Tuesday Grab Bag: You really should be watching the Women's World Cup right now...

I'm still in a little shaken by the Xavier Johnson news -- this photo of him on a scooter is especially awkward. With XJ now out of the mix (at least for the rest of 2015), the Buffs are pegged to start the season without four of the six best players from a year ago, when before they were only expecting to be without one.  Ugh!

Ski's graduation is (obviously) not a surprise, but the twist transfers of Jaron Hopkins and Dustin Thomas loom even larger now that Xavier is hurt.  Those are veteran performers that could've been counted on to eat up extra minutes.  Now, the roster is left with a number of questions that we were not expecting them to have to answer.  I still believe that the program is in store for a bounce-back season, but I'm starting to wonder how high that bounce will be...

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the Women's World Cup, the NBA Draft, and Top Gear's melancholic farewell.

Click below for the bag...

Quick Post: Detroit has a new Mayor

This draft has first round talent in the second round. - Jay Bilas

BuffNation's wait last night was a little longer than it should've been.  Still, better late than never, the Detroit Pistons spent the 38th overall pick, 8th of the second round, on CU's very own Spencer Dinwiddie. K-BOOSH!

From: @CUBuffs

If you spent any amount of time over the last few years watching Colorado Basketball, you know that Spencer Dinwiddie is a first-round caliber talent. That much is undeniable. The Pistons certainly agree, as GM Jeff Bower was quoted as saying: “We felt he was a first-round talent. I know it’s a cliché, but we had him targeted as a player we were impressed with. It’s a good night for the organization.”  A stacked draft and an untimely injury, however, conspired to push him into the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. Such is life.

For his part, Spencer seems nonplussed over the slide.  From the BDC: "As for not being picked in the first round, things happen for a reason; it is, what it is. I'm can't wait to get started." Considering that the Pistons are a very good spot for his talents, I'm not surprised that Dinwiddie is taking everything in stride. The Mayor was Detroit's lone pick last night for a first year coach. The organization clearly sees him as an opportunity to get out-sized impact for their slot. Further, since the Pistons are very light in the backcourt, I would expect plenty of early opportunities to see the court for the rookie.

At the end of the day, the Pistons are getting one hell of a player in a position of need, one who will make plenty of other GMs rue the day they passed on him.  Congratulations to Spencer! I look forward to watching you rip up the East (other than My Bulls) over the coming years.

2014 NBA Draft Preview: The Mayor's Election Day!

Compared last year's mediocre NBA Draft class, 2014's is loaded with familiar, bankable names, headlined by some, seemingly, sure-fire future professional stars.  That doesn't mean draft day arrives without any uncertainty, however. Quite the contrary, in fact. With the injury to Kansas' Joel Embiid, the top of the draft, which at one point appeared solid, has been thrown into flux.  Further, with the recent free agency announcements of Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, many teams will be taking the opportunity afforded by the draft to adjust their salary cap situation, leaving the actual order of the top picks in question.  Tonight could be nuts.

Of course, I'm less concerned about all of that than I am about CU's third draftable entrant in four years: Spencer Dinwiddie.  Tonight's the night!  Tonight we learn the direction of his professional career!  I simply couldn't be more excited.

Election Day is here!

The Mayor chose to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility, despite an ACL tear that cut his junior campaign short and limited his availability for workouts.  While that injury threw his draft prospects into doubt, Dinwiddie's recovery has been ahead of schedule.  A recent ESPN article quoted both Spencer's surgeon - Dr Armando Vidal - and his trainer - Russ Paine - in praise of his progress.  He's sprinting and double-jumping without any pain, and, while he's still staying clear of contact situations, he seems to be well on his way to a full recovery.  Dinwiddie's decision to go pro was partly to open up access to professional-level rehabilitation.  From that aspect, the gamble appears to have already paid off.

Given the promising recovery schedule, we've seen recent mock drafts include the Mayor in the first round, including this one from Sports Illustrated.  While those mocks are never perfect, I take them as encouraging signs that we'll be hearing his name earlier than later this evening.  At the time of his decision, there were plenty of doubters who howled that Dinwiddie should've returned to college, and tonight those same people will be looking to the results as a referendum on his decision. I've never been a big fan of using results to justify previous actions, but a favorable draft position would go a long way to silencing those Negative Nancies.

Should Dinwiddie be selected in the first round, he'll be the third CU player to be taken in the top-30 over the last four years.  Alec Burks was taken by the Utah Jazz with the 12th overall pick in 2011, while Andre Roberson was a shock 26th overall selection last year by the Oklahoma City Thunder (via the Minnesota Timberwolves).  That would be a monumental testament to the increased quality of the Colorado talent pool in recent years, and an encouragement to future recruits that success on Boulder's hardwood can lead to future professional riches.

For the record, I think Spencer receives a coveted first round selection.  Not for nothing, but the LA Clippers, who own the 28th selection, would make for a suitable landing spot, as well as fulfill a home-town wish for the Los Angeles native.  But, even if he slips to the second round, it's still a massive accomplishment for the young man just to be drafted.

Good luck, Spencer!

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Of course, Spencer isn't the only one hoping to hear his name called this evening.  Here is a list of some familiar names for BuffNation to listen for:

Joel Embiid - 7-0, C - Kansas -

The lanky Jayhawk had been considered the top prospect in the draft, but his recent injury has slid him down most boards.  Still, expect him to go early.

Andrew Wiggins - 6-8, SG - Kansas -

Wiggins is one of many that look to capitalize on Embiid's slide, with many now projecting him as going #1 overall to Cleveland.

Marcus Smart - 6-3, PG - Oklahoma State -

Smart's decision to return for his sophomore season doesn't seem to have cost him too dearly, and we should see him go in the early stages of the lottery. College basketball's pre-eminent flopper will feel right at home in the NBA.

Aaron Gordon - 6-9, PF - Arizona -

Arizona's defensive dynamo should slot in among Wiggins, Embiid, and Smart at the head of the class.  I'm still not sure he will ever score consistently as a professional, but someone's got to defend, right?

Zach LaVine - 6-6, PG - UCLA -

Many basketball experts love LaVine's raw talent, but I can't shake the feeling that he'll be stuck in development hell for the next few years.  A mid-first round selection for him.

Kyle Anderson - 6-9, PG/PF - UCLA -

'Slo-mo' may still not have a position, but he's too good of a basketball player not to be taken in the first round.  I think his team will be pleasantly surprised by the production they get out of him.

Jordan Adams - 6-5, SG - UCLA -

Rounding out UCLA's big three, Adams looks to be a fringe first round talent.  Probably more likely to hear his name called in the second.

Dwight Powell - 6-11, PF - Stanford -

Powell is eminently talented, and has the versatile skillset to earn a later pick.

Nick Johnson - 6-3, SG - Arizona -

The do-it-all All-American is proably a second round pick.  Just doesn't have the size that NBA GM's like in their off guards.

Josh Huestis - 6-7, PF - Stanford -

I included Huestis not because I expect him to be drafted tonight, but as a final testament to the fact that he was my favorite non-Buff of the past few years of Pac-12 basketball.

C.J Wilcox - 6-5, SG - Washington -

The former-Husky sharpshooter could be a late-round selection.

The Attrition Files: Spencer Dinwiddie

What we've all expected for some time has come to pass.  Hizzoner the Mayor of Buffaloes, Spencer Dinwiddie, has declared his intention to forego his final year of collegiate eligibility, and enter the NBA Draft.

Before we go any farther, let me say that this is the right choice.  Even with the injury and the resulting questions, Spencer will still be drafted, probably much higher than any doubter is expecting.  With that in mind, going pro is wise.  Another year in college, burdened by expectations that would easily outpace reality, is destined to come off as a disappointment, even as successful as it would be.  If teams are telling Dinwidde they are interested, which I assume they are, then the NBA makes far more sense than another year in Boulder.

But what if the NBA increases their age limit for next year, lightening the 2015 draft class?  Doesn't matter. This isn't about money (well, it is, but... you know what I mean), this is about progression in his career. Another year in college beating up on the same people he's punked for the last three years won't help him develop past the whole 'well, he's healthy' thing.  Best to start the professional phase of his career, rather than hold out hope for a weak draft class and a little extra folding cash.  This is a long-term choice, not just one about his first paycheck.

Last year, his father doubted his son's maturity in relation to his pro prospects.  I would argue that this is now the mature choice.  It's a tough pill to swallow, going lower in the draft that you probably could/should go, but Dinwiddie is still going after his dream, rather than coming back to college with an 'I'll show you' chip on his shoulder.  He's done his time at this level, has gotten as much out of it as could be expected.  Now it's time to move on.  It's the natural progression.

Of course, that means that BuffNation is forced to say goodbye to one of the more special talents to ever grace the hardwood at the University of Colorado.  Dinwiddie is, without a doubt, the best all-around basketball player I have watched play in Black and Gold since moving to Boulder in 2002.  Alec Burks may have been a better scorer, and Andre Roberson may have been a better defender, but Spencer has the entire package. He is a stat-stuffer, an all-encompassing hardwood badass.  Over 86 games in his career, he averaged a solid 13/3/3, but his numbers always seemed to belie his importance to his team.  Whenever his squad needed a lift, there was Spencer.  When they needed a big shot, or a drive to the rim, there was Spencer. When they needed a big defensive stop, there was Spencer.  It's hard imagining the program without him over the last few years, and it will be near impossible to replace him.

I knew when Spencer committed in 2010 that Colorado was getting a good player, I just didn't realize how great this kid would become.  A wiry, probably undersized, guard from California, he was dwarfed by flashier talent in his age group. But, once on campus, he flew past his peers.  The word on him then was exactly what it would be if I were scouting him for a game tomorrow: an incredibly smart player who may not make the top-10 highlight, but has a knack of making the right play.  The kind of player you want to build around, which is exactly what Coach Boyle did.

Even in high school, the 'stache was there.  From: AllBuffs

People are quick to forget, but Dinwiddie was 'the Mayor' before even stepping on campus.  The Allbuffs crew popularized the nickname on the basketball recruiting forums for seemingly knowing everyone in AAU ball, and proving more than willing to try and sway them over to Colorado.  The name stuck once in Boulder, as it became obvious that Spencer was a star in the making, one comfortable with the spotlight that followed the success earned through victory after victory.  My first memory of Dinwiddie came when he showboated after making a three in a meaningless pre-season scrimmage in front of maybe 500 fans.  That was the kid to a 'T' - always confident and comfortable, and always eager to make sure everyone knew it.

His freshman season was one of the most successful in program history, and he played a huge roll in working with veterans like Nate Tomlinson, Austin Dufault and Carlon Brown to scratch and claw to a conference title, the program's first in over 40 years.  He performed with poise and stature that surpassed his age, and it surprised no one when he lead the team in scoring during the Pac-12 title game, going 4-for-4 from behind the arc in his hometown.

By the time his sophomore campaign rolled along, it was de facto his team.  While senior Sabatino Chen was the elder statesman and Andre Roberson was closing in on his own trip to the NBA draft, it was Dinwiddie who ran the offense, and was at the top every scouting report.  He was no longer just a budding star, he was a legitimate member of the conference elite, signified by his inclusion on the 2013 All-Pac-12 First Team.

Spencer's 2012-13 was so good that he thought of jumping pro last spring. While the public openly debated the pros and cons of Andre Roberson's draft status, Dinwiddie quietly sat behind the scenes pondering his future.  With the help of his father, he eventually decided to return for his junior season, with a plan to build up to a statement making collegiate conclusion.  He did the summer rounds, playing at Adidas Nations and the World University Games for Team USA, before headlining the media blitz headed into '13-'14.  He was no longer just a local star, he was a national curiosity.  If you wanted to sound smart about the sport, you had to know the name Spencer Dinwiddie, no matter where you were.

In true Mayor fashion, Spencer was leading the way for CU this season.  In charge of a youthful supporting cast, along with running mate Askia Booker, he was the show in Boulder, in clear command of the team from behind the scenes to the hardwood.   Headed into conference play, it seemed like a perfect culmination of his amateur career.

Then, that awful thing happened.  A season, and, now, a collegiate career cut short in a matter of seconds. It's a brutal and harsh reality.

Even in his absence in uniform, Spencer was a visible part of the program.  When College GameDay came to town, he was the player interviewed with Coach Boyle on national television.  He remains the face of the program to this day, injury and professional status be damned.

Is there a tinge of regret behind my words?  Yes, of course there is.  That fateful afternoon in Seattle deprived BuffNation and the rest of the basketball loving world of a final dose of Pac-12 play from the Mayor.  It's also a shame, much like with Andre Roberson last season, who missed his final home game due to illness, that the CEC never got a chance to send Dinwiddie out with his ears ringing.  But that's life. Sometimes goodbyes aren't what you expect.  That's what makes college ball so appealing to me.  The joy gained from watching is fleeting.  What is here today will be different tomorrow, which underscores how important it is to enjoy success at face value.

What a joy it was to watch Spencer play the last few years.

At the end of the day, I had a blast cheering for Spencer over the past three seasons.  He is not only one of the all-time CU greats, but the foundation upon which the current transformative era of CU hoops was built, and anyone who has ever cared about Colorado Basketball owes him a debt.  This program wouldn't be nearly in the condition it is today without his efforts, and for that he will always be one of my favorite Buffs.

Thank you, Spencer!  Good luck in the NBA.  We will always #CountOnTheMayor

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Best remembered for - 

Kicking the shit out of CSU.  His three games against little brother speak for themselves:

2011: 16/8/1, 6-10 from the floor, leading scorer as a freshman in Moby
2012: 29/2/3, 8-10 from the floor, 5-7 from 3-pt range
2013: 28/2/4, 8-14 from the floor, 11-11 from the line

The games against the Rams may not be the biggest on the calendar, but Spencer seemed to enjoy them the most.  He lived to troll the wearers of green and gold, and, in true Mayor fashion, could back up his mouth with his play.

As an extension, I don't think a player ever enjoyed being the public face of CU athletics more than Spencer Dinwiddie.  He was a lively twitter follow, openly played with teammates, opponents and fellow students on social media, and was one of the best, most open quotes the media could turn to.  That he could walk-the-walk to back it up only increased his legend.

... also, the 'stache.

Best aspect of his game - 

His ability to get to the line.  Always one of the more efficient players in all of basketball, he was served well by his ability to draw contact and get to the line  With his 6-6 frame, Dinwiddie was able to fight through traffic and stay strong through abuse.  By the time he was a junior, he was getting the star treatment, and could buy a call from the refs almost by looking at a defender.

Best game as a Buff - 

This is a tough one, as there are a slew of reasonable options that would headline the career of almost any other player.  There's his ring-winning performance against Arizona as a freshman, his perfecto against Oregon St, his evisceration of the Wildcats, again, during the Valentine's Day Massacre, his home finale against Oregon, and the little brother game against the Rams.

In the end, however, I was swayed by another of his efforts against State. His 2013 effort against the Rams takes the cake.  On the road, in front of a frothing CSU student section that was out for his blood, Spencer single-handedly willed the Buffs to victory.  He didn't miss a free throw, didn't commit a foul, and didn't turn the ball over in 36 minutes of play, all while dumping 19 of his game-high 28 on the hapless Rams in the second half.  Dinwiddie was, at his best, a cold-blooded game-winning machine, and his effort last December 3rd against CSU was the epitome of that.

Monday Grab Bag: Playoffs?!

Not for nothing, but why do the NBA Playoffs have to take up two entire months?  Series are dragged out as long as possible, depriving them of any rhythm and energy.  For example, My Bulls played their first game against Washington yesterday afternoon, but wouldn't play a potential game seven until May 3rd.  Some series could potentially be even longer, with the Nets and Raptors starting Saturday the 19th, and potentially going until May 4th.  That's over a fortnight!  To play an opening round series!

It happens every year.  Right around the time I forget which teams are even playing, the NBA sticks them back up on the calendar, leaving me to ask, 'wait, what game is it, again?' The end result is that the entirety of an NBA Season takes up nine months.  NINE!  And you though baseball was needlessly verbose...

Of course, the answer is money.  The Association and their television partners figure the best way to squeeze as much water from this stone as possible is to drag the proceedings out, giving the consumer a slow-drip of games each night.  But this artificially-lengthened schedule does a disservice to the game, the fans, and the players.  We really couldn't get this thing done in a month and a half?  Get serious.

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Today in the bag, I'm talking decision week for the Mayor before taking a look at select series from the NBA and NHL playoffs.

Click below for the bag...

Draft Wrap: Andre Roberson is a Thunder

Yesterday, in my draft preview, I sided with the rising tide by predicting that Andre Roberson would ride his fantastic rebounding numbers and defensive flexibility into an early second round selection in Thursday's NBA Draft.  I was wrong.  In fact, 'Dre didn't get picked at any point in the second round.

In a draft filled with unexpected twists, 'Dre was, instead, selected in the FUCKING FIRST ROUND by the Minnesota Timberwolves!  That selection, 26th overall, was later traded, through the Golden State Warriors, to the Oklahoma City Thunder.  

Doubters be damned, 'Dre got exactly what he wanted.  The first round selection comes with the security of a guaranteed contract (which, according to HoopsWorld.com, will be worth at least $2 million over his first two years), and the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year wound up on a fantastic team, to boot. Any questions about his decision to turn pro have been laid to rest.

Congratulations to Andre Roberson and his family! Ladies and gentlemen, it's celebration time!

I can't in good conscience say I'm shocked.  Pre-draft momentum was on his side, and statisticians - who are, slowly but surely, take over the game - loved his profile, but a first round pick?  I don't think anyone outside of the Roberson camp saw that coming. 

I was definitely surprised by the result, as was Coach Tad Boyle. The CU head man was honest back in April that he was against 'Dre turning pro this year, and was just as honest in receiving the news yesterday evening.  Texting Roberson, Boyle submitted a mea culpa by saying, "What the hell do I know? Congratulations," and following up by telling CUBuffs.com's B.G. Brooks, “It absolutely surprises me, but I’m so proud of him. (It's) good for our program and our fans – everyone wins.”

Indeed.  Everyone wins. (Except for John Henderson. Fuck him.)

GO BUFFS!

2013 NBA Draft Preview: Will Andre Roberson get selected?

There's a lot of uncertainty headed into this evening's NBA Draft.  With no unquestioned superstars headlining the class, the first round could be both chaos and entertaining television.

Closer to home, the uncertainty takes on a different form: what is the fate of CU's former defensive dynamo, Andre Roberson? Ever since his quiet announcement two months ago that he would forgo his final year of collegiate eligibility, BuffNation has fretted over this risky choice, and whether it was a 'good decision' or not.  Tonight's result will go a long way towards providing an answer.

At first, the process didn't look kind to the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.  He came in undersized at the Draft Combine, and even 'Dre himself admits that his on-court performance those two days could've been better.  Combined with lingering questions about his offensive skillset, this lead to many experts leaving him off of their draft boards, even while teams like Orlando and Detroit were taking a closer look.

The Combine wasn't necessarily kind to Roberson.  From: @RealMatSmith

The consensus has shifted in recent weeks, however.  ESPN draft analyst Chad Ford, for one, was adamant this week that 'Dre will get drafted...

ESPN analyst Chad Ford on former #CUBuffs star Andre Roberson: I can almost guarantee you he's going to be drafted.
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) June 25, 2013

Ford said Roberson is one of the most interesting players on the board this year; he could Roberson being drafted in the 30s.
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) June 25, 2013

ESPN analyst Chad Ford on former #CUBuffs staff Andre Roberson: Many teams "absolutely love him as a player."
— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) June 25, 2013

... and statistical analysis was released that projects Roberson to have the 3rd best Wins Above Replacement Player of any draft eligible player over the next five years.  'Dre, now seen as one of the best 'steals' available in an otherwise weak draft, was shooting up many mock boards, including Ford's, who has him going 41st overall to Memphis.

The key behind that shift seems to be a focus on the relatability of his skillset into the professional ranks. History has shown that defense and rebounding numbers put up in college are far more predictive of future professional success, and the more statistically inclined NBA GMs will react to what they have on paper. 

Rebounding was always going to be 'Dre's key to unlocking the NBA.

Still, some remain convinced that the most dynamic defensive force in the West will slip through the cracks, and into free agency.  Specifically, both NBADraft.net and DraftExpress have left him off their final mocks.  Doubt lingers.

In spite of that, I'm of a mind to be positive about this evening.  The recent trend is up, and I get the feeling that some GM will try to prove himself smarter than his competitors by reaching for a toolsy, athletic project like Roberson.

Despite Ford giving Roberson a surprise final grade of 'late first round pick', I think any hope of a 1st round pick is out of the question.  However, the statistical analysis of people like ESPN's Kevin Pelton has convinced me that 'Dre will get selected somewhere in the first 20 picks of the second round.  Specifically, I look at a team like Portland, who has back-to-back picks at #39 and #40, and see the potential for a chance taken on a 'glue-guy' project like 'Dre.

That kind of a result may not be as good as the Robersons may have dreamed, or BuffNation feared, but I think it's a happy medium.  Any drafted status is nothing to sneeze at, and a good agent should be able to turn a pick in the first half of the second round into some guaranteed money.

Regardless, this evening is the easy part. Starting tomorrow morning, it'll be up to 'Dre to see his NBA dream to fruition.

--

Of course, 'Dre isn't the only one hoping to hear his name called this evening.  Here is a list of some familiar names for BuffNation to listen for:

 - Ben McLemore - 6-5, SG - Kansas -

I really like McLemore.  He's an elite playmaker, and has the numbers to back it up.  He should easily go in the top-5.

- Shabazz Muhammad - 6-6, SF - UCLA -

Conversely, I've never been high on Muhammad.  Sure, he can score, but his attitude in college stunk, and he would rather lick the floor than play defense.  I just don't think he made UCLA better than they would've been without him.  He'll slip out of the lottery, but still find a nice paycheck.

- Allen Crabbe - 6-6, SG - Cal -

A great scorer with solid rebounding numbers as a 2-guard, Crabbe has always reminded me of Alec Burks.  Hopefully, whoever drafts him won't relegate him to the bench like the Jazz have with the former CU standout.

- Isaiah Canaan - 6-0, PG - Murray St. -

Canaan came back for his senior season, but I don't think it helped his draft stock any.  Still, he can shoot the lights out, and teams love to see points put up on the board.  Should be a late first rounder.

- Jeff Withey - 7-0, C - Kansas -

Another player who excels at defense and rebounding, Withey's selling point won't be as an offensive piece.

- Pierre Jackson - 6-0, PG - Baylor -

An undersized, yet skilled guard, I think Jackson will be a nice pickup for a team looking for some depth at the point. Also: Fuck Baylor.

- Grant Jerrett - 6-10, PF - Arizona -

Jerrett took a big risk by turning pro after single collegiate season spent mostly riding the pine.  He's been rated near Roberson on many 'big boards.'

- Colton Iverson - 7-0, C - CSU -

The bulky Ram makes the list for his size and motor, but I don't think any GMs will overlook his low-level athleticism and age to spend a pick on him. Solid prospects as a free agent, though.

- Arsalan Kazemi - 6-8, PF - Oregon -

The metrics wonder.  I'm very interested to see if the under-rated Iranian gets a late call this evening.

- Solomon Hill - 6-7, SF - Arizona -

Hill has all the talent in the world, but often gets lost on the court for long stretches.  I don't think he will get drafted.

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...

(UPDATED) Quick Post: On 'Dre's departure, and the word 'failed.'

If you haven't completely given up on traditional media, you may have come across a pair of articles in the local rags about the reasoning behind Andre Roberson's decision to turn pro.  Both featured essentially the same argument from the Roberson camp as to why 'Dre needed to enter the NBA Draft.  One of them, however, featured an editorial hammer-blow aimed at Coach Boyle and staff that jumped the boundaries of reality, and strikes me as an intentional attempt to injure Colorado Basketball. 

It was in the Denver Post that editors chose to slap John Henderson's story with the ominous title "Andre Roberson left Colorado for NBA because coaches failed, dad says."  The phrase 'coaches failed,' is a serious charge, one that seems to imply that the Roberson family feels that Coach Boyle is to blame for both 'Dre leaving, and only being a projected 2nd round pick.  You would imagine that such an inflammatory accusation would be supported by the content of the article. You would be imagining wrong.

Do me a favor, and ctrl+F the word 'failed' in that article.  Any results beyond the title?  Nope.  John Roberson, Andre's father, never used that word.  It was thought up by some editor at the newspaper.  You could say it was pulled out of his ass.

If anything, the 'failed' implication seems to stem from the following quotes:

"That's what he ('Dre) told Coach Boyle. That's the struggle he was fighting. Was it more about 'Dre and fulfilling his dream or more about getting wins?  I think it has to go both ways. If you're going to develop him, develop him. Don't just take the point of view of, 'We need 'Dre so we can have a Final Four team or a top-10 team.' Now if you look at it that way, it's selfish as opposed to (Andre) being selfish."

In the larger context of the whole article, I read that more as John Roberson protecting his son from accusations of selfishness, and explaining that the nature of basketball at the collegiate level simply wouldn't allow Andre to get the singular focus he would need to improve his abilities and draft standing.

Now, compare the titular theme of 'failed' in the Post with the more conciliatory tone of Brian Howell's Buffzone.com article.

"'I think it would be really hard (at CU) for him to develop at the three spot (small forward), just considering the impact that he has as a four and the mismatches he has against bigger players,' John said. John also acknowledged that Andre has to develop more on offense, but said that would have been tough to do at CU, as well. With so many scoring options at CU, including guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker, the opportunities to take shots would have been limited, both in practices and in games"

The sentiments I espoused last month, that 'Dre would have trouble showing improvement with all the offensive firepower returning in Boulder, are echoed, and the situation is passed off as a matter of circumstance.  It's essentially saying that 'Dre's skills necessitate a certain style of play at the collegiate level that would keep him from further developing the skillset that he will rely upon at the next level.

That very explanation is found earlier in the Post article, where John Roberson is quoted as saying:

"You'd have a lot of guys coming (back) next year that were demanding the basketball. 'Dre, not being a selfish player, it'd be hard for him to kind of say, 'I want to work on my NBA game my senior year' while the other guys are doing their thing.

 That doesn't say 'coaches failed' to me, that says 'Andre needs to go pro for developmental reasons,' and certainly has nothing to do with 'blaming' Coach Boyle for the situation.  It all boils down to development, which was exactly what Boyle expressed at his season ending presser.

The editors at the Post did a disservice, both to their credibility and their readers, by intentionally using an inflammatory title to sensationalize a narrative that simply doesn't fit with reality.  Coach Boyle and staff didn't 'fail' Andre Roberson, and that's not what 'Dre's father is saying (or even implying).

This is the kind of shit editors at the New York Post resort to when they don't have any real news to report. The Denver Post shouldn't be playing that fast-and-loose with reality, as they haven't (yet) become a tabloid. 

(UPDATE) The Post has since changed the wording of the title to "Andre Roberson left Colorado for NBA to find better coaching, dad says" While still misleading, it's at least less inflammatory.  Can no one over there come up with a damn article title that isn't purely sensationalistic?

(UPDATE, pt 2) The title has gone through a second rewrite, and now says "Andre Roberson left Colorado to develop his NBA game, dad says."  Finally, a title with a firm grasp on context and reality.  Only took them three tries.

Quick Post: So... about 'Dre's decision...

Hey, remember when the news broke that there was a press conference set for 9am this morning, and that we were finally going to hear whether or not the reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year would be back for his senior season?  Well, not so much. 

After talking it over with Coach Boyle last night, Andre Roberson has apparently decided that he needs more time to decide.  Regardless of which way he's leaning, he has until Sunday night at 9:59pm MST to declare, or the choice will be made for him.

I honestly feel bad for 'Dre, because the decision isn't an easy one.  He has prepared his entire life driven by the hope of becoming an NBA star, but he's stuck in the second round no-man's land, with cloudy prospects of improving his stock.  With influential camps pulling him both directions (Father: go pro, Coach Boyle: stay in school), it's only complicating matters further.

My suggestion: flip a coin.

Quick Post: 'Dre's decision set for Friday

Since the final seconds slipped away in Austin, the big story hanging over the CU basketball program has been the pending decision from Andre Roberson concerning his professional status.  Tomorrow morning at 9am, BuffNation will finally get the answer it's been waiting for, as 'Dre will announce whether or not he will be entering this summer's NBA Draft.

Those able to can catch the announcement live by clicking here.

The more prominent rumor has 'Dre turning pro, but I haven't heard definitively one way or the other.  Coach Boyle was meeting with Andre earlier this evening, so it's still probably still anyone's guess at this point.

For the record, while I would selfishly prefer that he stays, I've long since come to terms with the idea that 'Dre would jump into the Draft, even without the 'guarantee' of a 1st round selection.  I've heard plenty of people say that this would be a terrible choice, but, as I said earlier this month, I'm not convinced that another year in Boulder would necessarily improve his professional stock.

If 'Dre does indeed declare for the Draft tomorrow, the choice will essentially be that he would rather spend 2013-14 developing in a professional atmosphere (NBA, NBADL, or Europe), than in Boulder, struggling to balance scholastic endeavors and gym time.  I think that's fair, as long as he is properly informed that an NBA roster might not be attainable right away.

I'll have more on 'Dre's decision tomorrow.

On 'Dre and the Draft

For most of the year, the working assumption had been that Andre Roberson was going to turn pro.  It was seen as such a foregone conclusion, that Coach Boyle went ahead and spent a 3rd scholarship on the 2013 recruiting class, even when there was only two known to be available (all indication is that Shane Harris-Tunks' graduation and departure were known well in advance of the announcement last month).

Recently, however, there has been a hitch in that plan, with many draft experts predicting that Roberson will land as a second round draft pick at best, with a decent chance that he'd see draft day roll by without hearing his name called.

The problem isn't his defense and rebounding.  The reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player-of-the-Year has lead the program in rebounds, steals and blocks each of the last three seasons, and has cemented his status as one of the nation's premier defensive forces.  NBA scouts recognize these skills, and they are unquestioned (and even earn him the heralded 'high-motor' designation). 

No, the problem is that his offensive performance in his junior season slipped from the numbers he put up as a sophomore.

From: KenPom.com

He stopped getting to both the line (where he also slipped to 55% shooting) and the rim (a career-low 51% of attempts), shot the ball at career low rates, and posted a declining O-Rating for the second consecutive year.  Part of the decline may be attributed to Josh Scott 'stealing' interior touches, continuing to play out of position, and a team-wide move away from the rim on offense, but the statistical decline shrieks 'look at me,' and NBA GMs are listening.

Given this shaky offensive track record, the conventional wisdom becomes, 'Roberson needs another year in college to improve his draft stock.'  I, however, remain unconvinced that another year at CU would do anything to move the draft needle, and may in fact be harmful to his overall NBA prospects.

For me it comes down to this: even assuming he reverses the trends and improves offensively, NBA GMs are still going to look at him as offensively deficient.  He just doesn't have the game for the small forward role that CU continues to play him in, and it's highlighting the weaker aspects of his game, rather than emphasizing what he does best at.  Barring some ridiculousness where he breaks out a la Derrick Williams, that narrative can't change. 

Further, how is he going to show offensive improvement on next season's deeper, more balanced roster?  Who will he be stealing points from, since the majority of the roster that put points on the board will be returning?  Scott is only going to improve, Spencer Dinwiddie, assuming he returns, is only going to improve, and Askia Booker probably (*cough*) won't be in a season-long slump.  The scoring situation only becomes more crowded when you consider incoming freshmen like Chris Jenkins, Tre'Shaun Fletcher, and Jaron Hopkins, in addition to the front-line touches that Wes Gordon will be pushing for.  There's just not enough water left in the stone for 'Dre to squeeze out eye-popping numbers.

Sure, 'Dre coming back makes a lot of sense from a non-NBA point-of-view.  Not only would it make the team better - possibly Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight better - but he'd also get another year as the BMOC, a final dose of accolades and awards, the opportunity to pursue a league title with a special grouping of talent, a chance to ascend to the Mt Rushmore of CU basketball, and, last but not least, a degree... but I just don't see how all of that would improve his draft standing.

Talk about the benefits of staying in school if you must, but don't tell me it'll make him better in the eyes of the NBA.  From my perspective, it won't.

Catching up with some CU notes

It's been a busy few days for Buffs news, and I'm just now catching up to all the comings and goings.


NBA Draft and Buffs in the pros -

The NBA draft will dominate the sporting world this evening.  While current Buffs like Andre Roberson and Josh Scott will surely populate the drafted list in future years, the chances of a Buff being taken this evening are pretty slim.  Realistically, the only Buff with draftable prospects is Carlon Brown.  Should he get taken, he'd combine with Alec Burks to make the first pair of Buffs drafted in consecutive years since Jay Humphries (1984, #13 to Phoenix) and Alex Stivrins (1985, #75 to Seattle).

Carlon carries CU hopes into the draft tonight.

While Thorburn wrote yesterday that Carlon could go in the second round, which can get a bit chaotic and unpredictable, I'd bet on free agency.  Still, some team taking a flyer on the Pac-12 tournament MVP isn't out of the question.  He had a solid showing at the Portsmouth Invitational (an important pre-draft tournament for fringe NBA talent), blew up in the bright lights of March, and possesses a marketable NBA skill set.  Regardless of whether his name is called this evening or not, Brown will have to shine in the NBA Summer League if he hopes to make a team, as even being picked in the second round doesn't guarantee a roster spot.

Outside of Brown, graduating seniors Nate Tomlinson and Austin Dufault also look to play professionally, just probably not at the NBA level.  Nate will play for his home town Melbourne Tigers (of the Australian NBL), and Austin will probably get a look with some European team.


Football team continues to round out future schedules - 

Needing to fill holes in the 2015 and 2016 football schedules, Mike Bohn turned to some familiar tactics to put games on the calendar.

For the open 2015 home slot, Bohn went the 1-AA route, inking a deal to bring Grambling St to Boulder.  As a former marching band geek, the big lure of playing a HBCU team is the opportunity to watch their band in person.  From a purely football perspective, however, the lure is (hopefully) an easy win.

In 2016, echoing a recent cash grab with Ohio St, the Buffs will return to the scene of "the Miracle" to renew their historical series with Michigan and earn a $1.45 million payday.  Not necessarily a part of the Pac-12/Big10 scheduling cabal slated to begin in 2017, the game will continue the recent trend of scheduling games east of the Mississippi River.

Headed to the Big House... in 2016.

According to the BDC story on the scheduling, the trip to Ann Arbor is meant to engage the Chicago portion of the fanbase, but the trip around Lake Michigan to Detroit is an awfully long drive (5+ hours w/o traffic). I'd expect far more of the CU contingent that day will be the typical road-traveling crew. 


CU hires their first CMO - 

One of the hallmarks of the Mike Bohn era of CU athletics has been an emphasis in marketing the program properly.  Continuing in that theme, CU went out and hired their first Chief Marketing Officer this week.  In tabbing former Charlotte Hornets executive Matt Biggers, the program gains the professional experience of someone who knows how to improve a struggling brand (read: the football program).

Welcome aboard, Matt.

He'll be in charge of marketing, promotions, web presence, BuffVision, and, most importantly, the ticket office.  That damn ticket office always seems to be limping along, and has been in need of new leadership for quite a while.  The problem hasn't usually been sales, which have continually gone up in recent years; the problem has been organization and distribution.  Hopefully Biggers can end the Keystone Cops routine that has defined the ticket office since before I even showed up on campus.


Go Buffs!

Quick-Post: Alec Burks ends up in Utah, where there is no music.

Predictions about former CU superstar Alec Burks slipping out of the lottery were wrong.  While clubhouse favorites Milwaukee and Charlotte indeed decided to pass on the talented wing, the Utah Jazz weren't about to let a player of his caliber slip past them.  With the 12th pick of the NBA draft, they grabbed Burks.

Nice suit, dude.  Good luck in Utah!  From: the SLC Tribune

Alec was pretty happy with the development, as the SLC Tribune quoted him as saying “I’m crazy hyped, I got so much excitement. I finally realized my dream, so it’s a great thing.”

While it's not as bad a destination as ending up in Charlotte would've been, the Jazz aren't exactly a team ready to take off.  Had this been the Jazz of 2-3 years ago, with a quality point-guard in Derron Williams and quality coach in Jerry Sloan to nurture Burks through the inevitable growing pains, then I'd be all for it.  Instead, this is a franchise definitely on a rebuilding kick.  In addition, many Jazz fans will see Burks as "not Jimmer" for the foreseeable future, as the notably Mormon SG out of BYU ended up in Sacramento of all places.  It's kind of an awkward situation all around.

But that's the point of the lottery: good players end up in bad spots.  By default good teams don't end up in the lottery, and the situation Burks found himself in this morning could've been a lot worse.  Sure, a franchise like Milwaukee, who's definitely on the rise, would've been a choice destination, but Utah will do just fine for the time being.  The cool thing is that he's in the same division as the Denver Nuggets, so at least he'll be making a decent number of stops through the Mile High in the near future. 

Either way, much congratulations go to Alec for achieving his dream.  Here's to a long and fruitful NBA career for CU's own #10!

--

Notes

Utah also selected big Enes Kanter in the first round.  They grabbed the big man with the 3rd overall selection.  Kanter had attended Kentucky, but never got to play as he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for accepting $33k from a European basketball team a few years back.  While he's talented, he's been out of competitive basketball for a year, which is never a good sign.  He'll need some time to get back his game; luckily, for Utah at least, they have some front court depth to prop him up for a while.

FYI, Alec will be getting paid to the tune of $1.7 Million next year.  If you're going to have to live in Utah, you might as well be making bank to do it.

BTW, I finally got my answer as to why Burks was slipping in certain mock-drafts.  Listening to the Chauncey Billups interview on 104.3 last night, Chauncey postulated that the injured shoulder that kept Alec out of the first few workouts would end up requiring surgery.  Finally, a solid reason why Alec was moving down, not up, draft boards.  (The consternation over his shooting was horse-shit, he was always going to be a slash-first guard in the NBA).  Despite these concerns, he still ended up in the lottery, which was his goal, and will start his NBA career on a high note.

Quick Post: NBA Draft Preview

It's go day for Alec Burks.  Time to get paid; time to become a professional.  Time to take the baton from Chauncey Billups and become the new face of CU's NBA presence. 

I haven't looked forward to an NBA draft this much since the '08 draft when my Bulls drafted the great Derrick Rose.

Coach Tad Boyle is excited too; he's got a get-together planned in his house with the other CU coaches to watch the draft.  Considering what happened the last time he held a get-together to watch presumably good news about the Buffs, maybe he'd be better served by watching it alone in a darkened room.  But, CU can't get screwed by the basketball world again, right?

Most experts have the overly-talented Buff swing-man going in the lottery (top 14 picks), and the NBA seems to agree, having invited him to the Newark green room.  However, as the past week has gone on, pundits like ESPN's Chad Ford have slowly slipped the overly talented swing-man out of the top half of the first round (Ford now has Alec at # 18 to the Wizards).  While they admit he may go as high as 7th, concerns over his shooting must be forcing him down the board.  In a draft system based on upside, I find this hard to fathom; with more time to work on his game, I feel Alec will be a fine shooter, and his ability to get to the rim and the free throw line already separate him from competing talent.

The prevailing consensus had been that Burks would go to Milwaukee with the 10th pick. I mentioned a few weeks back that they really seemed to like Alec, but it now appears that they may have fallen in love with Washington State's Klay Thompson.  Two thoughts: Alec is better, and will have a better career, than Thompson.  Additionally, if Milwaukee and Golden State, who have the 11th pick, pass on Alec, then whatever team gets him in the middle-part of the first round will be getting a steal.

I think my dream scenario would be a combination of him falling and the Nuggets trading up to get him.  This would allow me to watch him on a continued basis.  However, while the "Rich and Creamy's" are apparently talking of moving up, I doubt they'd move up too high for Alec. I'll stick with my gut and say Milwaukee comes to their senses; Alec deserves to be a lottery pick, and he will be.

Prediction: Milwaukee with #10

Quick Post: "The Decision" from Burks UPDATED

In probably the shortest statement ever, Buffs super swing man Alec Burks announced that he'd be taking his talents to "the Association."  He's planning on signing with an agent, so the return option will not be available to him.  He's gone, and CU's immediate basketball future will surround attempts to replace his production.

Dude's about to get paiiiiiiiiiiiiiid.  From: the BDC

Alec seemed to be a little nervous at the beginning of the presser, and he struggled a little bit initially when pressed by the media.  This is probably because he mentioned that before yesterday he was coming back, but discussions with Coach Boyle and his mother turned him around.  He probably honestly did struggle with his choice, but in the end, from an outsiders prospective, I think he made the right one.  The iron's hot for his services right now, and I don't know if the same could be said next year.

I loved what Coach Boyle said about Colorado being a place where everyone can follow their dreams.  Alec came out here to pursue his hoop dreams, and now he has the opportunity to further that pursuit.

I'm honestly really happy for him.  Way to go Al!

UPDATE 4/21/11 - On 102.3 the Ticket, Alec admitted that he not only went to class but met with a tutor this morning.  Kid's going pro, about to make a ton of money, and he's still keeping up with his studies.  Dude's special, there's nothing else to it.

Quick Post: Decision day for Burks

Not to overemphasize the point or anything, but today we find out if the Buffs will compete for the inaugural Pac-12 crown.  At 2pm this afternoon Alec Burks will make his NBA decision known, ending weeks of speculation throughout Buff Nation.  CUBuffs.com will carry his press conference live, and I'm sure the whole of Buff-related interwebs will explode with the result if you can't stream at work.

For the record, I can't believe that Alec's decision will be anything other than to declare himself for the draft.  With the recent rash of high profile players deciding to stay in school, and if the impending NBA lockout truly doesn't play into his decision, then there's no basketball-related reason for Alec to stay off of a draft board that he will invariably shoot up.  As the best SG prospect in a quickly shrinking draft, the kid should go pro.

The allure of another year in college, with friends, girls, and Boulder to entertain, may be strong, but I continue to maintain that the best CU basketball star of the past 14 years needs to make the jump.  I'll be blown off my chair if he hasn't reached the same conclusion.

Quick Post: Burks NBA decision chatter

There was a bunch of chatter both in the papers and on the twitter yesterday about Alec Burks setting a deadline of April 20th to make his NBA draft decision, and that there will be no "declare, but don't hire an agent" route.  He continues to state that his mind isn't made up and that it is a tough decision.  It's always hard to take that next step in life, to leave what's familiar, but I continue to feel that the realistic chance that he decides to stay at CU is close to 0%.

He also mentioned what I've been assuming for months, that the impending NBA lockout won't affect his decision.  That makes total sense to me; even with the lockout, first round contracts are slotted and guaranteed  (I don't think that slotting system will change during CBA negotiations) so there is relatively low risk even if the season gets washed out; it'll just be a delay on the eventual payday.  On the flip side, should Burks stay an extra year, he'd be contending with an enlarged draft pool next season. (ESPN's Chad Ford has a great evolving in/out list) Considering that he's one of the few viable NBA talents at his position, it may in fact be slightly advantageous for him to jump early, get a higher draft spot, and wait a few months for the cash to flow.

From my perspective he should go, take the eventual payday, and rep CU.  I'm not going to argue if he wants to stay another year, as I'd love 15+ more opportunities to see him play, but I think it would cost him lottery pick status.

Quick Post: Burks writeup on NBA.com

While super-sophmore Alec Burks hasn't officially declared himself for the NBA draft, most everyone else is going about things as if he has.  NBA.com included him in their writeup of the SG position for the upcoming NBA draft.  There's nothing too shocking in the piece (GM's love his athleticism, rebounding, and potential; are worried about his shot and defense) but they do list him as their best option in a soft SG class.

Money quote: "But we draft on talent, and he's very talented. He'll have the ball and he'll break you down. In space, he's (tough) ... great upside if he's willing to work. Something tells me (the work ethic) is not off the charts because he hasn't worked on his body at all. But the holes in his game are fixable."

The limitless future of Alec Burks

Because of the increased NBA scout presence this season, especially at the Kansas game Saturday afternoon, there has been a plenty of speculation over the last few days about the future of Alec Burks.  Will he go pro?  Will he stay?  Is he good enough to go pro early?  If you read the tea leaves there are a few answers, but needless to say his future seems to be paved with gold no matter what his draft decision is after the season concludes.  Today I'll be taking a close look at his skill set, how it translates to the next level, and what realistic expectations should be for draft day.  The answers might surprise you.

Click below for my lengthy evaluation