Thursday night against Stanford was another of those moments where you could imagine the parallel universe where this season had gone slightly differently. One where the Buffs had survived the brutal opening stretch of conference play to remain in contention for the NCAA Tournament. Indeed, as they showed against the Cardinal, there is a good team in there when the switch is flipped on. Firing on all cylinders offensively, they boat-raced the visitors in a game that was well-over by the start of the first timeout in the second half. 91-72; about as straight-forward as you can get.
Assists fueled an offensive explosion against Stanford. From: the Post.
This was not the same kind of game as the win over Washington State from a few weeks back, when I was using words like 'perfect' to describe the team's performance. In fact, against the Cardinal, I thought Colorado was barely acceptable defensively, though they did a solid job frustrating opposing stars like Travis Reid and Marcus Sheffield. No, Thursday night was all about the offense. CU poured in the points at a 1.4 ppp clip, only missing out on the heights of 1.5+ and 100 points scored due to there simply not being a need to. They were sharing the ball, knocking down open looks, and executing like I've rarely seen in these parts; in response, Stanford had no answer. All told, the team assisted 25 times on 35 made baskets -- a 71% rate that makes me weak in the knees. This was offense at its most effusive. Nine players posted ORtgs over 100, for the love of Tad.
This offensive explosion was credited after the game to a drill instilled this week by assistant coach Bill Grier. While running plays in practice, buckets would only count if they came off a true assist. With this in the back of their minds, Colorado was certainly, to a man, willing to look for teammates Thursday night. Seven players tossed out dimes, with six of those recording at least two. For the most part these weren't extra passes for passing's sake, either. Outside of a few exceptions, each assist was necessary to create the basket, particularly the entries that helped the Buffs generate 38 points in the paint. There was even a perfectly executed alley-oop! Who are these guys, the Flint Tropics?
All too easy. From: the BDC
I can't really point to one player as the star of the game, such was the balance on display (seven players with at least nine points), but I was especially piqued by the efforts of Lucas Siewert. The freshman power forward had his best game in a CU uniform, coming off the bench to chip in 15/3/2 against zero turnovers in 21 minutes. He was everywhere, hustling defensively, and nailing jumpers off precision passes. Along with 10 points from fellow frosh Deleon Brown (who is looking much better after lost time to injury and illness), the new generation of Buffs was shining brightly against Stanford. Elsewhere, Xavier Johnson finally kicked a slight slump, going for 15/9 in limited minutes. Had the team needed, he could've provided more, but, much like the pursuit of 100 points, it just wasn't called for.
And so, the Buffs shrugged off a sour performance against Utah to get back in the hunt for an NIT bid. The next hurdle: a game against the solid, (probably) NCAA Tournament bound Cal Golden Bears. With a win the Buffs will potentially climb to the 7th-seed in the Pac-12, while similarly helping those rival Utes slot in 4th. A loss, and things could get complicated for everyone in the league. Best to just claim the win, send the seniors out in style, and step up to #7.
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Hype Music for the Evening: "Seven Steps to Heaven" by Miles Davis
I don't get jazz. Never have. I put it down to a lack of drug use, but it is what it is. Regardless, Miles Davis is one of the greats of the genre, and deserves his due. This track, a live rendition of the titular anchor from his 1963 studio album, features frenetic drums, extensive solo work, and sporadic themes. Enjoy!
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Tip-off from the Coors Events Center is scheduled for high noon on Saturday. Remember to get there early for the Senior Day tributes. The 2017 graduating class deserves a strong round of applause. Coverage for those unable to attend can be found on Pac-12 Network, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
For reference, my preview for the first game against Cal this season can be found here.
New coach, same result for the Stanford Cardinal against the Colorado Buffaloes: loss. As has happened every time these two programs have met since February of 2012, the Buffs looked comfortable and composed against their red and white clad foes Thursday evening in Palo Alto. They controlled the glass, shared the basketball, and hit open jumpers, racing out ahead of the hosts at a pace the offensively challenged Cardinal couldn't hope to match. By the end of the game, Stanford just looked out of gas, giving the Buffs an easy-ish ride to the finish of a solid 81-74 win.
Some weirdness aside, the Buffs were able to deftly slip past Stanford. From: the AP
This was a different narrative from the Oregon game last weekend. Colorado didn't show the same defensive intensity they had displayed against the Ducks at home, and were much looser with the basketball (23 turnovers, which... I don't know, man). From a shot-making perspective, though, they were on their game. CU was hitting 53% from the field, helped by 19 assists on 26 baskets. It wasn't perfect offense, but it was effective.
The primary fuel for the performance, on both ends of the court, was provided in the form of Derrick White. The D-II transfer was at his all-around best Thursday night, putting up 19 points on just eight shots, to go along with eight boards, eight assists, four blocks, and a pair of steals. He was clearly a step ahead of any Cardinal who dared try to keep him in check, blanketing the game with his skill, particularly in the second half. Please excuse me, but I couldn't help but think back to the days when the great Spencer Dinwiddie used to do the same at the head of the Colorado attack -- White was that good on Thursday, and the key difference between winning and losing.
But, I can't talk about Derrick's ability to make stat-stuffing look so easy all day. I also have to talk about the turnovers. Nearly a third of all Colorado possessions ended in one. All 11 of the Buffs who saw action against the Cardinal committed at least one. Forwards Tory Miller and Wesley Gordon, the primary culprits, each had four to tie for the team lead. The turnovers came in every imaginable shape: travels, wayward passes, offensive fouls, poor focus on the dribble; you name it. Sloppy basketball to a 'T.' Luckily, Stanford was incapable of making Colorado pay, as the Buffs kept canning shots whenever they managed to complete a possession. I guess the basketball gods were asleep at the switch, with the game ending past 11pm, otherwise they would've dropped the hammer on CU for their malfeasance with the rock.
Good rebounding numbers made up for the turnovers. From: the AP
Overall, though, a weird game, which is what I've come to expect in this series. Beyond the turnovers, and the Cardinal's inability to turn them into meaningful offense at home, there was:
George King going all 21 of his minutes without scoring a point.
The first 10 minutes of the game going by largely unnoticed as the Pac-12 Network stuck with the double-OT Cal/Utah game
A foul being called on Deleon Brown for getting shoved in the back
The anemic-shooting Cardinal self-inflicting 19 three-point attempts
A kicked ball whistle late in the action when the ball touched no feet.
Just some weird, wacky, wild stuff. I'll assume peyote was involved.
Anyway, attention now turns to Sunday's trip to Cal. Whereas the Buffs have done well against Stanford over the years, they have struggled to do the same against the Bears, particularly in Berkeley. This will be a good test, then, to see how much mojo CU really has ginned up for themselves over their recent three-game win streak. 'Cause, if they can steal a win in this one, the schedule opens up a bit for them...
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Hype Music for the Afternoon: "Telegraph Avenue ('Oakland' by Lloyd)" by Childish Gambino
From the edges of Silicon Valley, the Buffs now head up to East Bay. And, forgive me Berkeley, but if you're talking East Bay, first comes Oakland. Gambino, with an assist from Lloyd, has us here. Stick with the video til the end... it takes a turn. Enjoy!
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Tip-off from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley is set for 2:30pm MT on Sunday. Your Super Bowl party can wait, so give the Buffs their due, and flip over to ESPNU to catch the action. The radio call will be 850 KOA.
The most evident difference between the Colorado Buffaloes of 2014-15 and this season's version is the credible threat the team poses behind the arc. Last winter, they were 33% shooters from deep, good for 204th nationally, and really were dependent on whether or not Askia Booker was hitting. This campaign, it's a completely different story, with CU knocking down over 40% of all three point attempts, making them one of the 15-best shooting clubs in the country. What's more, lead by George King's insane 49% clip, the Buffs have a number of versatile, talented long range assassins who are able to make opponents pay when they double the post, and it's made them, overall, a competent offensive proposition only a year after they were one of the most frustrating offensive clubs I've ever seen.
Good. From: the BDC
But, even as good as the Buffs have been hoisting the rock this year, they had never approached the performance they displayed in Wednesday's 91-75 win over Stanford. Shut the doors and turn off the lights when looking at the stat sheet, because their 13-19 shooting from three is decidedly NSFW. George King, Josh Fortune, et al were on fire, hitting almost every time they rose up. I got caught up in it and was yelling 'GOOD' before the ball even left their fingers -- Prince knows what I'm talking about. It was the difference in the game, too. Think of it this way: if the Buffs are normally 40% shooters from beyond the arc, then you would expect them to hit about seven or eight threes in 19 attempts. With CU winning by 16, those extra five or six threes made for the margin of victory. Sometimes, shooting three pointers well can cure a lot of problems.
This wasn't a perfect performance by any means. Sure, the Cardinal were abysmal offensively in the first half, shooting under 30% from the floor, but they came alive in the second, and pushed CU possession-by-possession over the final 20 minutes. Rosco Allen, looking to shake off the horrible things Wes Gordon did to him in Palo Alto, poured in 25/9. Add to it Josh Scott feeling a little under the weather (still put up 14/8/4/3), and Colorado needed all that juice on the perimeter.
A little under the weather, Josh Scott still put up solid numbers. From: WTOP.com
In addition to the shooting, CU paved over mistakes (another 15 turnovers, three straight missed 1-and-1s in the second half) by sharing the basketball and securing the rebounds. In all, the Buffs handed out 21 assists on 27 made baskets, easily their best mark in Pac-12 play, while playing +8 on the glass. It's hard to beat Colorado, especially at home, when they are making the extra pass, rebounding to their numbers, and holding opponent shooting under 37% for the game. Add in the three point shooting, and it becomes an impossible task. By the end of the game, the 'Larry Bird All-Stars' were in, and the assembled crowd was hitting the parking lot early. Really, nothing to complain about here.
And so, the Buffs look to wrap up the first half of conference action on a high note. A win tomorrow against the Golden Bears would make for three in a row, five in six overall, and keep them in the running for the league crown. More importantly, it would make for sweet revenge for the absolute dismantling Cal put on Colorado back on New Year's Day, and stand as another top-50 RPI win. I won't go so far as to say this is the 'most important game of the Tad Boyle Era,' or anything like that, but this is a huge game. Time to get to the preview!
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Hype Music for the Evening: "Ballad of Davy Crockett" by Fess Parker
Why? Because 'he kilthim a b'ar when he was only three,' of course. Enjoy!
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Tip-off from the CEC is set for 3pm on Sunday. There's no excuse for a halfhearted crowd for this one. It's a big game between two very good basketball teams, the Broncos are on a bye week (don't even pretend to care about the Pro Bowl), and the snow won't fully hit until Monday. If you're a warm-blooded member of BuffNation, and you live in the area, you better be trying to get a ticket. If, for some reason, you hate your university, you could always stay home and catch the action on either FOX Sports 1 or 850 KOA, but then we won't be friends any more. Be my friend, and get your ass to the CEC!
For reference, my preview from the first matchup can be found here.
A happy New Year to you all, and welcome, finally, to Pac-12 play! We in BuffNation have had to endure a drawn-out nine-day gap between games, as the Buffs have rested up following their trip to Las Vegas. With the first taste of losing since opening day stuck in everyone's craw, I'm sure the entirety of the program, from players to coaches to fans, is eager to get back on the court. First-up: a trip out west to the Bay Area, and the Cal Bears. As Coach Boyle is fond of saying, the price of poker is about to go up.
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Hype Music for the Evening: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga Eric Cartman
Did I sing this last night during the annual New Year's Eve Rock Band-a-thon? You betcha!
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Tip-off from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA is set for 9pm this evening. If you're not still too hung over from your New Year's revelry, or swamped with bowl action, why not click over to Pac-12 Networks, where you'll find the broadcast (how novel). More of a radio call person, now with the experience of the classically presented Penn State game in your back pocket? Well, Mark Johnson's got you on... well, I'm not sure since none of the stations have it listed. Uhhhhh... 850? Yeah, I'll say 850.
This week's Men in Blazers podcast reminded me of a quote from the Great Gatsby (which I loathe): “The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” F. Scott Fitzgerald generally had his head up his ass, but managed to find the target with that one. Standing on the sidelines during a meltdown is the absolute worst.
We've all faced those moments before, and I can't help but feel for Askia Booker, who stared one down last Wednesday. Sidelined with a pair of hip pointers, all he could do was watch as the Utes ripped his punch-less teammates apart. There won't be a repeat this evening, however, as Ski's had enough with the watching.
"I'm still playing through some injuries and pain, but I don't really care now. My team needs me. They need me to perform and they need me on the court, so that's what I'm going to do."
Whatever you say about Ski, the kid knows the tune, and has the will of a warrior. He's going to fight through the pain to try and give CU a chance at staying afloat. I'm not expecting a lot from Ski, remembering what his jumper looked like at Pauley two weeks ago, but just his presence on the floor will change the way the Buffs are defended. If that even opens up one extra opportunity for a teammate, then it's worth it.
It's an important moment, because, as Xavier Johnson pointed out today, it's the first time in a long-ass while that everyone on the team practiced together. For all the crap handed out to the squad this year for not having their heads on straight, they've been dealing with a lot of absences, which has contributed to the unique timbre of the season. Certainly, some of that has been self-inflicted, but it's important to acknowledge that the team we expected to see back in November has rarely had a chance to run out onto the court as a whole.
We'll just have to see how it all fits together this evening. The time to turn the season around has passed, but there's still pride at stake. It worked for Cal, as they recently righted their own listing ship, so maybe the Buffs are in store for a revitalizing performance against a team that has often brought the best out of them.
Tip off from the CEC is set for 7pm this evening. Fox Sports 1 has the pictures, 850 KOA the descriptions. Let's get after it, Buffs!
The Buffs head to the Bay Area for their second true road test of the year. The Cal Golden Bears are a significant upgrade over the UMass Minutemen, however, so it'll take a much stronger effort to claim a second-consecutive road scalp this weekend.
Kickoff from Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley, CA is set for 2pm MT. While plenty of our West Coast brethren will be in attendance, those of us back home in Colorado will have to make due with watching the game on Pac-12 Networks. The radio call, pending late-season Rockies 'baseball,' will be on 850 KOA.
Well, this is it. The season finale. What a long strange trip it has been, but CU still controls their destiny in the pursuit of a bye in next week's Pac-12 tournament, and could finish as high as third with a win tomorrow evening. If you would've told me that back on January 12, back in the depths of post-injury despair, I'd have taken it in a heart beat. To be sure, the Buffs have grown up a lot in recent weeks, and should be commended for even being in such a position.
Now comes the point when the team needs to reach up and grab the brass ring they've climbed within reach of. There's no longer any danger - they're nominally 'in' the Tournament now, barring a spectacular run of bubble-busting performances. Just go out, play free-and-easy basketball, and rip that bye-seed down off the pole!
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Tip-off from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA is set for 4:30pm on Saturday. Coverage can be found on Pac-12 Network, with Mark Johnson and the radio call coming on 850 KOA. Click below for the preview...
Confidence. Both the Bears and Buffs are brimming with it headed into tonight's game.
For CU it's a matter of finally feeling comfortable on the road. Winning three straight away from Boulder is almost unheard of for the program, but Tad Boyle's crew of road warriors have done just that.
With Cal, it's a matter of simply being the hottest team in the West. Since losing at the CEC in late January, the Bears have gone on a 8-1 run, which has catapulted them in Tournament and Pac-12 title contention.
Yet, someone is going to have that confidence busted tomorrow night. The winner will have the inside track for a top-4 seed in Las Vegas, along with an outside shot at stealing the regular season title. The loser will have to look forward to playing on March 13th, while still fretting over bracketology for another week.
There's plenty on the line in Berkeley - you may not have noticed, but the calendar now reads March. Things are getting serious...
Tip-off from Haas Pavillion is set for 3pm MT tomorrow. Coverage can be found on ESPNU. Mark Johnson and the radio call have been bumped from 850 to AM760 as a result of Rockies spring training. For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Last night was an eerily similar reprise of the CU/Stanford series from last season. The game ended in a 21-point blowout, there was a massive rebounding disparity (18), and one of the teams comfortably shot over 50%. Of course, the big difference was that it was the Buffaloes doing it to the Cardinal, rather than the other way around.
It was good to get back into the CEC. From: the BDC
Questions about toughness and competitiveness melted away over 40 minutes of pure domination. There was no "home whistle" pushing the Buffs to victory (quite the opposite, in fact), no streaky shooting fluking the scoreboard. CU simply out-manned the Cardinal. The resulting 75-54 win not only excised some of the Stanford pall still draped over memories from last season, but it also hints that the team has recaptured it's lost swagger.
It was the best start to finish game I've seen the team play since Charleston, and it marked the first time in weeks that I thought the team was really having fun out on the court. All five starters notched double digits, and even Ben Mills found a way to chip in four points as the clock ticked towards zero. They shared the ball well (12 assists), and spread the scoring around.
While every player in home white played a fantastic game, it was Andre Roberson who stole the show. 12 points, 20 rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and two assists - it was the best individual performance by any one CU player this season. He was flying everywhere after the ball, and nobody - Cardinal or Buff - was going to stand in his way. Hopefully, when it comes time to vote on Pac-12 defensive player of the year someone slips this game film in front of the voters, because further discussion will become mute.
Whose ball? 'Dre's Ball! From: the BDC
The only question remaining after last night: can they carry the momentum forward? We'll find out SaturdaySunday against Cal.
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Tipoff from the CEC is set for 1:30pm MT tomorrowSunday. Those of you with DirecTV are in luck, because the game can be seen on ROOT Sports/FSN. If you can't even find that, Mark Johnson will have his radio call on 850 KOA.
