This is the Buffs final road trip of the season; a fact only made notable by the implication that this death march of a season is finally drawing to a close.
Maybe getting out of Boulder will do the team some good. Maybe the 2nd and 3rd options at QB will prove more capable now that Jordan Webb has lost confidence. Maybe the sieve that is the Arizona defense will ignite a fire in the beleaguered CU offense. If I cared at all, those points might have been enough for me to plan on tuning in Saturday. As it is, I don't, so I won't.
If you care - and I am by no means saying I think you should - kickoff from the desert is set for 11:30AM. FX is, once again, ready and willing to submit your eyes to the horror of CU football should you be interested in watching the proceedings. Radio coverage is on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Basketball notes with two days to go
That countdown clock over on the right side is starting to get real small. With the start of basketball essentially upon us, I though it'd be a good time to catch up on some notes that have been bouncing around the last couple of days.
--
Starting lineup for opening night -
In my season preview, I mentioned that my version of the starting lineup would include freshman Xavier Johnson, but that early season lineups may include senior Sabatino Chen. That appears to be the case as Chen has been mentioned as a starter in multiple places.
My reaction to this is... well, tepid. I certainly understand the experience angle, and Coach Boyle is well served by lifting up the team's lone senior in a year where youth will dominate the run of play. However, I remain unconvinced by stories describing Chen's newly developed outside shot. The transfer from DU has yet to hit an in-game three for the Buffs, missing all outside shots taken both last season and in the preseason exhibition trip to Europe. I take pronouncements of improvement as evidence of things not seen. Without that shot, his intangibles are a lot less appealing, especially as a starter.
That said, with Johnson untested, and secondary option Jeremy Adams once again starting the season in street clothes (injury issues continue to plague the Mississippi native), Chen may be the only realistic option. It should serve for Wofford, regardless.
Here's to hoping that Chen's outside shot really is ready for prime-time, and Coach Boyle has found a second bite at the Levi Knutson senior-explosion apple.
--
Blindly flinging spaghetti -
Nothing drives me further up a wall that a drawn-up bracket in early November. Heaven help us, the college basketball landscape is far to complicated to project before a single game is tipped off. If you want to randomly project conferences, fine, and Kenpom is fun to pour over, but the nature of the RPI system and the chaos of non-conference play renders a November bracket essentially meaningless.
For that reason alone, I barely recognize it when people like Lunardi and Glockner release a completed bracket, down to site and opponent (For the record: Lunardi has CU as the next four out, Glockner has the Buffs in as a 7-seed), this early. It'd be better to simply release a top-40 teams list; far more valuable when considering who is a potential at-large candidate. Placing teams into regions right now is an exercise in futility.
At least these brackets are more reasonable than ones drawn up in fucking August (the very definition of a waste of time). Right now, prognosticators at least have something to base their guesses on: preseason exhibition tours, practices, injury reports... Kenpom.
--
Murals at the CEC -
The Athletic Department has broken out the paint brushes to honor the defending Pac-12 champions. First came this mural of graduated guard Carlon Brown from the halls leading up to the practice facility:
I think that does a fantastic job of emphasizing the payoff available for all the hard work the team does behind the scenes. Now comes a mural placed proudly in the CEC depicting the champions at their best:
Imagine you're a visiting team looking up at a packed-house and that mural as the clock ticks down...
It may not be a subtle script of "Defending Pac-12 Champions" under the mid-court Ralphie logo, as I have wanted, but I think the Athletic Department did a fine job with these murals to celebrate last year's championship run.
There's still the little matter of the banner unveiling, which is set for Friday night...
--
Catching up with the Buffs-in-the-NBA -
Friday can't come soon enough!
--
Starting lineup for opening night -
In my season preview, I mentioned that my version of the starting lineup would include freshman Xavier Johnson, but that early season lineups may include senior Sabatino Chen. That appears to be the case as Chen has been mentioned as a starter in multiple places.
My reaction to this is... well, tepid. I certainly understand the experience angle, and Coach Boyle is well served by lifting up the team's lone senior in a year where youth will dominate the run of play. However, I remain unconvinced by stories describing Chen's newly developed outside shot. The transfer from DU has yet to hit an in-game three for the Buffs, missing all outside shots taken both last season and in the preseason exhibition trip to Europe. I take pronouncements of improvement as evidence of things not seen. Without that shot, his intangibles are a lot less appealing, especially as a starter.
 |
| But... then again... the hair. |
Here's to hoping that Chen's outside shot really is ready for prime-time, and Coach Boyle has found a second bite at the Levi Knutson senior-explosion apple.
--
Blindly flinging spaghetti -
Nothing drives me further up a wall that a drawn-up bracket in early November. Heaven help us, the college basketball landscape is far to complicated to project before a single game is tipped off. If you want to randomly project conferences, fine, and Kenpom is fun to pour over, but the nature of the RPI system and the chaos of non-conference play renders a November bracket essentially meaningless.
For that reason alone, I barely recognize it when people like Lunardi and Glockner release a completed bracket, down to site and opponent (For the record: Lunardi has CU as the next four out, Glockner has the Buffs in as a 7-seed), this early. It'd be better to simply release a top-40 teams list; far more valuable when considering who is a potential at-large candidate. Placing teams into regions right now is an exercise in futility.
At least these brackets are more reasonable than ones drawn up in fucking August (the very definition of a waste of time). Right now, prognosticators at least have something to base their guesses on: preseason exhibition tours, practices, injury reports... Kenpom.
--
Murals at the CEC -
The Athletic Department has broken out the paint brushes to honor the defending Pac-12 champions. First came this mural of graduated guard Carlon Brown from the halls leading up to the practice facility:
 |
| (From: Brian Howell at the Camera) |
It may not be a subtle script of "Defending Pac-12 Champions" under the mid-court Ralphie logo, as I have wanted, but I think the Athletic Department did a fine job with these murals to celebrate last year's championship run.
There's still the little matter of the banner unveiling, which is set for Friday night...
--
Catching up with the Buffs-in-the-NBA -
- Alec Burks, the 2011 first round pick of the Utah Jazz, continues to ride the pine. Through four games, he has only seen 11 minutes of play. According to one source, his lack of playing time the result of a roster crunch, rather than an organizational decision. At least when watching this video you can still see the old Alec we came to love from 2009-11. #FreeAlec
- Cory Higgins is still clinging to the Charlotte Bobcats roster, but has only seen four minutes of play in the early going.
- The best story continues to be Chris Copeland, who snuck onto the final New York Knicks roster, and has become a solid bench warrior. He's appeared in each game on the season, and has seven points to show for it. The dude can still score.
 |
| I'm getting a kick out of Cope's run in the NBA |
- Legend Chauncey Billups is close to a return from last season's Achilles injury, and will possibly be ready by the end of the month.
Friday can't come soon enough!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
On this Election Day...
*Music plays: inspirational, quasi-patriotic*
Spencer Dinwiddie believes in Colorado.
He could have gone elsewhere, but instead chose to come to Boulder and speak for Colorado's best interests. He's proven to be tough on crime, and supports Coach Boyle's aggressive "Home Court Advantage" program.
While others spent the summer months playing video games and vacationing, he spent his summer working in Europe to build international alliances and strengthen Colorado's standing.
He even supported Coach Boyle's bold "Net-Cutting" legislation when few believed in it, and has been willing to reach across the aisle to help make his teammates better.
His "A.S.S.I.S.T" initiative alone lead to the direct infusion of at least 128
points last year.
When you go to the polls today, please remember to Re-Elect Spencer Dinwiddie as Mayor of Buffaloes.
PAID FOR BY THE DINWIDDIE FOR COLORADO CAMPAIGN.
--
*Music plays: ominous, dark*
Sean Miller has a dark plan for America. A plan where only his favorite 16 people get to experience the joys of victory. A plan where BuffNation falls behind.
He advocates a strictly partisan agenda, refusing to work with Coach Tad Boyle to improve our prospects, and voting for Arizonan special interests 100% of the time. He even opposed Coach Boyle's "Pac-12 Championship" initiative, choosing instead to stand in the way of BuffNation's best interests.
Really, Sean?
Under the Miller administration, more timeouts have been wasted than in any other point in our nation's history. Can we really afford more years of his wasteful policies?
Sean Miller even resorts to yelling at young adults when he doesn't get his way. Can we really allow a man who spends his days yelling at teenagers to remain in office?
On this Election Day, send Sean Miller a message. Tell him BuffNation is fed-up with his pro-Arizona agenda. Tell him Colorado deserves better.
PAID FOR BY THE C-UNIT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, NO CANDIDATE OR PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS ADVERTISING.
Spencer Dinwiddie believes in Colorado.
PAID FOR BY THE DINWIDDIE FOR COLORADO CAMPAIGN.
--
*Music plays: ominous, dark*
Really, Sean?
On this Election Day, send Sean Miller a message. Tell him BuffNation is fed-up with his pro-Arizona agenda. Tell him Colorado deserves better.
PAID FOR BY THE C-UNIT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, NO CANDIDATE OR PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS ADVERTISING.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday Grab Bag: Game Week!
WOOO! GAMEWEEK! Finally, after seven months of waiting, I'm about to get to see some actual basketball played. I couldn't be more excited.
To further whet your appetite for the start of the season, I recommend heading over to AllBuffs where resident hoops guru Goose has been laying down some serious knowledge. Through six editions, he's been taking a thorough look at the schedule, breaking down each opponent, and even inviting the thoughts of Pac-12 savant Adam Butler (better known as @pachoopsab). It's well worth your time, and I may be making an appearance as the series reaches its conclusion later this week...
As for the here and now, in the bag today I'm talking more hoops, brushing off the football program, and briefly looking at the highlights from a packed football weekend.
Click below for the bag...
To further whet your appetite for the start of the season, I recommend heading over to AllBuffs where resident hoops guru Goose has been laying down some serious knowledge. Through six editions, he's been taking a thorough look at the schedule, breaking down each opponent, and even inviting the thoughts of Pac-12 savant Adam Butler (better known as @pachoopsab). It's well worth your time, and I may be making an appearance as the series reaches its conclusion later this week...
As for the here and now, in the bag today I'm talking more hoops, brushing off the football program, and briefly looking at the highlights from a packed football weekend.
Click below for the bag...
Friday, November 2, 2012
Friday Beer Post: 2012 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Stanford 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!"
I swear I had forgotten that I'm going to the game tomorrow. I was making plans for Saturday, and it completely slipped my mind. The "ah-ha" realization made me both sad and frustrated. Sad because, you know, Colorado football, and frustrated that I can't go do something else with my Saturday. Maybe I'll just go, get drunk, watch a quarter, and leave early to grab a burrito. Yeah, that sounds like a plan.
--
It's homecoming, so I'm looking to pick something local. It's an open secret that my favorite Boulder brewery is Upslope. I love their brewing, their Patagonia hops, and their steadfast adherence to canning their beer.
They've grown leaps and bounds over the last few years, expanding from their two-style push into the market to now offer a varied selection both on the shelves, and at their vastly improved taproom. They even can limited release runs of selected styles now. Their latest, simply named Pumpkin Ale, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.
A GABF gold medal winner from 2011, it's been available in special 16oz 4-packs since the start of September. Upslope brews it with local organic pumpkins, which used to require employees taking pumpkins home to bake in their own ovens. They've upgraded the process this year, utilizing commercial ovens to allow for a larger release. It's a well crafted ale, tasting (obviously) of pumpkins and spice. There's a brown sugar character to the flavor, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg - think in the spirit of pumpkin pie - but with just enough of a bitter bite that it's not too sweet. It's a perfect seasonal brew, and one that should compliment Saturday's Fall weather nicely.
The limited release has run it's course, ending with the calendar flip to November. I found some remaining cans on shelves earlier this week, however, and I bet you can find some as well. Give it a shot, it's well worth it.
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Cardinal!
I swear I had forgotten that I'm going to the game tomorrow. I was making plans for Saturday, and it completely slipped my mind. The "ah-ha" realization made me both sad and frustrated. Sad because, you know, Colorado football, and frustrated that I can't go do something else with my Saturday. Maybe I'll just go, get drunk, watch a quarter, and leave early to grab a burrito. Yeah, that sounds like a plan.
--
It's homecoming, so I'm looking to pick something local. It's an open secret that my favorite Boulder brewery is Upslope. I love their brewing, their Patagonia hops, and their steadfast adherence to canning their beer.
They've grown leaps and bounds over the last few years, expanding from their two-style push into the market to now offer a varied selection both on the shelves, and at their vastly improved taproom. They even can limited release runs of selected styles now. Their latest, simply named Pumpkin Ale, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.
A GABF gold medal winner from 2011, it's been available in special 16oz 4-packs since the start of September. Upslope brews it with local organic pumpkins, which used to require employees taking pumpkins home to bake in their own ovens. They've upgraded the process this year, utilizing commercial ovens to allow for a larger release. It's a well crafted ale, tasting (obviously) of pumpkins and spice. There's a brown sugar character to the flavor, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg - think in the spirit of pumpkin pie - but with just enough of a bitter bite that it's not too sweet. It's a perfect seasonal brew, and one that should compliment Saturday's Fall weather nicely.
The limited release has run it's course, ending with the calendar flip to November. I found some remaining cans on shelves earlier this week, however, and I bet you can find some as well. Give it a shot, it's well worth it.
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, beat the Cardinal!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Quick Post: Buffs picked 6th in 2012-13 preseason media poll
Today is Pac-12 Basketball Media Day, and with it comes the eagerly anticipated release of the preseason media poll. Arizona was tabbed to win the conference, but UCLA actually received more first place votes. Also receiving first-place mentions were Cal and, surprisingly, Washington. This big news for BuffNation is that the defending conference champions were picked to finish 6th.
This is actually a pretty good show of respect when compared to the recent past. I tried hunting for the last time the basketball team was tabbed to finish sixth or higher, but was thwarted by shaky online records prior to 2006. The funny thing is that '05-'06 team would've been my guess. They were the last post-season squad of the Ricardo Patton era, and would've been at least moderately regarded heading into the season. Since then, prognosticators have thought very little of the program, tabbing the various teams to finish in the bottom quarter each season (12th in '06-'07, 12th in '07-'08, 12th in '08-'09, 12th '09-'10, 9th in '10-'11, and 11th in '11-'12.)
While CU has managed to beat preseason expectations in each of the last three seasons (finishing 8th, 6th, and 6th, respectively), outsiders are still wary of whether the program has really turned the corner. Picking CU 6th is about the best we can expect; the team will just have to keep proving everyone wrong.
Coach Boyle, you may now use this as bulletin board material.
This is actually a pretty good show of respect when compared to the recent past. I tried hunting for the last time the basketball team was tabbed to finish sixth or higher, but was thwarted by shaky online records prior to 2006. The funny thing is that '05-'06 team would've been my guess. They were the last post-season squad of the Ricardo Patton era, and would've been at least moderately regarded heading into the season. Since then, prognosticators have thought very little of the program, tabbing the various teams to finish in the bottom quarter each season (12th in '06-'07, 12th in '07-'08, 12th in '08-'09, 12th '09-'10, 9th in '10-'11, and 11th in '11-'12.)
While CU has managed to beat preseason expectations in each of the last three seasons (finishing 8th, 6th, and 6th, respectively), outsiders are still wary of whether the program has really turned the corner. Picking CU 6th is about the best we can expect; the team will just have to keep proving everyone wrong.
Coach Boyle, you may now use this as bulletin board material.
2012 Stanford Football Preview
This weekend is homecoming... which means... something. Damn it, I swear I had something for this. I'm sorry, it's just the haze of losing has stunted my memory. Wait... it's coming back to me...
In recent history, at least, homecoming has meant that CU is about to get their asses kicked. Since squeaking by Oklahoma on Kevin Eberhart's last-second field goal in 2007 the Buffs have lost four-straight homecoming games by an average of 22.25 points. Included in that is last season's 45-2 disaster against Oregon.
To
be fair, you could pick any random game since that miracle over
Oklahoma and have a 69% change of picking a loss (CU is 20-45 since that
day), but they've been remarkably consistent in treating the returning
alumni to shit performances.
Based on that open, I bet you can tell where this preview is headed... but don't forget to GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! :-)
--
Kickoff from sun-splashed Folsom Field is set for high noon on Saturday. Coverage can be seen on FX (I don't know why CU keeps getting the non Pac-12 Networks slots, but they do), and heard on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
In recent history, at least, homecoming has meant that CU is about to get their asses kicked. Since squeaking by Oklahoma on Kevin Eberhart's last-second field goal in 2007 the Buffs have lost four-straight homecoming games by an average of 22.25 points. Included in that is last season's 45-2 disaster against Oregon.
 |
| Don't mind him, he's just livin' the dream. |
Based on that open, I bet you can tell where this preview is headed... but don't forget to GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! :-)
--
Kickoff from sun-splashed Folsom Field is set for high noon on Saturday. Coverage can be seen on FX (I don't know why CU keeps getting the non Pac-12 Networks slots, but they do), and heard on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
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