KenPom, knifed the Buffs last season with a 14-point night.  Almost all of his scoring is done from the perimeter, as just under 80% of his career field goal attempts come from behind the arc.  The inside-outside combo can quickly break down opposing defenses, as CU saw last year when they combined for 30 points on 10-19 shooting.

Martinez does his best work from beyond the arc.

Complimenting that duo is 5-10 senior guard Derrious Gilmore, who is a reliable free throw shooter (over 90%).

Die-hard Boulderites may recognize the other Wyoming starting guard.  Yep, that's Riley Grabau, he of the "carry Boulder High to the state title game" Grabau's.  After a freshman campaign that saw him on the court for only seven minutes per game, the sophomore has seen plenty of court in 2012 (27.4 min/game), while expertly running the Cowboy offense (23 assists, against only 4 turnovers).  He is suffering from a knee issue, which forced him out of Wyo's last game against UCSB after only three minutes of action.  Unfortunately, I don't know if he'll be playing tomorrow.

Stat guru "jgisland" already did a great job breaking down some statistical keys to the game over at AllBuffs.  Seriously, go check it out, he's got some great knowledge to bomb you with.  In the wake of his brilliance, I'd only like to emphasize the importance of breaking through the Cowboy zone.  Last year the Buffs could only muster .85 points per possession against Wyo. They seemed at a loss to figure out how to attack on offense, only dishing out five assists, and shooting under 40% from the field.  CU doesn't see all that much zone, and has struggled with it in recent years.  The Wyoming game was only one example.  It'll be interesting to see if Coach Boyle has figured out how to break through the fog.

Overall, while certainly a winnable game, tomorrow's matchup with Wyoming has the whiff of upset loss.  History, matchups, style... they all set up to take the Buffs out of rhythm.  I think Martinez gets hot from the outside, the zone frustrates, and CU drops a close one.  This prediction is not an indication that I think the Buffs are broken after the hiccup against Texas Southern, or that they'll get out-hustled like they did last season.  It's just not a confidence building scenario.

WYO 67 - CU 65

GO BUFFS!  PROVE ME WRONG AND WRANGLE THE COWBOYS!

Quick Post: Coaching search musings

What a weird week.  The three and a half days that have passed since Coach Embree was fired have seemed like 3,500, and I'm already suffering from search fatigue.

The buzz of a coaching search would be enough, but some people are starting to lose it.  Joel Klatt has allowed a years-old grudge against Mike Bohn to reduce him to a screaming, petulant child.  Coach Bill McCartney, a known homophobic bigot, has decided he's the ultimate authority on all things black people,  and called the University of Colorado racist to cover up both the failings of his protege, and his failed attempt at further legacy shopping.

It's an ugly situation, but not necessarily surprising.  Coach Embree was an emotional hire, which would necessarily make his termination an emotional firing. Jon's friends, understandably, want to speak up for him.  Their hearts are in the right place, just not their mouths.

While there have also been some sane voices amongst the lunatics - Chris Fowler and Ivan Meisel, in particular, were able to cut through some of the bullshit - I'm eagerly anticipating for the day that this vitriol dies down.

As for who will be the next coach, I've heard the following names leveled with varying degrees of seriousness:

-  Charlie Strong - 52 - Louisville

Coach Strong is one of the hottest coaching names in the country.  I doubt the Buffs have the money required to steal him away from Louisville, especially considering the Cards recently announced move to the ACC.  Even if he were to leave L'ville, I have a hard time picturing him choosing CU over other suitors.


- Gary Andersen - 48 - Utah St

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding the head Aggie from Logan.  Despite protestations to the contrary, he has continued to be discussed for both the CU and Cal openings.


-  Dave Doeren - 40 - Illinois St

I have to give him credit, he was at least honest in the press about his willingness to listen to other offers.  His 22-4 record at NIU is hard to overlook.


-  Tim DeRuyter - 49 - Fresno St

You may remember him from the 69-14 shitstorm he dumped on CU back in September.  Of all the potential candidates, he's the only one I've heard as confirmed with mutual interest.


- Mark Mangino - fat - Kansas (fired in '09)

FUCK.  NO.

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I'm getting the feeling that, despite not being our first choice,  Tim DeRuyter will end up being the pick.  Strong would obviously be #1, but I can't fake a reason for him to say yes.  Andersen and Doeren would probably be next on the list, but they'll be entertaining other offers that I think they'll take over CU (Andersen - Cal, Doeren - Purdue).  The job would then fall to the head Bulldog.

Given a little time, I'll be able to talk myself into liking that.  Right now, I'm having a hard time fighting through 2012's malaise.  This was only DeRuyter's first year as a full-time head coach, and, while it was an impressive 9-3 campaign, he started with a full deck in Fresno.  His real value leading a program is a complete unknown at this point.  I'm just not sold that he'll be able to step in and immediately make a positive impact.  Strong, Andersen, Doeren?  Yes.  DeRuyter?  No.

If CU can't at least land DeRuyter, however, the program needs to be shuttered.  I'm dead serious.  I don't even want to hear about candidates below his level.

Regardless, the decision should be made by the end of the fall semester. 

TSU wrap: Omar comin', yo!

Kenpom had CU a 96% favorite to win last night. CU, #19 in both polls, should have had no trouble with a TSU squad that will probably end the season in the mid-200s.  Yet it still took the Buffs two overtimes, both played without the services of Andre Roberson, to shake off the pesky TSU Tigers 85-80.

Basketball is a funny game.

Obviously, this was a case of the Buffs having an off night.  They came in sluggish, and panicked when things didn't go their way early.  But to say this was solely a matter of the Buffs shooting themselves in the foot would do a disservice to Texas Southern.  Those kids smelled blood in the water from the opening tip, and played with their balls out for 50 minutes to try and win a season-defining game.  All credit to Mike Davis and his crew.  They didn't come to cash a paycheck, they came to make headlines.

The TSU effort was lead by a fantastic game from Omar Strong.  He came into the game averaging 8.7 points per game, yet threw down a 39 point effort that repeatedly stuck a knife in the Buffs defense. He finished 9-21 from beyond the 3-point arc, and could've even been better if not for some second half cramping issues.

Perimeter defense has long been a quiet issue for the Buffs.  Attend any practice, and you'll repeatedly hear the phrase "no layups."  The message is taken to heart, and the squad rarely gives up easy looks in the paint.  The downside is that the team is sometimes prone to allow open perimeter looks early, which can allow streaky shooters to get into a dangerous rhythm (prime examples: here, and here).  Shots after the opening minutes are contested, but a hot shooter doesn't necessarily care at that point.  Such was the case with Omar Strong.  He hit his shots, big ones too, but the Buffs allowed him to get into rhythm early.

I still applauded him and his teammates as they walked off the court.  They earned it.

As for the Buffs, that they survived the encounter with Omar is about all I can take away.  The first 20 minutes was an unmitigated disaster, essentially a worst-case scenario for the team.  For much of the game they were getting out-rebounded and out-hustled.  A case mostly revolving around a lack of focus.

Individual performances were lead by Spencer Dinwiddie.  He went for 24/3/3, netting most of his career-high scoring total at the line, where he went 16-18 on critical free throws.  Josh Scott also had a nice night, dropping 18/12 for his first career double-double.  The Tigers did about the best job I've seen on the season defending the big kid , but Josh powered through, and is becoming an absolute must-watch performer.  Andre Roberson dropped his own 11/12 double-double, but fouled out late in regulation, and had to watch the two overtimes from the bench.

A win is a win, and the Buffs are still sitting pretty at 6-0.  It will only get tougher from here on out, as the Saturday trip to Wyoming kicks off a brutal two-week stretch (@Wyo, CSU, @KU, @FSU) which will test the team like never before.  As Coach Boyle said on the post-game last night, if they continue to play like they did last night, this team will be 6-4 by the time finals break rolls around. 

That #19 that they earned with their run in Charleston might as well be a target.  Teams will bring their 'A' game each night against them to try and get on SportsCenter, and the Buffs can't show up with anything less then their best effort... even against a team like Texas Southern.  Such is life as a basketball heavy.

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As a side note, one of the Tubas did the Tuba Cheer in high heels last night.  Having spun for four years, let me tell you that was even more impressive than Omar Strong's performance.  Fucking impressive as hell.

Texas Southern Teaser

Texas Southern first appeared on the CU radar in 2010, but they're best remembered for coming up to Boulder for the first round of the 2011 NIT.  Apparently, Coach Boyle enjoyed toying with the SWAC minnows, as he's had them back to Boulder each of the last two seasons.  Despite some solid in-conference success, they've rarely managed to trouble non-conference opponents (they've only won eightnine non-conference games against D-1 opponents since the start of the '04-'05 season), and I would expect no less tonight.

Tip off is set for 7:30PM, with television coverage on Pac-12 Networks, and radio coverage on 760AM.

That first meeting in March of 2011 was made at a high point in the program's history.  TSU was making their first post-season appearance since 2003, and were in the middle of a three-year run which saw them win 39 conference games and a regular season SWAC title under then-head coach Tony Harvey.  Then, shit got weird.

Cory Higgins and the gang had little difficulty with the Tigers in '11.  From: the BDC

Towards the end of the '12 season, two former players were accused of robbing Coach Harvey of over $500,000 in jewelry.  Increasing the bizarre factor, Harvey, seemingly in control of a strong TSU program, up and resigned in the middle of the offseason.  Everyone following the situation (read: no one) was scratching their heads until it was announced that the basketball program was swept up in a recruiting violations scandal with the football program.  The result of the scandal, which included "booster-related recruiting violations, academic improprieties, the use of ineligible athletes and exceeding scholarship limits," saw the hoops program banned from the '12-'13 post-season, and docked numerous scholarships.  Due to TSU's status as a "double-repeat violator" the "death penalty" was even considered.

Yeesh.

Into that cauldron of crap steps former Indiana Hoosiers head man Mike Davis.  Not technically the "head coach," with an interim tag applied so that he can still collect a paycheck from UAB (they fired him after the '11-'12 campaign), Coach Davis has spent the last decade falling from the college basketball's pinnacle to it's basement.  In 2002, he lead Indiana to the national title game before losing to Maryland.  Since then, he's been forced out at Indiana for not living up to their blue-blood standards, fired from UAB despite four-consecutive 20-win seasons (the AD whined about declining ticket sales), and signed on to a scandal-ridden program in one of the nation's worst leagues.

Coach Davis' net-cutting days may be behind him.

Yeesh. 

Needless to say, there isn't much positive to say about the Tigers.  There's still some talent on the team, but it's all relative when talking about a member of the SWAC, a league known for producing pauper king champions who almost always wind up in the play-in game.  Key players are 5-9 senior guard Omar Strong (a prolific heaver of 3-point shots), and 6-7 senior forward Fred Sturdivant (a decent defender and shot blocker).

TSU is usually a non-conferece patsy.

Let's be honest: the #19 Buffs should walk away with this one.  If the Tigers are anywhere close this evening, it'll be because CU is sleep walking.  I don't expect Coach Boyle will let that happen.  Maybe a couple of frustrating moments early, but the Buffs away before halftime, and cruise in the second frame.

CU 85 - TSU 62

GO BUFFS!  BEAT THE TIGERS!

Monday Grab Bag: Can football please just shutup?

Football just won't leave me alone.  I just wanted a few weeks of merciful silence to enjoy the start of basketball season, but no.

Today in the bag I'm talking Embree, the basketball win over Air Force, some heavies in the Pac-12 taking lumps over the weekend, and the strong start of the women's team.

Click below for the bag...

Air Force Teaser

If you have any doubt that early season rankings are useless, check out CBSSports.com's current RPI standings.  The Buffs currently boast the #1 RPI in the country, ahead of teams like Duke and Indiana which, I'm obligated to say, are much better than the Buffs are.  We all know that the RPI is generally a joke, and a poor indicator of how good a team really is, but that's a little absurd.

Included on that list is tomorrow's opponent Air Force, quietly tucked in at #3, and benefiting from wins over three bottom-feeding D-1 opponents.  That lofty standing certainly won't last, as not only will Air Force eventually struggle against higher-level opponents, but the three teams they beat will eventually begin to rack up some pretty horrifying losses.  For the record, all-mighty Kenpom has them at #139.

Still, this is the type of game I love to see pop up on the schedule.  A regional opponent from a decent conference means a positive addition to the resume.  Air Force won't blow the barn doors off this season, but they have enough talent to challenge for a top 150 RPI finish, making for good November value.

Tip-off is set for 6pm tomorrow evening, with television coverage set for Pac-12 Networks, and radio coverage on AM 760.  If you're planning on going, you'd better get some tickets fast, because they're going to be very scarce at the door, if available at all.

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The Buffs, of course, are coming in off a week of rest following their spectacular run to the title in Charleston.  Just because games weren't being played, however, doesn't mean the Buffs were deep in hibernation the last seven days.  Sophomore sensation, and Charleston MVP, Askia Booker crushed the gym mere hours after returning home, and the coaching staff were quick to remind all the Buffs that four quick wins are not a guarantee of future success.  As Ski noted, "we're going to get everybody's best shot now."

Success breeds challengers, and a tournament title and an early-season ranking will certainly do that.  From: the Daily

The Falcons will certainly bring theirs Sunday evening, looking for only the second 6-0 start in program history.  The Zoomies are coming in off of a 14-point win against Montana State, and are looking for a big non-conference skin to boost their post-season resume.  The Buffs now provide just that opportunity.

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In the middle of a tough 2011-12 campaign, Air Force fired five-year head man Jeff Reynolds.  AF Athletic Director Hans Mueh was particularly blunt when discussing the reasons behind the move:

"I could care less if they don't win another game. I care a lot about their atmosphere and attitude out on the floor. I want them to jump up and high-five each other. I want them to smile when they're playing.  I can't continue to allow the athletes on the court to just go through the motions and not have fun playing the game." - link

Yeesh, sounds like Reynolds had worn out his welcome, big time.

His interim replacement, career assistant Dave Pilipovich, had his interim tag ripped off at the end of last season.  Good feelings quickly returned, and the team managed an upset over then-#15 San Diego State last February.

Coach Pilipovich has the Falcons soaring high in the RPI to start the season.

He hasn't changed much, in terms of on-court style, settling rather on "simplifying things," and "pushing the ball up the floor a little more." (emphasis mine) Still the Falcons, as is tradition, favor a measured offense (the program has been ranked in the high-300's in possessions per game since even before Jeff Bzdelik's tenure), preferring low-possession games, while eschewing any hopes of an offensive board in favor of getting back on defense.  Your basic Princeton-style ethos.

--

The Falcon bench features a dizzying 21 kids, most having matriculated through the USAF's prep school as a pseudo "redshirt" year.  The blessing and the curse of recruiting for military academy athletics - scholarships are nebulous since everyone's receiving free tuition anyway, but the military commitment limits the inherent recruiting advantage. 

Of the 21, Michael Lyons is by far the biggest Falcon threat.  The 6-5 senior guard out of Virginia torched the Buffs last season with a 31/7 night, and he's more than capable of duplicating that feat tomorrow evening.  Despite an ankle sprain last season which both cost him six games, and continued to plague him during conference play, he's shown consistent quality when healthy.  Through the team's first five games this season he's been averaging over 22 points per.

Michael Lyons is a legit scoring threat.  He's the kind of guard who can play on almost any team in the country.

Other players to watch for are senior forward Taylor Broekhuis and senior point guard Todd Fletcher.

--

A veteran team like the Falcons, favoring a slow-measured pace, should pose an interesting challenge for the Buffs.  Generally, it would behoove the Buffs to crack 70 points.  Over the past four-plus seasons the Falcons have lost 32 of 37 games where their opponents scored 70 or more.  The Buffs should look to get out in transition, squeeze some extra possessions out of the notoriously slow Falcons, and see if they can be the first to 70 on the evening.

Nothing less than total domination on the defensive glass will be acceptable.  With the Falcons rarely going after second-looks (worst offensive rebounding percentage in the country last year), the Buffs can't afford to gift them any.  To that end, last season the Buffs grabbed 32 defensive rebounds on 37 Falcon misses.  That  level of production needs to, and should, continue tomorrow.

On a side note, it'll be interesting to see how freshman Josh Scott, the son of two former Falcon athletes, plays against his home-town team.  The matchups certainly lend themselves to a big game from the Springs native.  He's going to be pumped up for this one, and the Buffs should focus on getting him the ball early to settle him down, and get him into the game.

I think all of the above happen.  The Buffs crack 70 before Air Force, they dominate the defensive glass, and receive a big game from Jelly.  Michael Lyons will go off for near 30 again, but his teammates won't be able to equal his efforts.  Add it all up, and they should defend the #23 ranking by shaking off the pesky Falcons for a solid win.

CU 74 - AF 65

GO BUFFS!  BEAT AIR FORCE!

Friday Beer Post: 2012 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Utah Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson, "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

It's Utah week.  In theory, this should be hate week, but a combination of the team sucking large amounts of ass, and the program doing everything it can to downplay any potential rivalry with our neighbors to the west, has gutted any potential for hate.  I still don't understand why so many people are against buying into the CU/Utah rivalry, but I'm tired of spitting into the wind.  Fine, go chase USC's tail for three decades, see where that gets you. 

Me?  I'll always be down with hating a bright red horde, regardless of whether it comes from the east or the west.  Nothing will change that.

As for the beer pick, Utah week will always carry the honorary selection of Wasatch Brewery's Polygamy Porter.  As I mentioned last year, I think the name alone deserves the selection.  Indeed, why have just one?

However, since I try to avoid repeat selections at all cost, the real gameday beer-o-the-week is Stone's Ruination IPA.

A serious double-IPA from a brewery who understands what hops should be used for, Ruination has long been one of my favorite beers.  It's fantastically hoppy from start to finish, and is a celebration of both the floral/sweet and resinous/bitter sides of hop flavor and aroma.  There's been many a time when, stunted by the abundance of choice when cruising my local beer aisles, I just say "fuck it, I'm getting a Ruination."  If you consider yourself a hop-head, you need to try this beer.

Great as it is, I'm not picking Ruination for it's quality.  It's being tabbed in honor of the ruinous 2012 football season, in all of it's train-wreck glory.  There may or may not be better days ahead, but at least we can all be thankful that this steaming pile of shit for a season has now run it's course.  Fuck you 2012, and good riddance.


Happy Thanksgiving!  Go Buffs, beat Air Force!

2012 Utah Football Preview: Cheer up! The season's over!

It's almost over!  I can't believe it's almost over!  This is the happiest I've been when thinking about football in months.

Just think, after Friday we won't have to pretend to care about the program for at least 8-9 months.  Sure, next season will be another bout with football-as-ebola, but we can all cross that bridge together when we get there.  For now, let's just celebrate the end of football season!  HAPPY DAYS!

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The season concludes Friday afternoon at 1pm.  TV coverage is set for FX (man, those guys are getting screwed), with radio coverage set for 850 KOA.  Conversely, it's the Friday after Thanksgiving, so you could go shopping instead.  Or sleep in, and do something else. 

Hey, would someone remember to turn out the lights in Folsom before they lock-up the stadium for the year?

Click below for the preview...

Quick Post: Confirming what we already knew

Numerous outlets, from CBS to the AP, are letting the world know that the Buffs are one of the 25 best teams in the land.  It's the first time since 2006 that the team has been ranked in any poll, and the earliest in-season ranking since 1970. 

I appreciate their honesty, but I already knew this. Watching the team in Charleston made that point self-evident. 

It's just a shame that the coaches can't be as open and honest about the Buffs continued success, as they left the Buffs off the board at #27.  Who exactly are the coaches voting in these rankings, anyway?  Hrmmm... well, there's Jim Boeheim, Steve Fisher, Shaka Smart, Tommy Amaker, Randy Bennett, and... WAIT A SECOND!  SCOTT DREW HAS A VOTE ON THIS!  That cheating Baylor bastard!  He probably saw the writing on the wall, with the Buffs being ranked higher than his Bears in most places, and left the Buffs off on purpose. DAMN HIM!

Regardless, I guess the team will just have to keep throwing down 'W's' before Drew and his fellow coaches eventually come around to reality.

THEY WILL RECOGNIZE!

Monday Grab Bag: Sweeping though Charleston

What a way to start the season, huh?  BuffNation, feel free to puff out your chest.  Football may be a thing of the past, but this basketball program is something you can be proud of.  These guys are for real!

Today in the bag I'm talking the tournament capping win over Murray St., the schadenfreude-tastic win over Baylor, and the banana stand's run at nationals.

Click below for the bag...

It's gameday. ROLL. DAMN. TAD.

"Do you know what 'nemesis' means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by a horrible cunt... me."

No quarter.  Get revenge.

Fuck Baylor.

Friday Beer Post: 2012 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Washington Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson, "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

Who's the football team playing again?  The Washington Huskies?  Fine, I'm going with Flying Dog.

Up until 2008 Flying Dog was a proudly Coloradan brewery, spreading the Centennial State's love for craft beer to most of the country from it's downtown Denver facility.  Blessed at inception by long-time CO resident and infamous Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and run by Aspen-based rancher Ralph Steadman (also a noted local distiller), the brewery was one of those happy local stories.  The brewery had a signature style that demanded attention, using Thompson's favorite illustrator Ralph Steadman to design eye-popping labels.  The beer was good too, having secured numerous GABF medals throughout the years. 

Then some corporate mishegas saw the brewery uproot from it's LoDo setting, and shuttle 1,600 miles across the country to Frederick, MD.  (Who moves from Colorado to Maryland?  That seems pretty stupid to me.)  So this week, I'm going to belatedly pour one out for a lost Colorado brother, and select Flying Dog's In-Heat Wheat as my gameday beer-o-the-week.

In-Heat was always my choice when selecting Flying Dog, and it's a solid version of a staple hefeweizen.  Pours straw-blond with good-sized head, and has a suitable haze in the glass.  Flavor and aroma carry banana esters, giving the whole package a sweet banana/clove feel to it.  There's a pleasant malty sweetness, but little hop bitterness to the taste, as the style dictates.

If Flying Dog has escaped your normal beer rotation the last few years, you may want to give them another shot for nostalgia's sake.  Despite being on the East Coast, they still do distribute out here, and I know LiquorMart has some.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat Baylor (Washington too, I guess)!

Quick Post: Dayton wrap

It wasn't pretty, but the Buffs pulled away late to beat Dayton 67-57 in the first round of the Charleston Classic.

A shaky first half, featuring nine ugly turnovers, had CU down four at the break.  It took a second half performance defined by an 18-2 run to take control of the game.  Dayton hung around, but the Buffs pulled away down the stretch.

CU stars Spencer Dinwiddie and Andre Roberson both struggled - 'Dre especially with six glaring turnovers - but freshmen Xavier Johnson and Josh Scott picked up the slack in scoring with a combined 17 in the second frame (combined 28 points for the game).  The best performance of the day, however, came from Askia Booker, who shot 55% from the field, including 3-5 from behind the arc, en route to leading the team with 16 points.  He also chipped in four rebounds and assists to stuff the statsheet.

The biggest key to the win was muting Dayton superstar Kevin Dillard.  He picked up two early fouls in the game, and never got a chance to heat up.  He managed to slip into double-figure scoring, but only shot 4-12 from the field, and 0-3 from deep.  In fact, the whole Dayton squad struggled from the field, as the Flyers could only mange 33% shooting on the day.  Shot percentage defense once again doing the job for the Buffs.

The win is solid for both the Buffs and the Pac-12, putting the team in the winners bracket along with potential RPI boosting opponents like Murray St, St. John's, and Baylor.  Tomorrow's game is set once again for 10:30am MT, and CU will be tasked with the winner of Baylor/Boston College.  BC nabbed a 2-point lead before half, and the game has been tight, but I still anticipate the blood-match revenge game with the Bears.  As always, Fuck Baylor!

GO BUFFS!  GET THAT REVENGE AND BEAT BAYLOR (... or just beat BC)!

2012 Washington Football Preview

The 2012 football season lives for only nine more days.  After next Friday we can lay this horror show to rest, and never think about it again.

Kickoff from Folsom is set for 11:30 AM Saturday.  Since I'm assuming many would-be attendants are going to stay away from this one, I'll helpfully point out that television coverage of the game will be on FX.  Radio coverage can be found on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Basketball's signing day

Today is the first day of the fall signing period for basketball and other winter sports. After going 3-for-3 with visits in September, Coach Boyle spent the day putting the finishing touches on his 3rd consecutive solid recruiting class.  Comprised of three 'tweener athletes who can play multiple positions, this class is prototypical Coach Boyle: long, lean, and athletic players who are far from one-dimensional.  All three committed after visiting during early-season football weekends; in future years, we may look back on this trio as one of the few positives to emerge from the 2012 football campaign.

With a trio of forwards forming the backbone of the 2012 class, 2013 has been built mostly on the perimeter.  It's not going to make the national waves that last season's vaunted class did, but it's still a haul to be proud of, and one that should continue the process of building this program into a consistent winner. 

There were some blue-chip misses out on the recruiting trail - especially Jabari Bird, who chose Cal over the Buffs, among others - but I'm satisfied with the group Coach Boyle has put together. Unlike last season, where Eli Stalzer became a surprise spring signing, the program is completely out of scholarships - in fact, CU oversigned by two, relying on post-season defections to create open spots - so this coaching staff can now devote all of it's recruiting attention to 2014.

Below is a quick break-down of the class, and how I see them contributing in the future.

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Jaron Hopkins - SG - 6'5", 190, Mesa, AZ

-Rivals
-ESPN
-AllBuffs

Jaron is the big name of the class; CU had to out-pursue many Pac-12 rivals to get him. The #1 recruit from the state of Arizona, he's been consistently ranked in the top-150 players nationally, and is seen by most as a 4-star level prospect.  Listed as a SG, he's versatile enough to play anywhere from 1-through-3.  He's got an explosive first-step, and projects to be a monster in transition. He'll have to work on shooting consistency, especially at the free throw line, and he has a noted tendency to over-dribble, but he's an exciting athletic talent who could see good minutes his freshman year.

Tre'Shaun Fletcher (nee Lexing) - SF - 6'5", 195, Tacoma, WA

-Rivals
-ESPN
-AllBuffs

The lone signing day surprise wasn't the commit status of a recruit, but rather a name change.  Back in September, recruiting junkies rejoiced over a commitment from Tre'Shaun Lexing.  A few days ago, however, word came down that he is now a Fletcher.  Fair enough.

The word almost everyone uses when describing Tre'Shaun is "upside."  Luckily, the current state of the roster should allow the southpaw to mature a bit before he's relied upon.  Strong in transition, most note that he is a good passer who does a great job distributing when his options are cut short.  His jump-shot can get away from him, but it is improving. 

Dustin Thomas - PF - 6'8", 210, Texarkana, TX

-Rivals
-ESPN
-AllBuffs

Potentially the most intriguing member of the 2013 class, Dustin comes to CU as a sleeper power forward prospect from Texas (so much of a sleeper, in fact, that I can't find any online video packages).  The part of his game that grabs the most attention is his outside shot, as he hit 48% from three as a junior, but he can also rebound, grabbing 14 per game in his high school league.  His stock rose sharply over the summer, and CU had to beat out old Big XII rivals Oklahoma and K-State for his services.  Being from Texas and playing as a rangy "4," comparisons will quickly be made to Andre Roberson, but that's probably unfair.  Still, BuffNation has gotten used to what a high-motor power forward from the Lone Star State can bring to the table.

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Congrats to all three, and welcome to BuffNation!

Charleston Classic preview

The Buffs once again find themselves in a strong early season tournament.  Last year in Puerto Rico, CU was included in a field that went on to produce six Tournament teams.  The challenge in store for the squad in Charleston this season may be even greater, as Coach Boyle discussed earlier this week by relaying one NBA scout's favorable opinion:

"[...] the Charleston Classic field - it also includes Boston College, Baylor, Dayton, Murray State, Auburn, St. John's and Charleston - features more individual talent than any other early season tournament." (-link)

It will certainly be a big early test for the young team, and how they handle it will go a long way towards telling us how they'll perform during the difficult post-Thanksgiving portion of the non-conference schedule.

In a general sense, I think the Buffs will do well in Charleston.  The program hasn't won more than one game in an early season tournament since the America's Youth Classic of 2007, and I think they could finally break the streak this season.  2-1 is the goal, and I'm going to tell you how they get there.

Click below for the preview...

Quick Post: On Jeremy Adams and a deep bench

When you look at the stat lines from Friday night, one thing that jumps out is that the Buffs not only played nine, they played nine confidently.  Everyone who saw the court played at least 10 minutes, and everyone scored.  Sure, the level of competition and state of the calendar had a lot to do with that, but going nine deep speaks to the quality of the roster, and the versatility that Coach Boyle has afforded himself.

The big secret, however, is by this time next week the Buffs could confidently go ten deep if needed.  That is, of course, dependent on the return of veteran swing guard Jeremy Adams.  When healthy, Jeremy can be a decent contributor off the bench. A small, yet charismatic piece of the larger Buffs puzzle.  His size alone makes for a difficult matchup problem (6-5, 220 - biggest non-forward on the roster), and he's one of the few upperclassmen who can be counted on to produce in-game.

... when healthy being the key phrase.  Recent difficulties with his knee are only the latest in an unfortunately familiar refrain, and he has yet to stay healthy long enough to translate his best work from the practice courts to the CEC.  To that end, Coach Boyle recognizes his value, and has been quietly prodding him to fight through nagging injuries, and get back on the court where he can contribute. 

Whether a product of healing or Coach Boyle's subtle hints about the grit of Shane Harris-Tunks, for the first time since the summer Adams was a full participant at yesterday's practice. He's not expected to be fully back in the rotation this weekend in Charleston, with Coach Boyle instead deferring to players who have been practicing the last few weeks, but there's now an identifiable timetable to seeing Jeremy back in action.

This can only be good news, as the Buffs are a better team with him in the picture.  With him back on the court, the roster can finally slot into place as was intended, with Adams grabbing 10-15 minutes as the 7th/8th man. It will take pressure off of young reserves like the Xaviers Johnson and Talton, and lend greater flexibility to substitution patterns.

Monday Grab bag: BASKETBALL!

Basketball season is here, and I'm loving it!  It was great to get back in the gym Friday night, and I can't wait to watch the season-long saga unfold.  In fact, I'm so excited about the return of hoops that I'm completely ignoring the world of football, and focusing solely on matters of the hardwood.

(You really want football news?  Fine: CU can't play defense, and Alabama lost.  Knowledge: dropped)

Today in the bag, I'm looking back at Friday's win, admitting a mistake, discussing the freshmen, and taking a spin around the world of basketball.

Click below for the bag...

Quick Post: Wofford teaser

Longtime followers of the blog will recall that I don't run out the full preview treatment for every non-conference game.  I'll take some time for the biggies (CSU, Kansas, Charleston Classic), but I'll just do quick teasers for most of the early schedule (Do you really want 2,000 words on NAU and Hartford?).

It's finally here, opening night!  GODDAMN OPENING NIGHT!  It's like Christmas morning, only better... and with basketball!  2012-13 has arrived, and none too soon.  After slogging through a summer and football season that offered little relief,  BuffNation will finally have a few moments of honest joy to savor.  Tonight is going to be electric.

This game has been a near-as-makes-no-difference sellout for weeks.  Imagine that, a November non-conference game against a small school from 1,500 miles away is the hottest ticket of the fall.  No one is coming this evening to see the opponent, it's all about the Buffs.  As well it should be.  Tonight is an opportunity to revel in the return of basketball, to celebrate the championship season of last year, and kick off the new season with a bang.

I'm sure when Wofford coach Mike Young signed up for this game, he wasn't expecting the CEC to be jammed packed with 11,000 hoops-mad Buff fans, but that roiling cauldron is what he's going to get this evening.  The underdogs from Wofford are no pushover, however.  They're more than some scrub D-2 team, or some bottom feeding RPI 300+ candidate.  After claiming back-to-back SoCon championships to start the decade, they are a program with some swagger.  Take them lightly at your peril.

Despite fielding 13 underclassmen after years of graduating exodus, they should still be able to compete for the SoCon title once again this season.  The key player for the Terriers is 6-1 sophomore guard Karl Cochran.  Fresh off the SoCon freshmen of the year award, he's meant to be the lead dog this year.  He put up 27% of the team's shots when he was on the court last season, and I expect him to take even more than that tonight.  Fellow sophomore Lee Skinner is an interesting forward who grabs a lot of offensive rebounds (13.2%).  I'll doubt he'll have much luck in that area tonight, however.  They also have a dude on their team named Indiana Faithful.  That's awesome.

They favor a very deliberate half-court set, coming in at 324th nationally in adjusted tempo last year, and taking about 62 possessions per game.  This is a team who will try to control the pace of the game, and wear the young Buffs into mental mistakes.  With an impatient capacity crowd hungry for blood, it'll be up to Coach Boyle and staff to keep the energy controlled, and the team pointed in the right direction.

Even with all the excitement of opening night and a championship banner unveiling, I'm not too concerned about the Buffs running into a wall.  Wofford is a team that CU should be able to cruise past at home, and in the process finally bring some joy back to Mudville.  A 10-15 point win would be acceptable, more would help salve the wounds left lingering from football season.

Tip is set for a little after 5pm, but show up early to see the championship banner unfurled.  Those of you out-of-towners can catch the action on the Pac-12 Network.

C'mon Buffs! Kick some ass, and start the weekend and season off with a bang! The fanbase needs this...


GO BUFFS!  BEAT WOFFORD!

Friday Beer Post: 2012 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Arizona Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson, "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

Football might as well not exist today.  The 9th of November is all about hoops, so my pick this morning has nothing to do with any football-centric angle.  I make a habit of going to the World Famous Dark Horse before most basketball games, and tonight will be no exception.  As is tradition, I can only have one beer at the Horse, and that stems from an incident eight years ago. 

It was November 19th, 2004, and I was meeting some out-of-town friends at the Horse.  I was only 20 at the time, so I was forced to forlornly watch as my buddies pounded pitcher after pitcher of brews post dinner.  There was a basketball game on the TV: Pacers/Pistons, which at the time was a great matchup, and featured former Buffs basketball star David Harrison.  The game was winding down, and I was preparing to head home to where I could get drunk with the rest of my underage crew.  All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I could see Ron Artest running into the stands.  It was the Malice in the Palace, and shit got real.

The chaos in the stands lead to chaos in the bar.  Everyone was up and yelling.  In the confusion, the dude who was tasked with checking everyone's ID's passed our table by.  When everything settled down, I found myself inside the Dark Horse after 9pm, with the entire Horse staff assuming that I was therefore 21 or older.  Well, I guess it's time to pass that pitcher over... 

The beer in that pitcher was Boulder Beer's Hazed and Infused, and out of respect for that night I've only ever ordered Hazed when I'm at the Horse.  To celebrate the start of basketball season, I'm also naming it my gameday beer-o-the-week.

If you've been a beer drinker in Boulder for any length of time, you've probably had your fair share of Hazed.  Hoppy in both aroma and flavor, it's your basic American Pale Ale.  It's dry-hopped to give it a bright and citrusy fresh hop character, with a little malt to balance.  Other APA's have passed Hazed by in notoriety and popularity, but it remains a staple brew for me.  If you haven't had one in a while, you might want to give it a second look.

Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Terriers!

2012 Arizona Football Preview: Some assembly required

This is the Buffs final road trip of the season; a fact only made notable by the implication that this death march of a season is finally drawing to a close. 

Maybe getting out of Boulder will do the team some good.  Maybe the 2nd and 3rd options at QB will prove more capable now that Jordan Webb has lost confidence.  Maybe the sieve that is the Arizona defense will ignite a fire in the beleaguered CU offense.  If I cared at all, those points might have been enough for me to plan on tuning in Saturday.  As it is, I don't, so I won't.

If you care - and I am by no means saying I think you should - kickoff from the desert is set for 11:30AM.  FX is, once again, ready and willing to submit your eyes to the horror of CU football should you be interested in watching the proceedings.  Radio coverage is on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Basketball notes with two days to go

That countdown clock over on the right side is starting to get real small.  With the start of basketball essentially upon us, I though it'd be a good time to catch up on some notes that have been bouncing around the last couple of days.

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Starting lineup for opening night -

In my season preview, I mentioned that my version of the starting lineup would include freshman Xavier Johnson, but that early season lineups may include senior Sabatino Chen.  That appears to be the case as Chen has been mentioned as a starter in multiple places.

My reaction to this is... well, tepid.  I certainly understand the experience angle, and Coach Boyle is well served by lifting up the team's lone senior in a year where youth will dominate the run of play.  However, I remain unconvinced by stories describing Chen's newly developed outside shot.  The transfer from DU has yet to hit an in-game three for the Buffs, missing all outside shots taken both last season and in the preseason exhibition trip to Europe.  I take pronouncements of improvement as evidence of things not seen. Without that shot, his intangibles are a lot less appealing, especially as a starter. 

But... then again... the hair.

That said, with Johnson untested, and secondary option Jeremy Adams once again starting the season in street clothes (injury issues continue to plague the Mississippi native), Chen may be the only realistic option.  It should serve for Wofford, regardless. 

Here's to hoping that Chen's outside shot really is ready for prime-time, and Coach Boyle has found a second bite at the Levi Knutson senior-explosion apple.

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Blindly flinging spaghetti -

Nothing drives me further up a wall that a drawn-up bracket in early November.  Heaven help us, the college basketball landscape is far to complicated to project before a single game is tipped off.  If you want to randomly project conferences, fine, and Kenpom is fun to pour over, but the nature of the RPI system and the chaos of non-conference play renders a November bracket essentially meaningless.

For that reason alone, I barely recognize it when people like Lunardi and Glockner release a completed bracket, down to site and opponent (For the record: Lunardi has CU as the next four out, Glockner has the Buffs in as a 7-seed), this early.  It'd be better to simply release a top-40 teams list; far more valuable when considering who is a potential at-large candidate.  Placing teams into regions right now is an exercise in futility.

At least these brackets are more reasonable than ones drawn up in fucking August (the very definition of a waste of time).  Right now, prognosticators at least have something to base their guesses on: preseason exhibition tours, practices, injury reports... Kenpom. 

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Murals at the CEC -

The Athletic Department has broken out the paint brushes to honor the defending Pac-12 champions.  First came this mural of graduated guard Carlon Brown from the halls leading up to the practice facility:

I think that does a fantastic job of emphasizing the payoff available for all the hard work the team does behind the scenes.  Now comes a mural placed proudly in the CEC depicting the champions at their best:

(From: Brian Howell at the Camera)

Imagine you're a visiting team looking up at a packed-house and that mural as the clock ticks down...

It may not be a subtle script of "Defending Pac-12 Champions" under the mid-court Ralphie logo, as I have wanted, but I think the Athletic Department did a fine job with these murals to celebrate last year's championship run. 

There's still the little matter of the banner unveiling, which is set for Friday night...

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Catching up with the Buffs-in-the-NBA -

• Alec Burks, the 2011 first round pick of the Utah Jazz, continues to ride the pine.  Through four games, he has only seen 11 minutes of play.  According to one source, his lack of playing time the result of a roster crunch, rather than an organizational decision.  At least when watching this video you can still see the old Alec we came to love from 2009-11.  #FreeAlec 
• Cory Higgins is still clinging to the Charlotte Bobcats roster, but has only seen four minutes of play in the early going.
• The best story continues to be Chris Copeland, who snuck onto the final New York Knicks roster, and has become a solid bench warrior.  He's appeared in each game on the season, and has seven points to show for it.  The dude can still score.

I'm getting a kick out of Cope's run in the NBA

• Legend Chauncey Billups is close to a return from last season's Achilles injury, and will possibly be ready by the end of the month.

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Friday can't come soon enough!

On this Election Day...

*Music plays: inspirational, quasi-patriotic*

Spencer Dinwiddie believes in Colorado. 

He could have gone elsewhere, but instead chose to come to Boulder and speak for Colorado's best interests.  He's proven to be tough on crime, and supports Coach Boyle's aggressive "Home Court Advantage" program.

While others spent the summer months playing video games and vacationing, he spent his summer working in Europe to build international alliances and strengthen Colorado's standing. 

He even supported Coach Boyle's bold "Net-Cutting" legislation when few believed in it, and has been willing to reach across the aisle to help make his teammates better.  His "A.S.S.I.S.T" initiative alone lead to the direct infusion of at least 128 points last year.

When you go to the polls today, please remember to Re-Elect Spencer Dinwiddie as Mayor of Buffaloes.

PAID FOR BY THE DINWIDDIE FOR COLORADO CAMPAIGN.

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*Music plays: ominous, dark*

Sean Miller has a dark plan for America.  A plan where only his favorite 16 people get to experience the joys of victory.  A plan where BuffNation falls behind.

He advocates a strictly partisan agenda, refusing to work with Coach Tad Boyle to improve our prospects, and voting for Arizonan special interests 100% of the time.  He even opposed Coach Boyle's "Pac-12 Championship" initiative, choosing instead to stand in the way of BuffNation's best interests.

Really, Sean?

Under the Miller administration, more timeouts have been wasted than in any other point in our nation's history.  Can we really afford more years of his wasteful policies?

Sean Miller even resorts to yelling at young adults when he doesn't get his way.  Can we really allow a man who spends his days yelling at teenagers to remain in office?

On this Election Day, send Sean Miller a message.  Tell him BuffNation is fed-up with his pro-Arizona agenda. Tell him Colorado deserves better.

PAID FOR BY THE C-UNIT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, NO CANDIDATE OR PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS ADVERTISING.

Monday Grab Bag: Game Week!

WOOO!  GAMEWEEK!  Finally, after seven months of waiting, I'm about to get to see some actual basketball played.  I couldn't be more excited.

To further whet your appetite for the start of the season, I recommend heading over to AllBuffs where resident hoops guru Goose has been laying down some serious knowledge.  Through six editions, he's been taking a thorough look at the schedule, breaking down each opponent, and even inviting the thoughts of Pac-12 savant Adam Butler (better known as @pachoopsab).  It's well worth your time, and I may be making an appearance as the series reaches its conclusion later this week...

As for the here and now, in the bag today I'm talking more hoops, brushing off the football program, and briefly looking at the highlights from a packed football weekend.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Beer Post: 2012 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Stanford Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson, "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

I swear I had forgotten that I'm going to the game tomorrow.  I was making plans for Saturday, and it completely slipped my mind.  The "ah-ha" realization made me both sad and frustrated.  Sad because, you know, Colorado football, and frustrated that I can't go do something else with my Saturday.  Maybe I'll just go, get drunk, watch a quarter, and leave early to grab a burrito.  Yeah, that sounds like a plan.

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It's homecoming, so I'm looking to pick something local.  It's an open secret that my favorite Boulder brewery is Upslope.  I love their brewing, their Patagonia hops, and their steadfast adherence to canning their beer.

They've grown leaps and bounds over the last few years, expanding from their two-style push into the market to now offer a varied selection both on the shelves, and at their vastly improved taproom.  They even can limited release runs of selected styles now.  Their latest, simply named Pumpkin Ale, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.

A GABF gold medal winner from 2011, it's been available in special 16oz 4-packs since the start of September.  Upslope brews it with local organic pumpkins, which used to require employees taking pumpkins home to bake in their own ovens.  They've upgraded the process this year, utilizing commercial ovens to allow for a larger release.  It's a well crafted ale, tasting (obviously) of pumpkins and spice.  There's a brown sugar character to the flavor, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg - think in the spirit of pumpkin pie - but with just enough of a bitter bite that it's not too sweet.  It's a perfect seasonal brew, and one that should compliment Saturday's Fall weather nicely.

The limited release has run it's course, ending with the calendar flip to November.  I found some remaining cans on shelves earlier this week, however, and I bet you can find some as well.  Give it a shot, it's well worth it.

Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Cardinal!

Quick Post: Buffs picked 6th in 2012-13 preseason media poll

Today is Pac-12 Basketball Media Day, and with it comes the eagerly anticipated release of the preseason media poll.  Arizona was tabbed to win the conference, but UCLA actually received more first place votes.  Also receiving first-place mentions were Cal and, surprisingly, Washington.  This big news for BuffNation is that the defending conference champions were picked to finish 6th.

This is actually a pretty good show of respect when compared to the recent past.  I tried hunting for the last time the basketball team was tabbed to finish sixth or higher, but was thwarted by shaky online records prior to 2006.  The funny thing is that '05-'06 team would've been my guess.  They were the last post-season squad of the Ricardo Patton era, and would've been at least moderately regarded heading into the season. Since then, prognosticators have thought very little of the program, tabbing the various teams to finish in the bottom quarter each season (12th in '06-'07, 12th in '07-'08, 12th in '08-'09, 12th '09-'10, 9th in '10-'11, and 11th in '11-'12.) 

While CU has managed to beat preseason expectations in each of the last three seasons (finishing 8th, 6th, and 6th, respectively), outsiders are still wary of whether the program has really turned the corner.  Picking CU 6th is about the best we can expect; the team will just have to keep proving everyone wrong.

Coach Boyle, you may now use this as bulletin board material.

2012 Stanford Football Preview

This weekend is homecoming... which means... something.  Damn it, I swear I had something for this.  I'm sorry, it's just the haze of losing has stunted my memory.  Wait... it's coming back to me... 

In recent history, at least, homecoming has meant that CU is about to get their asses kicked.  Since squeaking by Oklahoma on Kevin Eberhart's last-second field goal in 2007 the Buffs have lost four-straight homecoming games by an average of 22.25 points.  Included in that is last season's 45-2 disaster against Oregon.

Don't mind him, he's just livin' the dream.

To be fair, you could pick any random game since that miracle over Oklahoma and have a 69% change of picking a loss (CU is 20-45 since that day), but they've been remarkably consistent in treating the returning alumni to shit performances.

Based on that open, I bet you can tell where this preview is headed... but don't forget to GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! :-)

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Kickoff from sun-splashed Folsom Field is set for high noon on Saturday.  Coverage can be seen on FX (I don't know why CU keeps getting the non Pac-12 Networks slots, but they do), and heard on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...