You can't argue too much with what the Buffs have been putting on paper this season. From: Pac-12 Networks |
There are some nits to pick, though, with guard play at the point the biggest concern. Now a 5th of the way through the season, the Buffs are 321st in offensive turnover rate, coughing up the ball about 22% of the time for a team-wide A:T ratio of 87:100. With this in mind, I can't help but point some fingers in the direction of veteran guards like Dom Collier and Xavier Talton. They each have turnover rates above 28% - Collier is damn near 30% - which is a disquieting sign through the start of the year. This, turning the damn ball over, is CU's Achilles' heel, something that will probably keep them from fully capitalizing on their improved capabilities. But, even here, there is some hope. Freshman Thomas Akyazili has come in and played heady, simple basketball, and has the lowest turnover rate of any rotation guard in town. The more I see of the Belgian import, the more I like, and I would imagine that we're going to only see more going forward.
Of course, after early troubles with the Cyclones and Tigers, the Buffs have yet to face any significant amount of adversity. You can talk about the Omaha game if you must, but that was mostly self-inflicted (with all due respect to the Mavericks). That's what makes the upcoming stretch, featuring a trip north to face little brother and a home game against a very strong BYU squad, so interesting. If we've learned over the first few weeks that the team is indeed better than the 2014-15 vintage, then this two game stretch will go a long way towards determining exactly how much better they really are. With at least one win out of the set, BuffNation could begin to reasonably expect the return of postseason play, and relevance in the Pac-12 hunt. In short: an exciting winter.
The Cowboys would warn about overlooking FLC. From WyoSports.net |
They're lead by five seniors, including 6-9 forward Austin Haldorson, the grandson of CU legend Burdie Haldorson. Ft Lewis' best single piece, however, may be sophomore guard Rasmus Bach. The 6-4 wing from Texas leads the team with 18 points per game on 61% shooting from the floor. He plays well with shooters Joshua Blaylock and Will Morse, who are each hitting over 45% from deep this season. Rounding out the heavy rotation is Longmont product Cade Kloster, another 6-4 senior wing with a nose for scoring the ball. Their backcourt - Bach, Blaylock, Morse, and Kloster - are each averaging in double-figures this season, and make for a capable guard-oriented attack that should help the Skyhawks push for the upper-echelon of the RMAC this season. Off the bench, watch out for Kody Salcido. Mo-venber may be over for us mere mortals, but, for the 6-6 senior forward from Albuquerque, it lives on forever.
Bach is the biggest scoring threat out of Durango. From the Durango Herald. |
Tip-off from the CEC is set for 6pm this evening. Televised coverage is on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on AM 760.
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE SKYHAWKS!
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