Air Force Wrap and 2014-15 CU vs Lipscomb Basketball Teaser

I'll admit to being a little nervous in the opening minutes of Tuesday night's game against the Air Force Falcons.  How could I not be, having returned from the poor showing in Wyoming, only to bear witness to five consecutive CU turnovers over the opening possessions against the Academy?  It was more of the same; lazy passing, an inability to cut into the lane, passive action off the ball. Throw in another round of discipline issues - Askia Booker was bench for academic 'issues,' Wes Gordon for repeated tardiness - and there was more than enough reason for the low murmurs and harried glances from those in attendance as the Falcons took a quick five point lead.

Then, the red sea parted, and Dom Collier stepped onto the court.  In only his second game as a collegian, the freshman from Denver East entered the fray to serve as a salve to the lackadaisical offensive action of his teammates. The difference was night and day.  Collier had no problems making the extra pass, the simple pass, to pop open a teammate.  More than that, his efforts were contagious.  Suddenly, everyone in white wanted to move without the ball, fire off the smart pass, and put in the work to break down the defense. He forced the action and the pace, uplifting the Buffs, and igniting a 25-0 run that all but ended the competitive portion of the evening.  CU would slack back off in the second half, but cruised to a comfortable 68-53 win.

Collier came in like a breath of fresh air.  From: BuffStampede.com

Dom's final line: three points, six assists, zero turnovers, and four rebounds in 23 minutes.  Outside of the A:T ratio, nothing really pops off the page, but if you watched the game, you know exactly what he meant to Colorado on Tuesday.  With Josh Scott getting the shackles treatment from his hometown Falcons, Booker on the bench for the first 20 minutes, and turnovers plaguing the others, CU needed a spark, and Collier provided it.  The power of a dedicated point guard (and the simple play) at work.  I'm not ready to put the cart completely before the horse, but I feel the more I see of the composed freshman on the court, the better at this point.

Of course, going forward, the emergence of Collier as a necessary component to the offense has created a log jam for minutes at the point guard spot.  Ski Booker (assuming he can clear his way past repeated benchings to get back onto the court), Xavier Talton, Jaron Hopkins, and Collier are all fighting for playing time running the offense.  My argument would be that none of the other three have proven capable of running the show this fall - Ski would be better used as a '2' guard, Talton seems hesitant with his passes, and Hopkins has been inconsistent with his dribble-drive; none seem able to feed the fronted post - but the fact remains that all are expected to get their time at the point.  With non-conference play ticking down, today's game against Lipscomb marks an interesting opportunity for that rotation to shake down a little bit more.

Speaking of, the Bisons (sic) come to Boulder, having left their Nashville home for the first time this season. They've yet to beat a Division 1 team in 2014-15, having clipped two D2 schools (Berry and Transylvania, who, unfortunately, are not the Vampires), but lost to Vanderbilt and Belmont (twice).  Not much is expected of them nationally, but, within their depleted Atlantic Sun Conference, they could challenge for a league title.

Coach Alexander is relatively new at Lipscomb.

Coach Casey Alexander is on his second season at the helm of the Bisons (the added 's' is their style, but it makes me think they don't have an English Department), having come over from fellow A-Sun also-ran Stetson.  He began his career, however, at rival Belmont, his alma mater, so it's like CU hiring a Jayhawk to lead things... oh, wait...  Their 10-8 finish last season was good value from his first run at Lipscomb, and they return four starters from '13-'14.  Overall, Alexander likes to play fast (*rubs hands together*), usually playing to just over 70 possessions, at about 16 seconds per.  Expect a lot of threes from this bunch, as they're 16th nationally in 3PA/FGA ratio.

The Smiths, twin senior forwards Martin and Malcolm, headline the roster.  Each a four-year starter, Martin is probably the better of the two, and finished fourth in the A-Sun last winter in scoring.  They work off of the sophomore backcourt duo of Josh Williams and J.C. Hampton.  Both a conference All-Freshmen selection a season ago, I think they're better shooters than they've shown so far this fall.  All four are capable of chipping in double-digit points on a given evening.  Sophomore power forward Brett Wishon is probably their biggest threat up front, but nothing that CU hasn't seen before.

Martin Smith is Lipscomb's best.

These Bisons (still sic) are not a complete pushover, and could make some noise once they get to conference action.  However, they play at a pace which should be comfortable for the Buffs, and are making their first true road trip of the year.  Unless they get red hot from behind the arc, they're going to struggle at this altitude, with that pace.  Even if they keep up through the first half, I expect CU to roll big into the final minutes of the second.  The focus today should be personnel rotation, defense (big test for the close outs on the edge), and dominating the glass.  The win shouldn't be that big of a sweat.

Tip-off from the CEC is set for high noon today. For those without a ticket, coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call, because of the Broncos, has been pushed to 760 AM, but don't let the Donkeys be your excuse to miss the Buffs.  They won't kick off til 6:30, so get your ass to Boulder!

GO BUFFS!  PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE BISONS (sic)!

Friday Beer Post: 2014 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 Ute week, so the honorary beer selection is Polygamy Porter from Wasatch Brewery. Indeed, why have just one?

The real selection, however, comes from the Bruery in Plascentia, CA.  I was thinking about all the frustration of the 2014 football season - the near misses, the quarterback controversy, and the seventh straight year of mounting losses - and my mind, somehow, turned to sour beers.  The Bruery has some great ones, and I'm tabbing their Sour in the Rye as this week's gameday beer-o-the-week.

I'm not a huge fan of sours.  If I'm going to wreck my palate, I usually want to do it with a blast of hops. Every now and then, however, a good sour - made by letting wild yeasts and bacteria into the brewing process - can make for an appealing taste adventure.  Sour in the Rye fell into this category yesterday afternoon, as the itis from Thanksgiving dinner gave way to a jonesing for pie.  As I was putting away portions of my famous rum-cherry concoction, I was told to try it with some of this.  The flavors paired magnificently, and I was immediately sold.  In true Turkey Day tradition, give me more, give me more, give me more.

The beer is aged in oak barrels, which, to my tongue, mellows out some of the sharper, more acidic flavors. I got notes of vanilla, sour apple, and cherry, combined with a slightly spicy/woody tone.  As I said, it goes very well with fruit pies.  For sipping only, it comes in at 7.6%.  Brew shops with a deep bench might have some, so ask for it, if you're open to something different.  It'll go great with those leftovers still sitting in your fridge.

Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Utes!

2014 Utah Football Preview: the Finish Line

Finally, the finish line.  It's been an interesting year, football, but I think we're all in need of a palate cleanser. At least I am.  See you in March.

Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is set for 11am on Saturday.  Yes, tomorrow; just like last year, we can't have Friday football after Turkey Day.  Everyone was so intent on killing this rivalry before it started that it's just another Saturday game now. Sure glad we chose to dismiss, out-of-hand, the only geographical rivalry that made sense in this league. *sigh*  Let's just keep waiting for USC to give a shit about the Black and Gold... still waiting...

Anyway, the game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call is on 850 KOA.  AKA, the usual.

Click below for the preview...

2014-15 CU vs Air Force Basketball Teaser: Why Do We Fall?

"Why do we fall?" The classic question from Batman Begins leads to the knowing response, "So that we can learn to pick ourselves up."  The Buffs certainly fell hard Saturday in Laramie, getting smacked around by the Cowboys in a game that ranked up there with the Kansas trip two years ago, or the Tournament letdown against Pitt last March.  My view of this team is not essentially changed by Saturday, but my eyebrow is raised.  I saw regression, I saw exhaustion, I saw questioned looks, rather than leadership.  As Will Whelan said, I'm just confused; for a veteran group who has been through the wringer before, I didn't think what we saw over the weekend was possible.

Luckily, that is not the final word on the matter.  Given a few days of practice, and few sessions in the video room, CU has an opportunity to learn an early lesson about responding to adversity.  The team on the floor in Wyoming is not the team that I expect to see tonight, next week, next month, or beyond.  I expect them to force tempo through their dedication on defense; I expect them to share the ball, and be aggressive on offense; I expect them to dictate their will, rather than accept what's at their feet.  I expect the Buffs to learn from what happened, and pick themselves up.

Pilipovich is up against a wounded CU team, looking to regain their mojo.

Hopefully hitting the reset button, the Buffs welcome the Air Force Falcons this evening.  This is head coach Dave Pilipovich's fourth season at the helm in the Springs.  While he seems to be a much better (certainly, better received) option that predecessor Jeff Reynolds, he's struggled to keep up with the surging Mountain West, and has posted a sub-.500 record since taking over.  This season, Pilipovich is at the head of a team in search of confidence and consistency, despite returning four starters.  While the Falcons are 3-1 on the year, they've only played two Division I opponents - splitting with Army and The Citadel in the All-Military Classic.  I'm not sure anyone has a great read on them yet, but it'd be a stretch to assume that they'll go on to sniff the upper table in the MWC.

The Falcons lost a lot when their leading scorer from 2013-14, 'Tre Coggins, and an emerging post threat, Darrius Parker, decided to transfer.  Coggins, who already seemed to be on his way out after an extended suspension last season, would've been particularly useful as a reliable scorer.  In his stead, senior guard Max Yon is headlining the show in Colorado Springs, chipping in over 17 points per game.  The 6-4, 200 lb Texan is over 50% from three through four games, and will need to be watched off the screen.  That actually goes for all of the Falcons, as 95% of all their attempts from deep are assisted.

Yon is the best the Falcons have to offer.

Yon pairs with 6-5 senior Kamryn Williams.  A local kid from the Springs, Williams boasts a high work rate, and is currently 7th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (yes, I know, sample size...). The undersized forward picks his spots, but is the kind of player who loves to frustrate you with his hustle and positioning.

Beyond Williams, the team really only has two other forwards of any size - 6-9 senior Marek Olesinski and 6-11 junior Zach Moer (a role player who should see a little more action against the taller Buffs). Neither, however, should be much of a challenge for the CU front line; watch Olesinski on the perimeter, though, as he takes almost half his shots from beyond the arc.

Olesinski is one of few Falcons with any real size.

Beyond the obvious, the departure of Coggins also opened the door for freshman Matt Mooney to lead the team from the point guard spot.  He's still struggling with the transition to collegiate ball, particularly on the defensive end, but does have a nice assist rate (3:1 - A:T).

There's a few similarities to Wyoming, at least stylistically.  The Falcons will play slow (282nd in adjusted tempo), throw some zone out there, shoot a lot of threes, and move the ball around.  Athletically, however, the similarities cease to exist. The Cowboys are a much more dynamic team, have a lot more inside the paint, and hit the boards with much more authority.  Hell, Air Force gave up 12 offensive boards of Colorado Christian; there's just no excuse for the Buffs not owning the post tonight.

As a result, I just can't see anything but a solid CU win coming out of this one.  My guess is that Colorado will storm out out of the gate before hitting a lull, giving Coach Boyle just enough ammunition for halftime. The final 20 minutes will be a measured pounding, nothing too obscene, that gets the Buffs back in the win column.  It's all about speeding the game up from the defensive end, and using the home crowd.  Let's see how nasty CU is after getting bruised up north.

Tip-off from the CEC is set for 7pm this afternoon. Ah, finally, back to normal service!  For those without a ticket, coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call, now with more Mark Johnson (!), is back on 850 KOA

GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE FALCONS!

Monday Grab Bag: The Return of the Wyoming Curse

I'd like to first state, for the visiting fan, a roadie from Denver/Boulder to Laramie is ridiculously easy, given good weather.  The total round trip is four hours, and, if you take 287, the drive is worth it from an aesthetics standpoint.  Laramie itself is little but a blip on the map, but it has some nice spots to hit and hangout before the game (I went to the Crowbar).  The Arena-Auditorium is also a nice place to watch a game; a comfortable Pit-esque facility with good sight lines.  It it weren't for CU constantly getting their ass kicked up there, I'd have no problem with the series getting extended.

That said, however, after what I saw this weekend, it'll be a cold day in hell before I'll want the Buffs to trek back up there.  I give in, the Wyo curse is real and insurmountable.  I'd rather go back to Lawrence.

--

Today in the bag, I'm talking the debacle on the high plains, the perfunctory loss in Eugene, and the Banana Stand salvaging a tough Saturday.

Click below for the bag...

2014-15 CU vs Wyoming Basketball Teaser: the First Road Trip

This will be the last meeting for CU and Wyoming on the hardwood for some time.  Coach Boyle, having sweated it out against the Cowboys the last three meetings, has decided to let the series expire after the four-game contract concludes on Saturday.

Part of me is sad to see this series fade away.  I look at it as a tough, regional rivalry that adds character to the non-conference schedule, if not gravitas.  It's a good contrast in styles, and generally an entertaining contest. Of course, the other part of me is more than happy to put the 'Pokes in the rearview.  With the home win last November, the Buffs improved to 7-16 against Wyo since 1982.   I've taken it as a humbling test of will; CU has a nemesis, and it wears Shit Brown and Piss Yellow. They've always played Colorado tough, and the risk involved at this point - a win over the Cowboys usually doesn't do much for the RPI - just isn't worth the effort required.

Who wouldn't like to keep fun moments like this one on the schedule *sigh*

Going forward, Boyle hinted that he wants to get other regional programs involved.  Specifically, he name-checked Northern Colorado and Denver.  Fair enough, but, if CU is going to stay in region, I'd much rather them aim higher, like New Mexico, or even, *cough*, Nebraska.  Why not play the Lobos at the Pepsi Center?  I bet that'd draw a decent crowd. (Look at me try to give away the best home court advantage in the West, *sigh*)

But, that's for the future; the present is all about this afternoon's visit to Laramie.  It's an important game for both sides.  Obviously, for CU, this is all about resume building, and, as the first road test of the season, it marks an important right of passage on the path to the Dance. For the Cowboys, this is the red-letter date of their non-conference schedule.  They have some tough games remaining on the road (against SMU and Cal), but the visit from Colorado is, by far, their sexiest home game before New Year's Day.  Not only is this a big rivalry game for them, but also a big night for their fan base, who will have to sit through a slew of contests against teams currently in the KenPom 300+ in the coming weeks.

Shayatt's second run in Laramie has been increasingly successful.

Much like with the Buffs, the soft home schedule is probably a factor of teams simply not wanting to climb up the 7,000+ feet of altitude to take them on.  With good reason, as, not only is the trip to the Gem City of the Plains a difficult one, but the Cowboys are a good team this year, to boot.  Head coach Larry Shyatt, who has had his bunch in the CBI each of the last three seasons, may finally have the pieces in place to break into the NIT, or even, *gasp*, the NCAA Tournament.  They return four of five starters from '13-'14, and should contend in the top-half of the Mountain West.

Key to their success is the healthy return of senior forward Larry Nance, Jr.  The lanky 6-8 Ohio product was First-Team All-MWC a year ago, as he lead the team in points (15.4), rebounds (8.6), blocks (2.1), and steals (1.4) per game.  An ACL tear in his right knee, however, derailed what was a strong junior campaign, and really hurt the Cowboys.  Without him, Wyoming went 1-6, and tumbled out of NIT contention.

Nance, Jr. is easily the best player on Wyoming

Assuming he's made a complete recovery, the senior's presence in the lineup makes the 'Pokes a much more difficult animal to take on.  A completely different challenge from Auburn Cinmeon Bowers, Nance will give multiple looks from the forward slot, shifting from the post to the wing as necessary.  I still would take either Josh Scott or Wes Gordon over him, but there's not many other forwards in this timezone who can hold a candle to Larry. Nance will pair up front with Derek Cooke, a bulkier forward who stays inside.

The backcourt features Colorado native Riley Grabau.  The hero of Boulder High's 2011 run to the state final is a strong shooter (shot 42% from deep last season), and really feeds off of kick-outs from forwards like Nance and Cooke.  He pairs well with another Colorado product, junior Josh Adams.  The 6-2 spark plug is also a good shooter, but aditionally adds an athletic dimension to the guard corps. Between them, they can rain threes if you're not closing out the perimeter.

Boulder's own Grabau has come into his own at Wyo.

What makes this matchup so difficult for CU is the slow, measured pace that the Cowboys like the employ. They revel in possession basketball, and generally take over 20 seconds per set.  Since Shyatt came back to Laramie, the Cowboys have finished no higher than 343rd in average possession length, making every trip down the court a battle of wills.  For a team like Colorado, who likes to get out and run a bit, it can be very frustrating. The 'Pokes will also throw some zone out there, which really gets in CU's head.  If the Buffs can steal out of Wyoming with a win, it will tell us a lot about this team.

It's going to be tough, but I think the Buffs should be able to earn that big victory.  A good, deep veteran team like Colorado should perform well on the road, and the forward strength on the team should neutralize the versatile Nance.  Believe me, it's going to be ugly, it's going to be tense, it's going to be #TadBall, but I see a close CU win.

Tip-off from the Arena-Auditorium in beautiful Laramie is set for 4pm this afternoon. For those making the drive up, it's supposed to be a clear day, so we all caught a break. Coverage for those who aren't making the drive can be found on ESPN3 (the streaming service).  The radio call, sans Mark Johnson, will be on AM 760 - because: football.

GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE COWBOYS!

Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Wyoming 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!"

All apologies to the football team, but I'm headed up to Laramie tomorrow for the basketball game, leaving any hope of a football watch party non-existent.  That doesn't mean that beer isn't on the menu, however.  I fully plan on getting up to the home of the Cowboys with more than enough time to put away a few before entering the stadium.  When in Rome...

So, what will I be drinking?  Well, I think it needs to fit with the ouvre of the region.  I hate to be stereotypical, but, when I think Wyoming (after I get past the gusting winds and barren terrain), I think rednecks hunting game.  With that in mind, there's only one option: Busch in a trophy/camo can.  It's this week's gameday beer-o-the-week.

Oh my, is this a nasty pick.  Not only am I painting with a broad brush about our rural neighbors to the north, but Busch is a truly horrible beverage.  This is the stuff that Budweiser doesn't think is good enough to get the full 'King of Beers' treatment, watered down and re-packaged for consumption.  An 'economy' version of an already terrible product.  *LOL*, I bet you weren't expecting to see this pop up in the beer post today.

This is, of course, an American adjunct lager, otherwise known as a macro-brew.  The ingredients are sub-par and homogeneous, the taste is off-putting and slightly metallic, and it'll give you a wicked upset stomach. If that isn't a hard sell for this beast, I don't know what is!  You can find it everywhere third-rate beers are sold, often in quantities you'd rather not admit to purchasing.  Why not buy a rack of these, and get weird!


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Cowboys (and Ducks too)!

2014 Oregon Football Preview

Not much to say before this.  The Buffs face a massively difficult road test in Eugene this weekend, in essentially an 'us against the world' scenario.  No one thinks CU has a chance in hell of even competing for a few minutes tomorrow, and the rest of the college football landscape sees this one as a rest stop on the way to Santa Clara for the Ducks.  But, as Chris Berman famously says, 'that's why they play the game.' Weirder things have happened...

Kickoff from the house that the Swoosh built is set for 2:30pm on Saturday.  Televised coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Quick Post: Auburn Wrap

I tweeted out mid-way through the first half that the Auburn Tigers were in a bad spot.  While only down a few at the time, it was clear to me that, with a lack of interior size, and absolutely no ability to defend Colorado up front, it was only a matter of time before the flood gates broke open.  While they would find a way to get some joy on the boards (thanks to big Cinmeon Bowers), Auburn's defensive level continued to be atrocious throughout the game, and CU was able to get whatever they wanted in the paint.  As the Tigers, who had, predictably, tried to run with the Buffs at altitude, began to tire and lose interest in the second, the game began to get out of hand.  By the end, all that was left was a resounding 90-59 Colorado victory, and a very happy, if sleepy, crowd.

Coach Pearl knew he was in trouble from the opening tip, and so did his shirt.  From: SBNation

Speaking of the crowd, they were fantastic last night/this morning.  The students did their part, as the C-Unit was packed and rowdy from well before the opening tip through the final whistle.  Even the rest of the stadium was mostly full, which surprised me for a 11pm tip.  BuffNation did themselves proud with this one, and the team was appropriately grateful.

The Buffs certainly needed the support, as, don't forget, this was a four point game at halftime.  It took a dominating performance over the final 20 minutes to turn it into a 31-point blowout.  In that second half, CU shot over 65%, living in the paint against the smaller Tigers, while holding the slumping shooters from the SEC to only 18% from the floor (58% to 29% for the game). That discrepancy keyed a 24-0 run that ended all doubt, and had those in attendance on their feet. If there's been a more perfect half played in the Tad Boyle era, I'd like to see it.

Leading the way for Colorado, and exemplifying the ease with which they controlled play on the block, was Wesley Gordon.  The redshirt sophomore had his best game in Black and Gold, claiming a 16/12 double-double, his first, while only committing one foul.  Beyond just Gordon, however, the whole forward corps had a fantastic night. Xavier Johnson and Josh Scott chipped in 17 points a piece, and the trio combined for 50 points, 26 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, and NO turnovers.  Seriously, Auburn needs to beg, borrow, or steal a forward to help, and soon.

We Gordon had a monster game.  From: the BDC

The problem is, with the Tigers as roster poor as they were, it's hard to take this win with anything but a grain of salt.  In fact, through two games, the Buffs have not faced the level of challenge that they will walk into Saturday afternoon in Laramie.  Facing the Cowboys has always been a program bugaboo, and this year looks to be no different.  I'll have a preview up later this week, but, sufficed to say, the upcoming road trip will be the first true test of the season.  We'll know much more about this team after those 40 minutes have been played.

2014-15 CU vs Auburn Basketball Teaser: Late in the Evening

So, just why is this game tipping off at 11pm?  Well, because it's part of ESPN's seventh-annual Tip-Off Marathon, a yearly showcase of more than 24-hour of continuous basketball action to celebrate the start of the season.  It's actually kind of an honor to be chosen to participate, even as part of the night shift. Believe me, it could be worse - Iona and Wofford tip-off at 7am ET.  I don't even want to think the student section would like with a early-morning tip.

Speaking of the students, this is their game tonight.  There's no doubt in my mind that the attention-span of the few adults in attendance will wane as the game progresses, so it'll be up to the C-Unit to keep the energy ramped up throughout the contest.  In fact, the more of them, the merrier.  If you're not going to the game tonight, because of the understandable intersection of work effectiveness and sleep, why not find a helpful young'un to give your ticket to?  It's what Coach Boyle would want.

But, enough of that noise, onto the matter at hand: Bruce Pearl, and his Auburn Tigers.  Basketball has never been all that much of a strong-suit on the Plains.  Outside of the brief blip of the Charles Barkley era, the program been largely indifferent, even though they play in the hoops-shallow SEC.  That's where the introduction of Bruce Pearl comes in.  Coach Pearl is a known quantity -  a proven winner at the higher levels of the sport. During stints at UW-Milwaukee and Tennessee, he routinely had his teams in the Dance, and winning. While basketball will always be second-fiddle at Auburn, the high-priced hire of Pearl (six-year, $14.7 million) signifies an honest investment in the sport.  Especially in a league that struggles to place more than a few teams at the big boy table, it seems like an opportunity for a high ROI.

Pearl's hiring signals a newfound commitment to hoops at Auburn.

There is some risk, however.  Even in the bootstrapping world of recruiting in the southeast, Pearl carries with him the stigma of a convicted rule violator, stemming from a few recruiting violations picked up during his time on the bench at Tennessee.  In the eyes of the SEC, it's only cheating if you get caught, and Pearl... well, got caught.  Covering up a few kids at a barbecue isn't the worst crime ever (hell, Baylor once picked up a couple cheating on equestrian recruits), but the fact remains. His show-cause penalty just expired a few months ago, but I wouldn't be surprised if the NCAA keeps their eyes on him, especially as he has immediately improved recruiting efforts at the school.

Those recruits won't matter much tonight, but the Tiger program has already been invigorated by the presence of a big time basketball persona.  It seems like just Bruce's name alone has gotten them on some pre-season watch lists.  Certainly, Pearl has a proven track record of coming in and making teams better in a hurry.  Case in point, at his previous stint in Knoxville, he took a team what went 14-17 the year before to 22-8 and a 2-seed in the Tournament.  With his hard pressing, wing-cutters style of play, teams are liable to look different overnight with Bruce at the helm.

The Tigers barely managed to escape the Panthers on opening night.

Still, there's a long way to climb for a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2009, and lives with the TCU's and DePaul's of the world in the hierarchy of major conference basketball.  It won't help their cause that the Tigers lost three high-profile seniors from last year's squad (14-16, 6-12), and are trying to improve a defense that finished at or near the bottom of the SEC in several major categories (allowing over an adjusted 1.06 points per possession).  They're off to a good start, at least, as the team kicked off the Pearl era in style with a 83-73 win over UW-Milwaukee.  In victory, however, you could see some growing pains. They were down by as many as 12 in the second half against their coach's former school, and had to get red hot from the floor to pull off the comeback (over 54% from the floor in the second half). There's nowhere to go but up, but there's a lot of up to go.

Luckily for the Tigers, there's a chunk of guard talent still in the cupboard.  While they lost those three senior starters from a year ago, one starting piece that remains, wing KT Harrell, is a star ready to shine.  The 6-4 senior from Montgomery, AL is a little undersized for his position, but stands as a pure shooter, and a capable scorer.  With a strong frame complimented by great form on his jumper, he averaged 18/4/2 a year ago, and looks to only improve on those numbers this winter.  He is, undoubtedly, the team leader, and the Tigers will need a lot from him if they want to do anything this season. As good of a bucket-getter as he is, however, his defense is suspect, and I'm interested to see what the Buffs can do to exploit him.

Harrell is one of the best scorers that CU will see all season.

Playing off of Harrell is transfer Antoine Mason.  The 6-1 guard comes to Auburn as the nation's leading returning scorer, having averaged 25.6 ppg for Niagra last year.  Of course, life in the MAAC isn't nearly what it is in the SEC (such as it is), so most expect that Mason will be taking a back seat to Harrell.  The pair combined for 39 points on opening night, mostly thanks to 16-22 shooting from the line.

Rounding out the backcourt is the other returning starter, 5-9 sophomore Tahj Shamsid-Deen, who also happens to be a good shooter, and 6-0 sub KC Ross-Miller, another incoming transfer.  With Shamsid-Deen running the point, the other three form the backbone of an intriguing 4-out-1-in attack that loves to get to the line.  Free throws could be key tonight, as Auburn's small guards look to penetrate and draw contact.

Really, about the only threat up front is massive 6-7, 270 lbs bruiser Cinmeon Bowers.  The dude is a classic inside banger, the type of player who used to give this program fits.  He's big, strong, and active, and went for 18/17 on opening night against UW-M.  The problem is, he's the only forward of any note for the Tigers, a fact which CU should be able to exploit.  While standing up to Bowers will be a challenge, the rest of Auburn's talent will defend and attack at a height disadvantage.  Aggressive Colorado forwards should have huge games inside.

Bowers is a BIG boy.

It's because of the interior disparity, and Coach Pearl's history, that you should expect to see a lot of press, and a lot of long- and mid-range jumpers this evening.  Bruce will take one look at CU's front line, and immediately try and neutralize them with tempo and outside play.  A possession game would be death, so #TadBall need not apply this evening.  The Buffs are going to have to run a little bit, which should suit them just fine at altitude.

Full court press worries aside (Talton will earn his stripes tonight), that defense is unconvincing, and Colorado should be able to take advantage. Barring a barrage of threes (not out of the question, considering continuing perimeter defensive concerns), I have no problem predicting a CU victory in a boat race.  That doesn't mean there won't be some nerve-wracking moments, however, should Harrell get hot, or the whistle start going the Tigers' way... At the very least, this should be an entertaining game to watch, worth the late night.

Tip-off from the CEC is set for 11pm this evening (that is not a miss-print). I took the step of telling the boss that I'm not coming in tomorrow, as I would expect this one to go to at least 1:30am. Coverage for those who will still be awake, but not at the stadium, can be found on ESPN2, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE TIGERS!

Monday Grab Bag: Off and Running

Whooo, it was good to get back into the CEC Friday night!  It may not have had the feel of a big game night, but it certainly felt like basketball season; a long overdue return. I'm excited to get back in there this evening for the CU hoops sleep over against Auburn.  I'm bringing my blanket and pillow, you bring the s'more fixings.

The Keg is open for business.  From: the BDC

Today in the bag, I'm talking the opening win over Drexel, a fantastic weekend across the entire athletic department, and a quiet signing day.

Click below for the bag...

2014 CU vs Drexel Basketball Teaser: The Curtain Rises, and the Show Begins

BuffNation, welcome back to all that is basketball.

It's been a long, strange, desperately boring offseason, but the countdowns have finally spun to zero, and it's time to open the 2014-15 basketball season.  As if to remind us all, the weather gods have brought a chill to Boulder, making it certainly feel like a ball night.  Thankfully, while the weather outside is frightful, the CEC is warm and delightful.  That is where our campaign begins, back at home for the first time since late February for a welcomed opportunity to wipe the taste of that night out of our mouths.

First up, the Drexel Dragons, a mid-major riser with a history that dates back over a century to almost the founding of the collegiate game.  Hailing from downtown Philadelphia, they promise to bring a tough-minded, defensive brand of basketball to the Front Range, and should be a feisty opponent for the Buffs on Night #1. Fearless, Coach Boyle never shies away from an opening challenge.

Bruiser Flint has been at the head of the program for what seems like an eternity.  After a spin with UMass in the late '90s, the Philly local was hired on at Drexel in 2001, and has been there ever since.  In that time, he's won a lot of games, 228 of them, in fact, but has never once gotten the Dragons into the Dance.  It's hard out there in the CAA, but I would've though he'd have gotten lucky at least one of those years.

The long-tenured Flint has struggled to overcome a series of injuries in Philly.

By far, Bruiser's best season at Drexel was 2011-'12, when the team won 29 games and claimed the league title. They fell short in the CAA tournament, however, stumbling against VCU in the title game.  The NIT came calling, and the Dragons managed to make it all the way to the quarterfinal.

Coming off of that successful campaign, it was expected that Drexel was on the verge of a string of postseason trips.  Unfortunately, that has not been the case, as, since 2012, the Dragons have slumped to three games under .500. Injuries have been the primary culprit, keeping a strong foundation of talent from reappearing on the Madness' radar.  It especially hurt last winter, as they had more than enough talent, on paper, to make the Tournament.  Without some their best players on the court, however, the team that pushed UCLA and Arizona to the brink in November of 2013 was all but gone by the time conference play rolled around last January.

Trying to turn the corner in '14-'15, the Dragons will be working to make up for the graduation of two of the best players in program history - Frantz Massenat and Chris Fouch.  The pair alternatively formed the backbone of the squad the last few seasons (trading injuries along the way), and helped make the team guard oriented.  It's never easy to replace a duo who combined to average 36 points per and placed in a school's top-10 scorer's list, so expect a change in philosophy from a year ago.  Without them, Coach Flint and crew should try to turn the focus inside in an attempt to take advantage of a core of long, athletic wings. Particularly, without the shooter Fouch, expect a lot fewer jumpers early in possessions.

Even with those graduations, they're picked to finish 4th in the CAA this season behind a rotation that features superlative talent Damion Lee.  A strong candidate for All-Conference honors, the 6-6 junior missed the vast majority of last year with an ACL tear, and didn't even resume basketball activities till this fall. When healthy, however, he's a reliable scoring wing.  Lee averaged 17/5 two seasons ago, despite missing extended time for yet another knee injury.  How aggressive he is with his lower body will be a key this evening, as he returns to a live action.  Eventually, I expect him to get up to a near-30% usage rate.

Damion Lee is the real deal.

Pairing with Lee is another big guard in 6-7 junior Tavon Allen.  He averaged 12/3 last season despite struggling from behind the arc.  Up front, they're lead by 6-7 sophomore Rodney Williams.  More on the athletic, rather than bruising, side of the power forward spectrum, Williams was on the conference's All-Rookie Team a year ago.  All told, these big three are legitimate talents who will push CU.

Beyond them, however, it gets a little dicey.  The Dragons are dealing with yet another set of injuries, having already lost returning point guard Major Canady and powerful forward Kazembe Abif to the injury bug. Replacing Abif is the easier challenge, as they'll probably go with defensive-minded center Mohamed Bah. Who will bring up the ball up, however, is a trickier answer, with some discussion that they could with freshman Rashann London over Seton Hall transfer Freddie Wilson.  Regardless, as a result of the injuries, they're still feeling each other out, particularly at the point guard spot, and will struggle with bench depth.  

Overall, while Drexel features a lot of headline talent, the depth and point guard question don't lead me to believe that the Buffs will face too deep of an upset scare this evening.  Not that there won't be nervous moments, though.  Flint is known for pairing solid defensive basketball with a slow, possession-based approach to offense. Usually, his teams have been in the low-60s per game, and over 19 seconds per trip, so don't expect this game to break out too fast, or anything.  It's a fascinating opening challenge for the Buffs, who have been rumored to be struggling with turnovers in fall practices.  Possessions will be sacrosanct this evening, and an excessive amount of turnovers would cause some headaches.

Either way, we're going to see a heavy dose of #TadBall. *smirks* I wouldn't have it any other way on opening night.

Tip-off from the CEC is set for 6pm this evening.  Tell the boss you're leaving 30 minutes early to insure you can beat the traffic up to Boulder.  Coverage for those who can't make it can be found on Pac-12 Mountain, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE DRAGONS!

My Massive Basketball Preview 2014-15: Keeping it Real

PITTSBURGH 77 - COLORADO 48

You've seen that scoreline a lot over the last few months.  Coach Boyle, in all of his wisdom, has refused to let the memory of that painful day in Orlando, FL die, even posting that score throughout the program's offices.  'We can't let that ever happen again,' is the message.  It's not about shaming the kids for a rough afternoon on a national stage, just emphasizing that simply making the Tournament is not the goal; doing something with that Dance ticket is just as expected now as earning the trip.

You see, His Tadness has promised to 'keep it real' with the team, the fans, and the media.  That constant reminder of how last season ended is just part of the effort.  He's been particularly blunt this summer about the team's shortcomings, and what that could mean going forward.  The simple fact is that the 2013-14 Colorado Buffaloes didn't live up to their potential.  There were extenuating circumstances, to be sure, but a 5th place finish in the Pac-12 and a humiliating second round exit in the NCAA Tournament was not how last season was supposed to go. Naturally, given the sputter across the finish line, there are going to be questions, and Coach Boyle has been quick to posit a number of solutions.

BuffNation was treated to the highs and lows of this sport in '13-'14.  At one point last year, CU was the #15 team in the country, and viewed as a potential challenger to the Arizona Wildcats for the league title. The early efforts against Kansas and Oregon were some of the best, most entertaining basketball I've ever seen this program produce. Then, in an instant on a road trip to Seattle, everyone was treated to a lesson on impermanence.  Success is, of course, fragile, and should not be treated lightly.  Even the best teams need to be prepared to respond to dire adversity; nothing is just handed to you at this level.  But the team wasn't ready to deal with the stress.  While struggling to come to terms with a traumatic injury to one of their star players, they began to lose their way, and some truly ugly basketball followed.  The Buffs would tussle with the .500 mark the rest of the year, as, what was once a season filled with promise, turned uncomfortable. They still made the Tournament, to their credit, but what should've been a happy month for the program turned sour in a hurry.

Luckily, the disappointing end to last season is not the final word on the matter. Those '77-48' signs will come down on Friday, just as the curtain rises on the 2014-15 basketball season, and the focus will become about the present, rather than the regrets of the past. That's what 'keeping it real' is all about.  Ignoring the past - passing it off as a blip, or a result of some miss-fortune - is not going to prepare the team properly for the coming winter. There's still a lot of talent on this roster, a group that has a world of potential to capitalize upon.  They need to meet last year's mistakes head on, learn from them, and then move forward.

Believe me, as frustrating as last season was, there's a lot of promise on the horizon for 2014-15.  CU is legitimately one of the three or four best teams in the Pac-12, and look to be on the precipice of making program history by surging through to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive time. The Buffs are as deep as ever this year, and as experienced as they've been since the start of the #RollTad era. Behind this group, the program will continue to rack up the wins, the CEC will continue to be sold out, and the banners of the University of Colorado will continue to fill the national consciousness. The state of this program continues to be strong.

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In this virtual tome, I will attempt to 'keep it real' about the 2014-15 University of Colorado Men's Basketball Team; previewing them from a variety of aspects, and predicting whether they will be able to make that return trip to the NCAA Tournament. I'll look at the roster, profiling the players, and discussing how the coaching staff will look to deploy the best returning depth in the conference. I'll look at the schedule, touching on both the non-conference and conference slates, and announce my baseline win projection for the campaign.  Finally, I'll look at the Pac-12, noting how our rivals are dealing with a metric ton of roster turnover. Usually, I'd close with a look at the upcoming recruiting class, but CU doesn't have one, yet, so that discussion will have to wait...

Those of you who have been here before know that the word 'massive' in the title is not a misnomer. I'm long-winded to a fault. Consider yourselves warned. If, with that understanding, you're not dissuaded, if you love Colorado basketball too much to let a thing like 'TLDR' get in front of a good time, then grab a beer, strap in, and click below for the preview...

Monday Grab Bag: Game Week

Congratulations, BuffNation, it's finally a basketball game week!  You've survived the over 230 days between the last time we saw the men's basketball team and the start of this new campaign.  I hope it wasn't too rough on you.  I, personally, can't wait for the season to start.  I've had that counter on the upper-right side of this page ticking down since March 21st, and it's finally almost down to nothing.  I couldn't be more excited.

Luckily, the football team is on a bye week, so it's all about hoops this week on the blog. I'll be finishing up my annual Massive Basketball Preview this evening.  Expect it to be released tomorrow at about 8:30 AM - just in time for you not to be able to enjoy it since you're at work.  But, that's sort of the point with those things, they're not meant to be consumed in a single sitting.  Much like Thanksgiving dinner, the leftovers are just as part of the experience as the initial sitting.

Later this week, I'll be releasing my first basketball preview of the year: a teaser of opening night against Drexel.  Remember, I don't do full previews for all of the non-conference games, just those that are of utmost importance.  For this season, that means full previews of Auburn, Wyoming, Georgia, and CSU.

After that, it'll be time to sit back, relax, and take in the first real basketball action of the season.  The Dragons are going down!

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the late collapse in Tucson, discussing the latest from the non-revenue sports, and previewing tomorrow's Massive Preview.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Whiskey Post: 2014 Gameday Hooch-o-the-week - Arizona Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beerwhiskey 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 beerwhiskey terrorists at Budweisersome distillery, you want "drinksipability." (or what a real beerwhiskey connoisseur calls "a session beerwhiskey") 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'm calling an audible today.  I've seen these t-shirts floating around the interwebs recently, and it got me thinking about just how much beer BuffNation has drank in recent years to try and get over the mounting pile of losses.  Hint: it's a lot.  With these final three games looking to be pretty painful, I think it might be time to up the ante, so to speak, and graduate to straight GADDAMN whiskey.  I prefer bourbon, particularly Bulleit bourbon.  It's this week's gameday hooch-o-the-week.

Bourbon, as you should know, is distilled from a grain mixture that is mostly corn and aged in charred oak barrels.  The flavor is distinctive, and about as American as you get.  Undoubtedly, its development has been this country's greatest contribution to liquor culture.  Most of the best come from Kentucky, but you can find some made anywhere. 'Murika.

I've always thought, for what you get, Bulleit is a pretty fantastic bourbon.  It's smooth, flavorful, and surprisingly deep. There's a higher than normal rye component in the mash, and it's aged for six years, which is pretty long for a main-shelf brand.  Compare to others like Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Buffalo Trace, and I think you'll agree this is superior for the price.  I like mine over ice, but you can do what you will. Always in moderation, though, my friends.

I guarantee that it's available in your local liquor store, regardless of that's store's quality.  Your price may vary, but sales usually kick it under $20.  That'll get you through a gameday, believe me.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Wildcats!

2014 Arizona Football Preview

I'll cop to being a little distracted this week.  Basketball season looms large (next Friday, btw), my HEAVILY ANTICIPATED hoops preview is demanding the majority of my attention, and, with the football team on the road this week, it's almost a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Almost.  I'm still mostly invested in this group as they embark on a rough final quarter of the season schedule. While I don't expect any surprises over the next three games, this team has proven to have a ton of fight in them, and I'm interested to see how they perform when everyone is back to expecting the bare minimum from them.  Certainly this week, a road trip to a top-25 opponent, does not appear to be a great opportunity to see the Buffs at their best, but they've been traditionally competitive in the Arizona series, and a good game wouldn't exactly shock me.

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Kickoff from recently renovated Arizona Stadium is set for 6pm on Saturday (finally a night game, and it's on the road, *smh*).  Pac-12 Network has the television rights for this one, with the radio call, as always, on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Tuesday Grab Bag: #ItIsFinallyNovember

The first 'result' of basketball season is in.  Over the weekend the men's squad was in action behind closed doors up at the CEC, taking on the DU Pioneers in a scrimmage.  According to 'sources,'  Coach Boyle and crew at the very least took care of business, beating the Pios by seven.  Not quite 1-0, but I'll call it .1-0.

Hardcore BasketBuffs are already well aware, but NCAA rules prohibit fans, media, or other interlopers at these preseason tilts.  The idea is that these meetings are supposed to be tuneups, and that prying eyes would put too much pressure on what are essentially glorified practices.  Coach Boyle didn't seem to mind discussing the problems he saw, however, saying, "turnovers were an issue with this team, taking care of the basketball. [...] If we turn the ball over like we're turning it over, we're going to put a lot of pressure on our defense, and I'd rather not do that."

That certainly sounds dire, but I wouldn't get too worked up over that less than glowing report.  It's his job to be hyper-critical at this stage, and that sounds like vintage Boyle.  Besides, I'd rather the turnovers be made when it doesn't count, with the understanding that a veteran team should be able to take care of the basketball by the time the lights turn on for real.

10 days...

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the football meltdown against Washington, some successes in cross country, volleyball and soccer, and the 'Colorado 4' in the NBA.

Click below for the bag...