Monday Grab Bag: SMAHT KIDS FROM HAHVAHD

I continue to be most excited about the continuing drip, drip, drip of scheduling information for the coming basketball season.  Outside of that, this is a tough time of year to follow a university without a baseball team.  It's a damn shame I didn't win the lottery the other night, otherwise I'd have been anouncing the return of hardball this morning. *sigh*

Today in the bag, I'm talking another solid addition to the out-of-conference basketball schedule, minor recruiting news for both basketball and football, and Andre Roberson at the NBA Draft Combine.

Click below for the bag...


CU to play Harvard - 

Late last week, ESPN's Andy Katz, who seems to have great connections with the CU coaching staff, leaked another piece of the scheduling puzzle when he announced that Harvard will be making an appearance at the CEC this fall.

Harvard, champions of the Ivy League in each of the past three seasons, is actually a pretty strong 'get' for the Buffs, as, while they're not a 'marquee' name, they are a sneaky good resume stuffer.  Under former Michigan coach Tommy Amaker's tutelage, they've claimed an RPI ranking in the top-100 each of the last four seasons, and look to be just as good in 2013-14.  Should they finish in the RPI top-50 again this season, this game will be worth it's weight in gold.

Amaker has created a strong program out of nothing, much like Coach Boyle.

After a disappointing opening round of scheduling releases, Coach Boyle has gotten back on his feet, following up the exciting neutral court tilt with Oklahoma State with this RPI booster against Harvard.  Considering that I've heard rumors of another scheduling blockbuster potentially on the horizon, the non-conference slate might end up much stronger than initially feared.

Including Harvard, the Buffs now have eightnine non-conference games either announced or leaked, bringing the season total to 2627.  The NCAA will allow up to 31 scheduled games this season (since the round-robin cabal with Wyo counts as a qualifying tournament), leaving up to 5four more yet to be negotiated.


More roster additions - 

Both the basketball and football teams beefed up their rosters over the weekend, filling holes in their respective depth charts.

Football head coach Mike MacIntyre made the first splash, landing JuCo QB Jordan Gehrke.  A 6-2 prospect out of Arizona, Gerhke had originally been slated to attend Ventura College ($) before the CU offer came through.

Gehrke adds much needed depth.  From: Allbuffs.

With Nick Hirschman's transfer, and Jordan Webb's nebulous future, the QB ranks were starting to look a little thin.  Gehrke is signed, and will be able to immediately compete this fall, fleshing out the depth chart under center.  While I don't expect much from Gehrke, it's at least nice to have more than three QBs in the system.

Over at the CEC, Coach Boyle extended his bench even further with the addition of preferred walk-on Sled Allen.  A 6-5 SG out of Texas, Allen impressed at the Mile High Classic AAU tournament (much like recent commitment George King), and chose a PWO offer from Colorado over a few scholarship options.  He's a 2013 graduate, and will be with the team in the fall.

You don't look for walk-ons to receive much run, but he appears to have the length, defensive tenacity, and shooting stroke to run with the big boys. If anything, he should help CU's already sterling APR, and add some intensity to practice.

Welcome to BuffNation, Jordan and Sled!


'Dre at NBA Draft Combine - 

The NBA hosted it's pre-draft combine over the weekend in Chicago, giving departed CU star Andre Roberson his first opportunity to impress scouts post decision.  The results were nothing explosive, perhaps even disappointing, but, as @TZiskBuff pointed out last week, just getting invited to the combine is in itself a statement of your draftability.

'Dre gettin' his draft on.  From: @RealMatSmith

The NBA combine, much like that in the NFL, is less about the sport these men will be playing, and more about basic measurements like height and weight.  You can check out 'Dre's results here, but I'll save you some time by relating that he came in at slightly over 6-6 without shoes, and weighed just north of 205.  Slightly underwhelming since he had been slotted with the PFs, but not necessarily surprising.  (I would expect that weight to go up now that he has finished the school year.)

Still, 'Dre sparked some interest, having conversations with both the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons (who have two second round picks to spend...). As has often been said, it only takes one team to fall in love with you, and I'm still confident that at least one team will use a second round flyer on the NCAA's leading rebounder, regardless of whether or not he 'has a position.'

Up next for Roberson will be a few rounds of individual workouts with interested teams, which should give everyone a better idea of where and if he might go on draft day.


Happy Monday!