It's damn good to have basketball back in my life. I spent all weekend on the couch, watching a myriad of games from across the nation. Not all of it was perfect, in fact some of it was outright unwatchable, but I enjoyed every second, none-the-less. Welcome back, basketball, you were sorely missed.
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Today in the bag, I'm talking the Buffs' win over UT-Martin, basketball notes from around the nation, and the football team's big loss in Seattle.
Click below for the bag...
Monday, November 11, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Baylor wrap and UT-Martin teaser
Well, that didn't exactly go according to plan, did it?
The Buffs, fighting through season-opening jitters, had a hard time getting shots to fall yesterday night against Baylor. For the game they shot 33% from the floor, 21% in the first half, and only made 2 of 19 three-pointers attempted. Wasting a strong defensive and rebounding effort (including 18 offensive rebounds), the shoddy masonry laid the foundation of a 72-60 loss in Dallas.
Early on, it was simply ugly to watch. The ball was moving well enough, but everyone looked jelly-legged when going up for a shot. Moving from the intimate setting of collegiate arenas to an NBA cathedral probably didn't help, but I'm going to chalk the misses up to over-excitement. Finally in the second half, some shots did fall, but Colorado could never seem to get the stop they needed to gain some traction against the Bears. When old nemesis Scott the Dick started hitting from deep in the waning minutes of the contest, the losing fate was sealed.
Josh Scott, as promised, was the best player on the court, opening the season with a 15/11 double-double that included five offensive rebounds and a 7-8 shooting performance from the line. Baylor, however, did a good job denying him paint touches, and CU wasn't able to take enough advantage of his strong game. The heralded veteran guard duo of Spencer Dinwidde and Askia Booker slogged through a combined 7-28 shooting night, which seems more flukey than anything else. The pair didn't get do a good enough job of attacking the rim, and far too often settled for jumpers, particularly in the early going.
Both teams had to play through some early foul trouble. Seven total players finished with at least three fouls, and many were quick to blame the 28 new rule tweaks. Nothing I saw was overtly atrocious, however. It just looked like a tightly called contest to me, and both sides suffered. The calls weren't the reason CU wasn't hitting shots.
All five freshmen saw the court for Colorado, with many playing extended minutes (freshmen accounted for 35% of available minutes last night). Wesley Gordon, a redshirt frosh who will be a starter most nights, put in the best performance, going for 9/8. For stretches, the Colorado Springs product dominated the Bears down low, and he was a large part of the reason CU had any hope at all of crawling back into the game. True freshmen Dustin Thomas and Tre'Shaun Fletcher also played well in their first collegiate minutes, but you could tell they were nervous early.
The loss stings - how could it not - but it's only one night, and, as I said in my preview, the team will improve as the season goes on. Coach Boyle is still feeling out the rotation, and there's no reason that yesterday night spells doom for a campaign still filled with promise. Brighter days are ahead...
Which brings me to Sunday afternoon, and the home opener against the UT-Martin Skyhawks. It's a quick turnaround, but the games are going to be coming fast and furious for the rest of November. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I don't know much about the Skyhawks. They were one of the nation's worst in 2012-13 (Kenpom had them as #332), but they went 5-5 over their final 10, and return almost everyone of importance. Their best player, junior forward Myles Taylor, is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March, leaving key returners like Justin Childs, Tobias Dowdell, Dee Oldham, and Terrence Smith to translate that late-season improvement into a run in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Still, given their 9-21 record of a year ago, UTM was in need of some fresh blood. Head coach Jason James obliged by signing early contributors like freshman Javier Martinez and JuCo transfer Marshun Newell. Look for them to play big minutes tomorrow.
Last night, they opened their season with a 78-60 loss up in Laramie against the Wyoming Cowboys. Hot shooting in the first half (46%, 5-10 from deep) turned cold in the second (24%, 2-11), as the effects of altitude dug in. In the game, Boulder's own Riley Grabau posted a career high 17 points for the Pokes. Oldham and Newell combined for 29 in defeat for UTM.
No reason to think there's much danger from the Skyhawks tomorrow, particularly with the quick turnaround at altitude. Tip-off is scheduled for 4pm MT, with coverage on Pac-12 Networks and AM 760 (... fucking Broncos). I expect a solid Buffs victory, anything less would be a massive disappointment.
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE SKYHAWKS!
The Buffs, fighting through season-opening jitters, had a hard time getting shots to fall yesterday night against Baylor. For the game they shot 33% from the floor, 21% in the first half, and only made 2 of 19 three-pointers attempted. Wasting a strong defensive and rebounding effort (including 18 offensive rebounds), the shoddy masonry laid the foundation of a 72-60 loss in Dallas.
 |
| *sigh* ... Not a good start. |
Josh Scott, as promised, was the best player on the court, opening the season with a 15/11 double-double that included five offensive rebounds and a 7-8 shooting performance from the line. Baylor, however, did a good job denying him paint touches, and CU wasn't able to take enough advantage of his strong game. The heralded veteran guard duo of Spencer Dinwidde and Askia Booker slogged through a combined 7-28 shooting night, which seems more flukey than anything else. The pair didn't get do a good enough job of attacking the rim, and far too often settled for jumpers, particularly in the early going.
 |
| Spencer struggled for much of the night in Dallas. |
All five freshmen saw the court for Colorado, with many playing extended minutes (freshmen accounted for 35% of available minutes last night). Wesley Gordon, a redshirt frosh who will be a starter most nights, put in the best performance, going for 9/8. For stretches, the Colorado Springs product dominated the Bears down low, and he was a large part of the reason CU had any hope at all of crawling back into the game. True freshmen Dustin Thomas and Tre'Shaun Fletcher also played well in their first collegiate minutes, but you could tell they were nervous early.
 |
| Freshmen like Dustin Thomas saw plenty of run against Baylor. |
Which brings me to Sunday afternoon, and the home opener against the UT-Martin Skyhawks. It's a quick turnaround, but the games are going to be coming fast and furious for the rest of November. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I don't know much about the Skyhawks. They were one of the nation's worst in 2012-13 (Kenpom had them as #332), but they went 5-5 over their final 10, and return almost everyone of importance. Their best player, junior forward Myles Taylor, is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March, leaving key returners like Justin Childs, Tobias Dowdell, Dee Oldham, and Terrence Smith to translate that late-season improvement into a run in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 |
| Tobias Dowdell is one of several key returners for UTM. From: UTMSports.com |
Last night, they opened their season with a 78-60 loss up in Laramie against the Wyoming Cowboys. Hot shooting in the first half (46%, 5-10 from deep) turned cold in the second (24%, 2-11), as the effects of altitude dug in. In the game, Boulder's own Riley Grabau posted a career high 17 points for the Pokes. Oldham and Newell combined for 29 in defeat for UTM.
No reason to think there's much danger from the Skyhawks tomorrow, particularly with the quick turnaround at altitude. Tip-off is scheduled for 4pm MT, with coverage on Pac-12 Networks and AM 760 (... fucking Broncos). I expect a solid Buffs victory, anything less would be a massive disappointment.
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND BEAT THE SKYHAWKS!
Friday, November 8, 2013
Friday Beer Post: Friday Beer Post: 2013 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Washington 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!"
Seattle and Washington aren't the brewing powerhouses that neighboring Portland and Oregon are (unless you count the brewing of coffee, which I don't). In fact, the local market is dominated by conglomerate brands like Redhook who distribute through the InBev consortium. Lame, I know.
Still, since RedHook is one of the few Seattle breweries that distributes out here, in honor of CU's trip to the Queen City, I'm tabbing their ubiquitous ESB as my gameday beer-o-the-week.
Redhook's ESB has been around for more than 25 years, having been brewed since 1987. The ESB stands for 'extra special bitter,' an English style of pale ale that favors a high-alcohol balance between strong malt flavors and base hop characteristics. Redhooks version, coming in at a little under 6% ABV, is a passable take on the style, about what you would expect from a corporate-backed brewery.
A six-pack is easy enough to come by at most liquor stores across the county, leaving it one of the wider-reaching selections of the season. Give it a go, and take a break from the more complicated tastings of my usual picks.
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, FUCK BAYLOR (also beat Washington, or whatever)!
Seattle and Washington aren't the brewing powerhouses that neighboring Portland and Oregon are (unless you count the brewing of coffee, which I don't). In fact, the local market is dominated by conglomerate brands like Redhook who distribute through the InBev consortium. Lame, I know.
Still, since RedHook is one of the few Seattle breweries that distributes out here, in honor of CU's trip to the Queen City, I'm tabbing their ubiquitous ESB as my gameday beer-o-the-week.
Redhook's ESB has been around for more than 25 years, having been brewed since 1987. The ESB stands for 'extra special bitter,' an English style of pale ale that favors a high-alcohol balance between strong malt flavors and base hop characteristics. Redhooks version, coming in at a little under 6% ABV, is a passable take on the style, about what you would expect from a corporate-backed brewery.
A six-pack is easy enough to come by at most liquor stores across the county, leaving it one of the wider-reaching selections of the season. Give it a go, and take a break from the more complicated tastings of my usual picks.
Happy Friday! Go Buffs, FUCK BAYLOR (also beat Washington, or whatever)!
2013 Baylor Basketball Preview
Breathe it in.
You know what that smell is? It's the intoxicating aroma of leather and hardwood. It can mean only one thing: basketball is back! Let it ring!
I can't hold it in any more: IT'S GAMEDAY! We made it folks! It's finally November! Hit the lights, lace up the sneakers, and let's get this party started!
--
Coach Tad Boyle (praise be his name), in all of his wisdom, has decided that Colorado should begin 2013-14 on the road by playing hated rival Baylor in the semi-neutral setting of Dallas, TX. This is quite a step out of the norm for CU, as the program hasn't started the regular season away from home in a decade. You have to go back to November of 2003, when the Buffs traveled to Evanston, IL on opening night to take on Northwestern. Behind 21 points from Michel Morandais, Colorado claimed a solid 67-56 victory.
However, even in that year, CU hosted a pair of exhibition games at the CEC before their opening road-trip. To find the last time CU played their first public game of the year outside of beautiful Boulder, CO, you have to go back to 2000, when the Buffs opened the year against the University of Alaska in chilly Fairbanks as part of a non-conference tournament. They won that one, too, 79-68.
Certainly, tonight will be a much tougher matchup than either of those two were. Baylor starts the season as #25 in the initial AP rankings, and has all the pieces for a run to a good seed in the NCAA Tournament. But this is what we as fans should want - marquee matchups with some of the best in the nation. I wish it was at a more convenient locale, but I'm heartened to see that the Buffs have the cachet to pull in these kinds of showcase events.
Tip-off from American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX is set for 8pm MT. Coverage can be found on ROOT. Mark Johnson and the radio broadcast will be on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
You know what that smell is? It's the intoxicating aroma of leather and hardwood. It can mean only one thing: basketball is back! Let it ring!
I can't hold it in any more: IT'S GAMEDAY! We made it folks! It's finally November! Hit the lights, lace up the sneakers, and let's get this party started!
--
Coach Tad Boyle (praise be his name), in all of his wisdom, has decided that Colorado should begin 2013-14 on the road by playing hated rival Baylor in the semi-neutral setting of Dallas, TX. This is quite a step out of the norm for CU, as the program hasn't started the regular season away from home in a decade. You have to go back to November of 2003, when the Buffs traveled to Evanston, IL on opening night to take on Northwestern. Behind 21 points from Michel Morandais, Colorado claimed a solid 67-56 victory.
However, even in that year, CU hosted a pair of exhibition games at the CEC before their opening road-trip. To find the last time CU played their first public game of the year outside of beautiful Boulder, CO, you have to go back to 2000, when the Buffs opened the year against the University of Alaska in chilly Fairbanks as part of a non-conference tournament. They won that one, too, 79-68.
Certainly, tonight will be a much tougher matchup than either of those two were. Baylor starts the season as #25 in the initial AP rankings, and has all the pieces for a run to a good seed in the NCAA Tournament. But this is what we as fans should want - marquee matchups with some of the best in the nation. I wish it was at a more convenient locale, but I'm heartened to see that the Buffs have the cachet to pull in these kinds of showcase events.
Tip-off from American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX is set for 8pm MT. Coverage can be found on ROOT. Mark Johnson and the radio broadcast will be on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Thursday, November 7, 2013
2013 Washington Football Preview
Last night, while laying exhausted in the wake of facilitating my fourth annual Massive Basketball Preview, my computer died. Like won't start up, unrecoverable data died.
Bummer.
Undeterred, I quickly bought a replacement, and am back in the game after only one night incommunicado. Huzzah!
--
Last week, CU put in a rare complete performance against a Pac-12 opponent. On the road no less! Yes, the Buffs still wound up losers by over 20 points, but for them to be playing competitive football well into the fourth quarter is a massive improvement.
Looking to build on that improvement, Colorado travels up to Seattle this weekend to face off against the Washington Huskies. The odds are still stacked against them, but another week of solid gains on the gridiron is within reach, even if the scoreboard tilts strongly the other way.
Kickoff from newly renovated Husky Stadium is set for 6pm MT Saturday evening. Television coverage can be found on good ole Pac-12 Networks, with the radio broadcast on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Bummer.
Undeterred, I quickly bought a replacement, and am back in the game after only one night incommunicado. Huzzah!
--
Last week, CU put in a rare complete performance against a Pac-12 opponent. On the road no less! Yes, the Buffs still wound up losers by over 20 points, but for them to be playing competitive football well into the fourth quarter is a massive improvement.
Looking to build on that improvement, Colorado travels up to Seattle this weekend to face off against the Washington Huskies. The odds are still stacked against them, but another week of solid gains on the gridiron is within reach, even if the scoreboard tilts strongly the other way.
Kickoff from newly renovated Husky Stadium is set for 6pm MT Saturday evening. Television coverage can be found on good ole Pac-12 Networks, with the radio broadcast on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
My Massive Basketball Preview: 2013-14 - Welcome to the fast lane
“This is the fast lane, folks...and some of us like it here.” - Hunter S. Thompson
It's been too long since our local heroes, the University of Colorado men's basketball team, took the court in anger. 288 days have passed since CU walked away from the NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas, having suffered a fatal blow from the University of Illinois. A bitter end to a season spent dealing with growing pains.
2012-13 was, by all rights, a phenomenal year in the history of Colorado Basketball. The Buffs finished 21-12, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. Buoyed by a strong opening run to non-conference play, they claimed a number of eye-opening wins, a non-conference tournament title, and the program's first national ranking since 2006. From season's tip-off in November, to senior night in March, the stadium was packed, and the denizens of BuffNation were treated to a show.
Yet,
something was missing. The team struggled early in conference play, and
had to turn to grind-it-out basketball (that many fans termed
'Tad-Ball') to win games in February and March. There was nothing
free-flowing about this style of play, and it redefined the old phrase
'winning-ugly.' The Buffs just didn't seem ready for the expectations that
early success placed on their shoulders. They weren't there yet.
After a summer spent regrouping and redeveloping the roster, 2013-14 looks to be a season spent fighting the ghosts of that campaign. Expectations will be just as high, if not higher, and much of the season will be defined by the team's ability to wear the burden of those expectations with a little more grace than their predecessors.
While the veteran heart of last season's squad has drifted away to professional opportunities, four starters return for 2013-14. That fact alone has lead many to laud the Buffs' pre-season chances. Early indications were even that CU could be in line for their first pre-season top-25 ranking since 1969. The departure of Andre Roberson to the NBA may have thrown a wrench into those plans, but the AP still lists CU at #29, while the coaches poll has Colorado coming in at #27. The Buffs have even been picked by most pundits to finish in the Pac-12's top-three, and contend for a third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Slight disappointment aside, that is, by far, the rosiest pre-season projections of the modern era.
This is an entirely new feeling for BuffNation when it comes to basketball. Gone are the days of the plucky little underdog, fighting against the world for recognition and respect. The Colorado Buffaloes, once the hunters, are now the hunted, widely perceived as one of the best teams in the West. They won't be sneaking up on anyone anymore. In fact, teams will be circling CU on their calendars as an opportunity to make a statement. Welcome to the fast lane, folks. Traps abound.
It's a double-edged sword. You'll see Colorado highlights on SportsCenter, College Gameday may make an appearance in Boulder later this season, and the national media will be fully up to date on the comings and goings of the program. On the flip side, the team now carries with it the weight of expectations. That weight has buried promising teams throughout the history of organized athletics, and it'll be up to the Buffs to prove themselves worthy of the hype. As Coach Boyle said a few weeks ago, "We're excited to be in the hunt, we're excited to be in the conversation of one of the better teams in this league. Now we've got to go out and prove it."
In this virtual tome, I attempt to preview the season from a variety of aspects, and predict whether the team will, in fact, be able to 'go out there and prove it.' I'll look at the roster, profiling the players, and discussing how the coaching staff could enjoy some bench depth for the first time in their tenure. I'll look at the schedule, touching on both the non-conference and conference slates, and announcing my baseline win projection for the campaign. I'll look at the Pac-12, noting how our rivals have developed over the offseason. And, finally, I'll take a brief look at the future by breaking down the incoming 2014 recruiting class.
Those of you who have been here before know that the word 'massive' in the title is
not a misnomer. I'm long-winded to a fault. Consider yourselves warned. If, after reading that, you're not dissuaded, if you love Colorado basketball too much to let a thing like 'TLDR' get in front of a good time, then grab a beer, strap in, and click below for the preview...
It's been too long since our local heroes, the University of Colorado men's basketball team, took the court in anger. 288 days have passed since CU walked away from the NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas, having suffered a fatal blow from the University of Illinois. A bitter end to a season spent dealing with growing pains.
2012-13 was, by all rights, a phenomenal year in the history of Colorado Basketball. The Buffs finished 21-12, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade. Buoyed by a strong opening run to non-conference play, they claimed a number of eye-opening wins, a non-conference tournament title, and the program's first national ranking since 2006. From season's tip-off in November, to senior night in March, the stadium was packed, and the denizens of BuffNation were treated to a show.
 |
| From: the BDC |
After a summer spent regrouping and redeveloping the roster, 2013-14 looks to be a season spent fighting the ghosts of that campaign. Expectations will be just as high, if not higher, and much of the season will be defined by the team's ability to wear the burden of those expectations with a little more grace than their predecessors.
While the veteran heart of last season's squad has drifted away to professional opportunities, four starters return for 2013-14. That fact alone has lead many to laud the Buffs' pre-season chances. Early indications were even that CU could be in line for their first pre-season top-25 ranking since 1969. The departure of Andre Roberson to the NBA may have thrown a wrench into those plans, but the AP still lists CU at #29, while the coaches poll has Colorado coming in at #27. The Buffs have even been picked by most pundits to finish in the Pac-12's top-three, and contend for a third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Slight disappointment aside, that is, by far, the rosiest pre-season projections of the modern era.
This is an entirely new feeling for BuffNation when it comes to basketball. Gone are the days of the plucky little underdog, fighting against the world for recognition and respect. The Colorado Buffaloes, once the hunters, are now the hunted, widely perceived as one of the best teams in the West. They won't be sneaking up on anyone anymore. In fact, teams will be circling CU on their calendars as an opportunity to make a statement. Welcome to the fast lane, folks. Traps abound.
It's a double-edged sword. You'll see Colorado highlights on SportsCenter, College Gameday may make an appearance in Boulder later this season, and the national media will be fully up to date on the comings and goings of the program. On the flip side, the team now carries with it the weight of expectations. That weight has buried promising teams throughout the history of organized athletics, and it'll be up to the Buffs to prove themselves worthy of the hype. As Coach Boyle said a few weeks ago, "We're excited to be in the hunt, we're excited to be in the conversation of one of the better teams in this league. Now we've got to go out and prove it."
In this virtual tome, I attempt to preview the season from a variety of aspects, and predict whether the team will, in fact, be able to 'go out there and prove it.' I'll look at the roster, profiling the players, and discussing how the coaching staff could enjoy some bench depth for the first time in their tenure. I'll look at the schedule, touching on both the non-conference and conference slates, and announcing my baseline win projection for the campaign. I'll look at the Pac-12, noting how our rivals have developed over the offseason. And, finally, I'll take a brief look at the future by breaking down the incoming 2014 recruiting class.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Monday Grab Bag: Game Week, at last.
To answer your question, yes, in fact, it is November. Rejoice, basketball fans, we've made it.
While the men won't get the season started for another four days, the women were actually in action this weekend. In an exhibition with the Colorado School of Mines, the 18th ranked Buffs kicked the tires and shook off the rust en route to a commanding 91-42 victory.
Sure, the competition wasn't close to what the team will face when playing D-1 opponents, but there were plenty of positives to take from the first public action of the season. Arielle Roberson dropped 20 points in as many minutes, Lexy Kresl posted a 6-0 assist-to-turnover ratio, and the team shot nearly 48% from the field. Good job all around.
Exhibition season concluded, the ladies will now have to wait until next Tuesday for the official start of 2013-14 when they head up to Fort Collins to take on the Rams. I expect raw carnage, get it done, Buffs!
--
Today in the bag, I'm talking a cross country championship, another Pac-12 loss in football, and a little basketball.
Click below for the bag...
While the men won't get the season started for another four days, the women were actually in action this weekend. In an exhibition with the Colorado School of Mines, the 18th ranked Buffs kicked the tires and shook off the rust en route to a commanding 91-42 victory.
Sure, the competition wasn't close to what the team will face when playing D-1 opponents, but there were plenty of positives to take from the first public action of the season. Arielle Roberson dropped 20 points in as many minutes, Lexy Kresl posted a 6-0 assist-to-turnover ratio, and the team shot nearly 48% from the field. Good job all around.
Exhibition season concluded, the ladies will now have to wait until next Tuesday for the official start of 2013-14 when they head up to Fort Collins to take on the Rams. I expect raw carnage, get it done, Buffs!
--
Today in the bag, I'm talking a cross country championship, another Pac-12 loss in football, and a little basketball.
Click below for the bag...
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