Of the opening five game run-of-terror for conference play, this fixture, against the Sun Devils, had always been circled as the best win opportunity of the bunch. Now that we're staring it in the face, however, I can't help but view it as a game the Buffs better win; an effort to forestall what could end up being a five-loss streak to begin Pac-12 action.
Now, ASU is not a cupcake (though they have their issues), and always play Colorado tough, but I have a mind to favor CU this evening, even in light of the recent form of the team. We'll just have to wait and see if my faith will prove to be well-invested.
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Hype Music for the evening: "Robot Hell" as performed on Futurama
Did you watch Futurama? I hope you did. Simply fantastic show, with some of the smartest humor around. The show could also, from time to time, stretch out its musical legs, such as it did here with "Robot Hell." Enjoy!
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Tip-off from Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe is set for 7pm on Thursday. Coverage can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with radio coverage on 760 AM.
OK, so this is a pretty damn big game. Beyond just being Homecoming, when the Buffs and Sun Devils face off Saturday, they'll be playing for control of the Pac-12 South, as well. The winner, pending the Utah result against Oregon State, could have sole possession of first place and a tiebreaker in-hand over one of the other teams with a realistic shot of gaining the crown. It's legitimately the biggest conference tilt featuring Colorado since the Barnett era.
So, with that in mind, can we all just agree to show up on time this weekend? As BSN Denver's Ted Chalfen so eloquently wrote this week, BuffNation's Southern California-esque attitude of arriving to games well after kickoff is no longer acceptable. If we're going to have a good team on the field, then we need to have a good fanbase in the stands, as well. Make a point of it, and get to the stadium early. Please.
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Hype Music for the Week: "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire
As is tradition, Homecoming Week comes replete with throwbacks to my collegiate career. Released at the start of the winter semester of my senior year, 'Ridin'' from Chammillionaire was all over the place the entirety of 2006. I am not ashamed to say it even found its way into my iPod... which, for you youngsters, was a kind of music playback device us old types used to use before our phones could just stream music for free. Enjoy!
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Happy Homecoming Week! Since CU hasn't won a homecoming affair since 2007 (against #3 Oklahoma, no less), it's high time #TheRise gives the returning alums a thrill. Speaking of old people, if you're going to the game Saturday, look over behind the band, and you'll see yours truly plugging away on my tuba as part of the alumni festivities. I apologize for my general ineptitude in advance.
Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is set for 6pm Saturday night. Is there anything better than a night game in Folsom? Oh, so much fun. I expect the student section to be roiling with electricity. The forecast is clear and cool, so bring a jacket. Coverage for those unable to attend will be on Pac-12 Network, because the nation still can't handle #TheRise. The radio call will be on 850 KOA.
There was a moment early on in Wednesday's game between Colorado and Arizona that the hair on my neck stood straight up. The air was thick with anticipation, the packed student section was frothing, and the home crowd in South Campus was jumping at every opportunity to make their presence felt. The CEC was alive in a way it hadn't been all season, and really not since the Oregon game in early 2014. Blood was in the water, and BuffNation, like a once dormant shark, had woken up with a ravenous hunger. It startled me. Sure, this was a big game, and a big time crowd was to be expected, but this was more than that. There was an anger in the tone; a fan base not willing to take any shit that particular night. Every time the patches of Arizona fans spoke up, they were quickly shot down. Every time the refs blew a whistle there was a ravenous bellow. The fans in attendance were playing for keeps; it's a club I didn't think we fans still had in our bag.
The Buffs met Arizona at the top of the mountain, and sent the champs tumbling back down. From: CBS Sports.
It's an energy that fed and informed the proceedings. After a minute or two of tentative start, the Buffaloes snapped into a fiery activity that stood up for the rest of the action. They hounded the mighty UofA on the boards, playing to a draw while snatching 14 amazing offensive rebounds against the best defensive rebounding team in the country. They dug in and played spirited defense, running shooters off the perimeter, and forcing 11 turnovers. And, more importantly, they played composed offensive basketball, keeping the rock in their own hands (only nine turnovers) to forestall any ugly fast break opportunities. There were some familiar struggles, of course, with the team scoring just two points in the final six and a half minutes of the game. But, with an old-school crowd at their backs, the Buffs would not be denied. In the end, both the team and the denizens were rewarded for their efforts with a 75-72 win over the #9 Wildcats, a victory that seems to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament for CU.
The Big Damn Hero for the evening was Josh Scott. In his penultimate home game as a Buffalo, he was everywhere on the court, playing with a hungry intensity that you don't always see from the calming senior. He would finish with a mighty 26/9/3, as the Colorado native carried the team on his back, particularly in the second half. On one stretch, from 10:07 to 6:36 of the second frame, he scored on five of six possessions to help keep Arizona at arms length, a stretch that proved to be decisive. Overall, J40 would finish with 12 of the team's final 14 points, playing an oversize David to 'Zona's Goliath. He was supported in his efforts by his running mate, Wesley Gordon. The lanky power forward from the Springs continued his burgeoning run of stellar play, chipping in 8/12 and a whopping total of six assists. This was a forwards-first performance from the Buffs, and Scott and Gordon lived up to their billing as one of the best front court duos in America.
Josh Scott would not be denied. From: the BDC
Of course, the only thing anyone could talk about in the days following this win was how the students rushed the court in the happy moments after the game. Arizona head coach Sean Miller made sure of that, using his platform to complain about the lack of security, and concern-troll over the potential for reactionary violence by one of his players that feels threatened. The interesting thing to me, however, is that Miller, for all his protestations of worry for his charges, did absolutely nothing to help get his team off the court after the game. He just stood there in a stupefied, simmering silence, seemingly too frustrated to do anything normal like direct his team while the kids continued to pour onto the court. He didn't even move to go and shake Coach Boyle's hand, he just... stood there. Maybe he was angry with himself for blowing all four of his timeouts before the nine minute mark of the second half, leaving his team with scant opportunities to re-group in the key possessions of the end game sequence. Maybe he was angry with himself for taking a tech early in the second half, costing his team two points that they would desperately need later. Maybe he was searching for a ref to yell at, 'cause that's what coaches do. And, finally, maybe he was really just angry at the C-Unit for acting like students, and the semi-professional security staff for doing nothing to prevent it. All I know is this: Sean Miller was as contributory to his players uneasy circumstance as anything.
Such a cool scene, I don't really care what anyone else thinks about it. From: @B_Brynestad and @CUSnowBuff
However, I am particularly tired of this ground, and it distracts from what was, otherwise, a very entertaining basketball game. Was it the most well-played exhibition of the sport ever put on? Certainly not. What it was, however, was a high level experience for all of those willing to make the commitment to show up. I'm happy I was there to see it, and I hope the thousands of other students and fans who hand't been making Colorado Basketball a weekly part of their winter lifestyle will use this as an impetus to return both this afternoon and next season. With that atmosphere at their back, CU becomes a deadly serious basketball entity, one that few are going to be able to contend with.
Looking forward, it's time to bring the home portion of this season to a close. Arizona State comes to town for the home finale, looking to spoil the surge in emotion generated in the wake of the win over the UofA. It wouldn't be the first time, either. Back in 2013, just days after the Valentine's Day Massacre, the Sun Devils clipped the Buffs in over time; a loss that ultimately cost the team a first round bye in the Pac-12 tournament, and left them playing Arizona, again, in the quarterfinals. It'll be up to the Buffs to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.
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Hype Music for the Evening: "Hell" by Streetlight Manifesto
The original version of this song is by the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and is fantastic, and makes for a SPECTACULAR basketball band song (sadly lost from the CU book, as far as I can tell). This version, by Streetlight, is a masterpiece, somehow improving on the original. It's a cherished centerpiece of my ska rotation, and deserves a place in yours, as well. Enjoy!
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Tip-off from the CEC is set for 2:30 this afternoon. There is no excuse not to follow-up Wednesday's crowd with another just as strong for this one. The senior class, and particularly Josh Scott, deserves as much for their final home game. For the alums, that means use your damn tickets. For the students, that means take advantage of a number of promotions, including $1 tickets, free food, and giveaways of sunglasses and rally towels. Fill the Keg, no excuses.
For those unwilling or able to heed the call, the action can be found on either Pac-12 Networks or 850 KOA.
The Buffs continue to find themselves dealing with the repercussions of a growing list of injuries. It started when Jeromy Irwin tore his ACL against UMass, kicking off a string of knocks that were mostly focused on the offensive side of the ball. The next game brought with it injuries to a number of featured performers behind the now shaken offensive line, including Michael Adkins and Patrick Carr from the running corps and QB Sefo Liufau. For Liufau, while he's still been starting under center (and will again be this Saturday), the pain has evident, and the effectiveness has suffered. Adkins and Carr, on the other hand, haven't been seen since the RMS, and are both listed at the bottom of the depth chart for Week 6. I'm not saying that Irwin's absence was the cause behind the effect, just that it's highly coincidental the the injuries sprung up that week -- a particularly physical game against little brother.
Recently, however, the injury bug has switched sides, and now resides with the defense. The linebacking corps has been the hardest hit, as they can now claim to be down two starters. Addison Gillam had already been out, a consistent sideline presence since Week 2. He will now be joined for the next few weeks by star Kenneth Olugbode, who left the Oregon game early with a leg injury. With both out, CU will turn to the relatively unheralded pair of Rick Gamboa and Ryan Severson. A trio of defensive linemen - Jase Franke, Leo Jackson III, and Derek McCartney - also missed action in the Oregon game, but are expected to return. The missed plays from five of CU's best in the front-seven no doubt played a role in the Ducks' second half deluge of rushing yards.
The point is that the improved depth that everyone touted in the preseason will be put to the test. If the old mantra in football has always been 'next man up,' then the Buffs will have to hope that the next men are up to the challenge. The schedule certainly doesn't get any easier from here, and, without a BYE week (thanks to the Hawai'i trip and the RMS's inflexibility), the strain will only continue to mount.
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Hype Music for the Week: "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones
Ah yes, the Rolling Stones. For the record, in the eternal Stones v Beatles debate, I am decidedly with these guys. This is not up for discussion. I'll leave the sympathy for the Sun Devils to the British rockers, though, for I have none.
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Kickoff from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ is set for 8pm tomorrow evening. Dinged up, can the Buffs bounce back from a tough home loss? Tune in to FOX Sports 1 to find out. (The radio call is, of course, on 850 KOA)
I'll get to the mess in Seattle in a second, but first: a confession. This was to be my last season. With work and other commitments, I felt I was losing my focus and touch, and was prepared to step away from the lucrative world of amateur blogging at the end of the season.
Over the last few months, however, it dawned on me that I'd be quitting after a rotten egg of a year. Not one to give out a last shriek on the retreat into irrelevancy, I've reversed decision. As a result, I will be back next year for at least one more go at chronicling Colorado Basketball. If this thing is going to crater, I'm going to ride the bomb all the way down, a la Slim Pickens:
YEE FUCKIN' HA!
Hopefully, however, a return to form will follow, and I can ride off into the sunset with a clear conscience. We'll see...
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Today in the bag, I'm talking the loss to a WAC school, the Pac-12 in the Dance, and a surprising coaching move in the desert.
Normally in this space - the weekend preview of the Pac-12 two-step - I would recap the previous game. Well, in this instance, the previous game was utter shit. CU had nothing for Arizona, dropping their 6th game in seven tries by a 82-54 final. As good as the 'Cats are (they wrapped up the league title last night in Utah), it was a particularly empty performance from Colorado. So empty, in fact, that I am utterly speechless.
Luckily for me, Coach Boyle was in fine form after the game, and his quote-pocalypse conveys the timbre of the evening far better than I ever could. Take it away, coach!
It’s February 26th and we’re not executing offensively. We’re not doing the things we’re
supposed to do, we’re not making plays and we haven’t gotten any better. If you look at the teams that I’ve had here as a
head coach, I feel that each team, outside of my first year, had progress and got better throughout the year. I don’t feel
like that with this team. I don’t feel like we’ve gotten any better. We’re still making the same mistakes that we did in
November and we’re not any better, offensively or defensively.
The fact is that we didn’t execute. Arizona had a lot to do with that, they’re the No. 7 team in the country and don’t beat themselves. Coming into the game, we knew we had to make shots, but then we couldn’t make a shot. Even passing and catching the ball was in hard whether it was in transition or the half court. It’s just not there right now.
Ball
screen defense was a big part of the game tonight. [Arizona] made plays offensively and they tore us up. We didn’t make
plays and didn’t execute. Games like this in February and March are won by the team that execute and Arizona executed
offensively and defensively. We didn’t and that’s why we lost the game, but what’s frustrating is that I see us execute in
practice against ourselves. When the lights come on for some reason, we don’t. I don’t think that there is one guy that I
can look at and say that he played well tonight. Not one. Not one guy. Usually we have one or two guys and if it’s good
we have four or five. Looking at Arizona, they had five guys in double figures, we had one. We don’t have guys making
each other better, our team just hasn’t improved. That’s on me, that’s the responsibility of the head coach and I haven’t
done a very good job.
There has to be some fight in the locker room and right now there isn’t. It’s like a submissive, beat us now while you
can kind of mentality. That’s embarrassing. These guys are young men and they haven’t been through what they’re
going through before. They’re finding out a cruel life lesson: life isn’t going to give you anything. Division one athletics
teaches you that it’s a very humbling and unforgiving arena. If you want to step into that arena you had better be willing
to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to win and we aren’t willing to do that.”
I’m tired of this, I am. I want our players to know it, our fans to know it and our officials to know it. I want to fight somebody, I really do, but I know you can’t do that and I won’t do that in the locker room. I’m sick of the way we’re playing. The world doesn’t owe us anything, we have to go out and get what we earn. Right now we’re not earning the scholarships we’re on or the paychecks we get. We have to go out. It’s our pride, intensity, will to win, will to prepare to win and the will to do whatever it takes to get it done. If we play well, play hard, execute and get beat I’ll be the first one to shake our opponents hand and say, ‘You beat us tonight.’ I don’t like teams that beat themselves and we beat ourselves tonight.”
I feel badly for the players that have come before this team - and some of the members of this team were a part of those groups. It's disrespecting what they've done over the last four years, and that's disappointing, I would think that there would be more pride amongst our team, and I don't see that. That's disappointing. That's something that needs to be addressed.
#KeepingItReal
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I'm struggling to find some juice for the final stretch of play. To me, there's no practical difference between finishing 9th, 10th, or 11th, and the team has shown that they're not going to improve to generate some momentum into the offseason. All that's left is to win one for Ski on his senior day. Oh my, do I want that for him. This season has turned into an unmitigated disaster, but that final shout before the retreat into spring would at least provide one last moment of real joy.
The Buffs have been robbed of final goodbyes for the two previous departing pillars of the #RollTad era. Andre Roberson had a bout with mono (or a mono-like sickness), and missed his final homestand. Spencer Dinwiddie, likewise, wasn't able to make his final homestand, still recovering from his knee injury. Therefore, the opportunity for us as a fanbase to honor one of the best players in program history is not one we should be taking lightly.
Please, show up early this evening, cheer loud, and give Ski the send off he deserves. The final ovation for the Scrat is the only result that really matters.
Tip-off from the CEC is set for 6:30 this evening. Televised coverage to come via ESPNU, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
For reference, my preview from the first meeting can be found here.
Well, not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Without either Josh Scott or Xavier Johnson, the Buffs came out and hung with the #10 Arizona Wildcats on their home floor, keeping the game within reach into the second half before finally succumbing to the pressure down the stretch. The final: 68-54, and a backdoor cover.
Losing by 14 is never a comfortable feeling, but I thought the team played well... and by team I really mean Askia Booker. Down two of their best scoring threats, it was up to Booker to lead the way, and, DAYUM, did he answer the call. The little spark plug scored 30 of the team's 54 points, showing the brazen disregard for circumstance that has endeared him so to fans of #SKIBALL. He finished 11-17 from the field, 6-9 from three point range, and was CU's only scoring threat. If you were worrying earlier in the year where the senior's head and heart were at as he struggled through some off-court issues, I hope you've long since stopped, as he's been averaging 20 per game since November 30th.
Ski was magnificent, but he was largely on an island. From: CUBuffs.com
For Arizona, it was all about super frosh Stanley Johnson. Playing tenaciously on the baseline, he gashed CU's softened underbelly for 22/8/3/2. It certainly helped his cause that he didn't have to go against Xavier Johnson and help-defense from Josh Scott, but the kid's for real. His efforts were the difference on Thursday, countering the great work that Booker was putting in.
The trick then will be how the team rebounds from defeat, and carries the respectable effort with them to Tempe. Today's game is a winnable prize, one that the Buffs would behoove themselves to claim. If there's any faint Tournament hopes remaining, it's a must, but it's also important for conference positioning. If Colorado can emerge from the desert at 3-2 in Pac-12 play, having already put road tilts against the league's best in the rear view, they have a leg-up on their competition for a top-six slot. It may not seem like all that much now, but this result is will loom large on the plane ride to Las Vegas in two months.
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Tip-off from Wells Fargo Arena is set for 2:30pm this afternoon. A slight change from Thursday night, when Colorado was featured on ESPN in primetime, CU is back on Pac-12 Network. What hasn't changed, however, is that Mark Johnson and the radio call will be on 850 KOA.
I know everyone wants to fast-forward to Saturday's tilt with Arizona, but there's some business to handle this evening that could end up being far more important. ASU comes to Boulder for what could be the biggest game of the week in the Pac-12, with both teams playing in desperation mode for post-season positioning. A win for either makes for the magical 20th on the season, and, with the Sun Devils still in outside contention for a league title, a road win in Boulder could be a big step forward in that race.
Further, this is a huge game for Colorado's confidence. They've been much better as of late, going 4-1 over their last five to salvage the season - the trick to that run, however, is that not a single win was unexpected. They've been playing to form, taking advantage of winnable home games, and beating the dregs of the conference on the road. CU needs to prove that they are capable of more than that, and tonight's game is a good opportunity to do just that. The Buffs may be 'favored' tonight, but the Sun Devils have had their number over the last two seasons, and a win against ASU is anything but easy. Should CU win, they greatly improve their Tournament standing, and completely move past injury worries.
With that much on the line, it'd be a shame if BuffNation failed to show up. The game tonight is a late tip, 9pm, but that's not an excuse. As coach Boyle said recently, "If we want to be considered one of the best student sections in the country, which I think they want, then it doesn't matter who we play, and it doesn't matter when we play." That sentiment goes for the entirety of the fanbase. For the team to be their best, and for the CEC to be as intimidating a travel destination as it has been, it needs to be packed and boisterous. Get your ass to the stadium!
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Tip-off from the CEC is set for 9pm this evening. Get home early, take a nap, and make sure you are revved up for the tip, because the late hour is no excuse for a half-assed atmosphere. For those without tickets, you can catch the action on ESPNU, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
For reference, my preview of the first game can be found here. Click below for the preview...
For the game this week, Arizona St is offering a special ticket package
called the 'Buffalo Snack Pack.' For $99, you get two tickets, two
half pound buffalo burgers, and two gold 'Fear the Fork' t-shirts.
They'll also have concession stands around Sun Devil Stadium grilling up
buffalo burgers for the hungry patrons.
Get it!? They're eating buffalo burgers while playing the Buffaloes. How cute.
I'd eat a Sun Devil in retribution, but I'm STD free, and would rather stay that way, thank you very much.
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Kickoff from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ is set for 8pm MT on Saturday. Coverage will be on Pac-12 Networks (where else?) and 850 KOA.
With numerous regional luminaries in attendance (OMG, JOHN ELWAY!ALEC BURKS!), revenge was served over the course of CU's 71-58 win over #9 Arizona. It may not have come as much of a bottom-line surprise, but it did come with a court-storming and an over-rated chant. The Buffs now boost their resume with a second top-50 RPI win in as many weeks, and are back in contention for a first-round bye in the upcoming Pac-12 tournament.
Happy times in Boulder. From: the BDC
There was no way any Pac-12 team was going to come in a beat CU in that atmosphere. Backed by a packed house and a C-Unit at the top of it's game, the Buffs couldn't have asked for a better home court advantage. It was everything I want the CEC to be: hot, sweaty, loud, dark, and hostile. Given that setup, only a few teams in all of college basketball have a hope in hell of cracking the Buffs at home, and Arizona, as good as they may be, isn't one of them.
The big star of the game was Spencer Dinwiddie. The young bucket-getter followed up his perfect night in Corvallis with another strong performance leading the team. 21 points on 5-9 shooting (9-9 from the line!) to go along with seven assists (a career high) paced the squad. More than that, however, many of his second half buckets-gotten were huge. A three out of a timeout in the second half halted a 6-0 'Zona run. After the 'Cats had cut the deficit to six with 11 minutes to go, he assisted on one three before notching a layup and another three to balloon the lead back out to 14.
Spencer dropped dimes and buckets all game long. From: BuffStampede.com
Of course the other big story from the stat sheet was the monster games had by everyone named Xavier. It didn't come as much of a shock, considering how well he's been playing in Pac-12 games, but Xavier Johnson had another monster effort, dropping 19/9 on 7-9 shooting (4-5 from deep). The freshman forward hit numerous key baskets throughout the game, and showed flashes of just how good he will be in future years. The bigger surprise was the contributions from freshman guard Xavier Talton. Infrequently used mostly as a stop-gap, the Sterling, CO native has been playing well of late, and it translated into seven minutes of high energy play that netted him six points and two steals. Combined, the Xaviers came to ball, and it boosted the Buffs well past the point that 'Zona could be expected to contend.
Xavier was huge for the Buffs. From: BuffStampede.com
Overall, CU once again lit up Arizona from deep. In my preview, I openly fretted that CU couldn't possibly match their 9-20 effort from Tucson. They didn't match it, they in fact improved upon it, attacking the corners to notch 9-17 shooting from behind the arc. On the defensive end, the Buffs muted Arizona stars Solomon Hill and Mark Lyons to a combined 38% shooting from the floor with seven turnovers.
All around, just a solid night from everyone, from players to coaches to fans.
But the journey isn't over yet. The story of the 2012-13 Buffaloes isn't even close to its final chapter, and is certainly far larger than any one game against Arizona. There's another huge matchup on the docket for Saturday evening, and I hope both the team and the fans bring the focus an execution that they had against Arizona back into the CEC for their tilt with Arizona State.
Tip-off from the roiling Coors Events Center is set for 7pm tomorrow. Those not in the area can catch the action on ESPNU. If you prefer, Mark Johnson will have the call on 850 KOA.
For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Bye week behind us, BuffNation can now look forward to the nationally
televised Thursday night affair with Arizona State. Well, maybe not
"look forward to." Maybe more like "prepare ourselves for." Let me be plain, not only has CU been struggling to stand upright this season, but they have an abysmal record in weekday games over the last few years.
Primetime, weeknight affairs used to be the realm of second-tier conferences like the WAC and MAC. Starting in the mid-2000s, however, it became vogue for the big boys to play the ESPN game as well, and many teams from the SEC, Pac-12, and Big XII have been jumping at the chance to air their wares over the exclusive national broadcast ever since. CU got into the game in 2008, beginning with the epic Thursday night-er with West Virginia (AKA, the game that caused Hawk to blow a scholarship on Aric Goodman. I hope he enjoyed the free education.).
(LOL, Josh Smith)
Unfortunately, ever since the prime-time gods have been unkind. Including post-Thanksgiving affairs with Nebraska and Utah, the Buffs are 2-7 on weekdays since Sept 18th, 2008 (have been outscored 209-303), including an 0-4 mark in 2009 alone. Highlighting that stretch is the infamous 38-54 loss at Toledo. Maybe we should just give up the ghost. ESPN may like to put the Buffs on, but the program would be best served shying away from the night lights.
There is some good news, however. The defending Pac-12 championmen's basketball team will be receiving their championship rings from El Jefe tomorrow night. That little ceremony does deserve the primetime spotlight.
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The Sun Devils and Buffs meet under the lights tomorrow evening. Kickoff is set for 7pm. Parking, traffic: sure to be a mess. The student section: drunk out of their minds. Blackout rules: in effect. I hope everyone thought ahead to take Friday off, 'cause win or lose, shit's about to get real.
If you'd rather stay away from the Madhouse at the foot of the Flatirons, you can watch the action on ESPN. Radio coverage is back on 850 KOA; Rockies baseball has mercifully been laid to rest for the winter, so no rude interruptions to the broadcast, whether you wanted one or not.
