With just over five months left to go before the Pac-12 Tournament, Colorado Basketball has officially entered the home stretch. In years previous, this meant postseason positioning; not just for Las Vegas, but for the real Dance, as well. The latter part of that equation is no longer an at-large possibility, but the former portion is still a practical purpose. Currently sitting in 7th at 4-5 in the league, the Buffs have a ways to climb to get over the hump, and into the top-half of the Conference of Champions. The team has five games to play at home, and need to leverage them to their fullest stay where they've historically finished on the league table.
Which leads into tonight's fixture with the #13 Utah Utes. A win here gets Colorado that much closer to an upper-half finish (and some saved face). It wouldn't single-handedly salvage the season, or anything like that, but a win tonight over the travel partner would serve as a beacon of light in an otherwise foggy campaign.
Tip-off from the appropriately suds-filled Coors Events Center is set for 8pm this evening. Pac-12 Network has the coverage, with the radio call on 850 KOA.
Click below for the preview...
Showing posts with label optimism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label optimism. Show all posts
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Wish List for the 2014 Football Season
Football season is back, and with it a palpable sense of optimism to Boulder. The general impression is that the football program is on the upswing after an extended dalliance in the depths of the college football world. Certainly they were better in 2013. In fact, the program hit all of my expectations for the campaign, winning four games, competing in many others, showing a sense of pride on both sides of the ball, and generally moving the sticks forward throughout a successful season. BuffNation even stepped up to the point that the Folsom upgrades are a reality. By comparison, despondent efforts like 2011 and 2012 seem like they were in the distant past.
But all the positive vibes engendered by a strong 2013 could vanish if 2014 goes to pot. With that in mind, I've put together a five-pack of wishes for this season. Nothing on this list is a gimme, but I would considering everything 'reasonable.' Should the team achieve at least four of these, CU Athletics could rightfully claim another step forward. Any less than four, however, and I'd consider 2014 a season stuck in neutral.
1) A perfect run through non-conference play
Echoing last season, it'd be nice for the Buffs to make their par-saves out of the gate. Games against CSU, Massachusetts, and Hawai'i are all solidly 'winnable' on paper, and need to be converted into wins to maintain the status quo.
It won't be as easy as many Black and Gold faithful are making it out to be, however. The RMS is always a 'thing,' and road games east of the Mississippi have never been kind to this program (even though UMass is particularly awful...). As unpalatable as it may seem, and as improved as the team is over previous seasons, I can easily envision a scenario where the team starts out 0-2.
That's not to say I think it likely. CU will be favored in each game, and has the talent to overwhelm either opponent, given uneventful efforts from each side. Plus, if the Buffs can swing those two, the Hawai'i game, after a brief hiccup against ASU, should be a cake walk. They're talking of dropping the sport, after all.
Honestly, there's really no excuse for the team to not jump out to a 3-1 start in 2014.
It won't be as easy as many Black and Gold faithful are making it out to be, however. The RMS is always a 'thing,' and road games east of the Mississippi have never been kind to this program (even though UMass is particularly awful...). As unpalatable as it may seem, and as improved as the team is over previous seasons, I can easily envision a scenario where the team starts out 0-2.
 |
| Charleston Southern ain't walkin' through that door. From: the BDC |
Honestly, there's really no excuse for the team to not jump out to a 3-1 start in 2014.
2) More than one conference win
Speaking of par saves, slapping around Cal, as CU did last season, is nice and all, but the football program is not going to get back to where BuffNation wants to see it by playing at the Golden Bears' level. The Buffs need to start beating multiple conference foes on a regular basis.
To that end, the Buffs have to get more than one conference win this year. Yep, a feat not conjured since Jon Embree, of all people, managed it in 2011 (with the help of a historically large senior class).
Finding a winnable pair is not easy. The Cal game is on the road, and they'll be looking at that date for a win as much as the Buffs will. Even given a win on 9/27, the Pac-12 is one of the best conferences in the country - some even say it will be better than the vaunted SEC. The other eight games will be difficult tests, regardless of opponents and location. Probably the best bet is November 29th against Utah, as CU has usually played their Mountain Time Zone rival well, but that program continues to improve as the power conference money trickles in. Beyond the Utes, you could maybe sell me on upsets against Washington (new coach), @ Arizona, and @ USC (new coach), but I just don't see it. It's Bears and Utes or bust.
 |
| Get out our way, Cal! |
Finding a winnable pair is not easy. The Cal game is on the road, and they'll be looking at that date for a win as much as the Buffs will. Even given a win on 9/27, the Pac-12 is one of the best conferences in the country - some even say it will be better than the vaunted SEC. The other eight games will be difficult tests, regardless of opponents and location. Probably the best bet is November 29th against Utah, as CU has usually played their Mountain Time Zone rival well, but that program continues to improve as the power conference money trickles in. Beyond the Utes, you could maybe sell me on upsets against Washington (new coach), @ Arizona, and @ USC (new coach), but I just don't see it. It's Bears and Utes or bust.
3) Stay competitive throughout
In the three-year history of the Pac-12, the Buffs have routinely been trounced on the gridiron. Over the 27 conference games played since 2011, they've lost an ugly total of 19 by at least 22 points. That's right, CU has been blown out in just over 70% of their Pac-12 tilts.
 |
| It's been painful to watch. From the BDC |
I don't expect Mike MacIntyre to walk his troops into Autzen and pull out a win, but is it too much to ask them to stay within reach of at least five of their conference foes this season? Let's say a max of four losses by more than three touchdowns, and only one by 40 points or more. That'd certainly be a step in the right direction.
This effort would be greatly helped by continuing to stay, relatively, injury free. Outside of unfortunate season-ending nicks to Jered Bell and Tyler Henington, the Buffs find themselves fortunate to head into the season with their two-deep mostly intact. While depth is improving at the Foot of the Flatirons, it's not yet to the level that continued shuffling of the deck is a mountable challenge. For the Buffs to stay in games this fall, they have to stay healthy, and keep their best talent on the field.
4) Get Sefo Liufau into the 2,000 club
This is obviously a individual benchmark, but it stands as a milestone for the entire offense. In the history of Colorado Football, there's only been thirteen 2,000 yard passing efforts, with six of those owned by messrs Stewart and Klatt. Getting the calm, composed sophomore into that club would make for a strong sign that the offense is starting to come together.
There's been too much upheval under center over the last decade. Ever since Klatt left, it's been anyone's guess who will be leading the team in the huddle. If anything, meeting this goal would at least point to some stability in the backfield.
The key will be the offensive line. The only way 2,000 happens is if they're keeping Sefo's jersey clean. Luckily, the line returns three of the starters from last season, and boasts a pair of 5th-year senior guards in Dan Munyer and Kaiwi Crabb. I like the way the group projects headed into the season, and have high hopes for them.
 |
| The Buffs need a big year from Sefo. From: the Post |
The key will be the offensive line. The only way 2,000 happens is if they're keeping Sefo's jersey clean. Luckily, the line returns three of the starters from last season, and boasts a pair of 5th-year senior guards in Dan Munyer and Kaiwi Crabb. I like the way the group projects headed into the season, and have high hopes for them.
5) Make a damn bowl game
Bowl games. The ultimate symbol of mediocrity dressed up as achievement. In any other sport, earning a .500 record would not be worth celebrating, but college football continues to make it the end-all, be all of competition. Sure, it's a reward for the kids and coaching staffs for working so hard, but making the BitPay St Petersberg Bowl (*hold for laughter*) has never struck me as anything but a trophy from an everyone-wins little league.
Still, this is the world we live in, and the fact remains that Colorado Football hasn't even been able to manage the pinnacle of average that is earning a bowl berth since 2007. It's time to end the streak. Somehow, someway, Mike MacIntyre and crew must turn a brutal Pac-12 slate into at least three wins and sneak into December at 6-6.
This is probably a bridge to far for 2014, even if some local pundits are entertaining the possibility. Granting CU manages to sweep non-conference play and beat Cal and Utah (no easy set of tasks, there), they'd still need one more win out of seven very difficult games to break even on the campaign. Given the schedule, given the fragile state of the depth chart, and given the continuing youth that still dominates the field, I just feel it's going to be impossible for this club to find six wins.
 |
| Remember when CU and Alabama met on equal footing? |
More than likely, this is a achievable goal for 2015. Still, it's nice to dream. So, BuffNation, find a shooting star, drop a pocketful of change in the nearest fountain, and scour the ground for four-leaf clovers. 'Cause, if the Buffs can pull this one off, look out...
Go Buffs! Live the dream!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
2012 Fresno State Basketball Teaser
Road woes have been the topic du jour for BasketBuffs this week, especially in light of last weekend's disastrous trip to Lawrence. Of course, road struggles have long been a concern for almost all CU athletic programs, and the men's basketball team has been no different.
Even in the Coach Boyle era, CU has struggled away from the friendly confines of the Coors Events Center. The non-conference road win list from the past two seasons looks like this: Cal St Bakersfield, and Air Force. That's it, one per year. Even then, that win over Air Force looked more like outright robbery than an actual victory, and the win over CSU-B was far from easy. While conference play has been kinder - with wins over K-State, Texas Tech, USC, ASU, and Utah populating the record book - the point remains: the Buffs just aren't good in road games.
Which brings me to this evening. On paper, a trip to play the Fresno St Bulldogs shouldn't be much of a problem for the Champions of Charleston. However, with the Buffs' recent and extended road history, all bets are off.
Tip-off from the Save Mart Center (*sigh* that's an awful name) in Fresno, CA is set for 8pm MT, with radio coverage on AM760. Unfortunately, there's no TV coverage, and your only remaining video option requires buying a $10 subscription to the FSU website. (No, I haven't decided if it's worth it, yet.)
--
Hard-core followers of the Buffs from back in the Big XII days should recognize head coach of the Bulldogs: longtime Texas assistant Rodney Terry. Known primarily at UT for his recruiting prowess (he helped bring stars like Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, D.J. Augustin, T.J. Ford, and Tristan Thompson to the Lone Star capital), he's tasked with the monumental challenge of bringing an underwhelming FSU program into the Mountain West, one of the country's best basketball conferences.
His first season in the Valley didn't go so well, with the Bulldogs struggling in their final season as a member of the WAC. They went 3-11 in conference play, barely avoiding last place thanks to a truly horrific San Jose St squad.
In response, Coach Terry ramped up recruiting efforts, landing a whale of a prospect in the form of top-50 player Robert Upshaw. The 7-0, 250lb behemoth has yet to make a huge impact on the court, but his presence on the Bulldog roster is an eye-opener from multiple perspectives.
While Upshaw gets used to the collegiate game, the Bulldogs rely on a trio of 6-2 juniors to run the team:
Kevin Olekaibe, Tyler Johnson, and Allen Huddelston. Olekaibe and Johnson combined for 37 points last year against the Buffs, helping the Bulldogs recover from a 15-point halftime deficit to make a close game out of what could have been a laugher. Huddelston, a first-year transfer from Pacific, has been the Bulldog's leading scorer from the point this season, contributing 12 points per game.
All three would probably prefer to play off the ball, but size and simple roster math dictate one has to take the point. That task has fallen to Huddelston, but that unnatural switch to running the offense has hurt the Bulldogs. As a result, they only hand out 8.8 assists per game, good for 339th nationally. That poor supply has especially stunted the once high-scoring Olekaibe. After averaging nearly 18 points per game in '11-'12, he's only scored in double-figures twice this season.
The dysfunction in the backcourt was particularly evident in last month's 39-30 win over UC Riverside. Using 56 possessions, that translates to a shockingly awful .66 ppp. My head hurts just thinking about that. The lesson, as always, is that point guard play is important.
Outside of the three guards, the Bulldog starting five is in near-permanent flux. One player who should see extended minutes, while not necessarily a starter, is 6-8 sophomore forward Kevin Foster. When on the court, the Florida native sees a ton of the ball, getting used on close to 27% of possessions. He's a strong rebounder, with better percentages than 'Dre does this season (27.7% of defensive opportunities/13.5% of offensive), but his offensive touches are a drag on the team (84.1 ORtg). He makes less than 30% of his two-point shots, which is downright criminal coming from a forward.
Overall, Fresno St comes off as a pretty lousy shooting
team (eFG under 44%), which relies on strong perimeter defense to keep
themselves in games. They've been holding opponents to under 27%
shooting from beyond the arc, with a scant 18.4% of opponents points
coming from outside makes (the national average is around 27%) The
Buffs will have to get interior penetration, and get foul calls to win
this game.
--
It was pointed out to me by friend of the blog Matthew Robbins that I've been quick to pick against CU this season. I'll show you Bups; I am nothing if not rebellious, so, K-BOOSH, pickin' the Buffs!
CU should matchup well with the guard-heavy Bulldog rotation. If the Buffs can get anywhere near the trips to the free throw line they received last year (32, making 27), they should be just fine. Additionally, I expect Josh Scott and Andre Roberson will have a nice game against the FSU front-court.
So, I'll go out on a limb, and take the Buffs to get their annual non-conference road win this evening. What's more, I'll say our hoops heroes hold the Bulldogs to fewer points than their football-playing compatriots managed to do this past September.
CU 67 - FSU 62
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND COLLAR THE BULLDOGS!
Even in the Coach Boyle era, CU has struggled away from the friendly confines of the Coors Events Center. The non-conference road win list from the past two seasons looks like this: Cal St Bakersfield, and Air Force. That's it, one per year. Even then, that win over Air Force looked more like outright robbery than an actual victory, and the win over CSU-B was far from easy. While conference play has been kinder - with wins over K-State, Texas Tech, USC, ASU, and Utah populating the record book - the point remains: the Buffs just aren't good in road games.
Which brings me to this evening. On paper, a trip to play the Fresno St Bulldogs shouldn't be much of a problem for the Champions of Charleston. However, with the Buffs' recent and extended road history, all bets are off.
Tip-off from the Save Mart Center (*sigh* that's an awful name) in Fresno, CA is set for 8pm MT, with radio coverage on AM760. Unfortunately, there's no TV coverage, and your only remaining video option requires buying a $10 subscription to the FSU website. (No, I haven't decided if it's worth it, yet.)
--
Hard-core followers of the Buffs from back in the Big XII days should recognize head coach of the Bulldogs: longtime Texas assistant Rodney Terry. Known primarily at UT for his recruiting prowess (he helped bring stars like Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, D.J. Augustin, T.J. Ford, and Tristan Thompson to the Lone Star capital), he's tasked with the monumental challenge of bringing an underwhelming FSU program into the Mountain West, one of the country's best basketball conferences.
 |
| Terry brought Big XII cred to Fresno. |
In response, Coach Terry ramped up recruiting efforts, landing a whale of a prospect in the form of top-50 player Robert Upshaw. The 7-0, 250lb behemoth has yet to make a huge impact on the court, but his presence on the Bulldog roster is an eye-opener from multiple perspectives.
While Upshaw gets used to the collegiate game, the Bulldogs rely on a trio of 6-2 juniors to run the team:
Kevin Olekaibe, Tyler Johnson, and Allen Huddelston. Olekaibe and Johnson combined for 37 points last year against the Buffs, helping the Bulldogs recover from a 15-point halftime deficit to make a close game out of what could have been a laugher. Huddelston, a first-year transfer from Pacific, has been the Bulldog's leading scorer from the point this season, contributing 12 points per game.
 |
| Olekaibe gave CU fits last season. From: the BDC |
The dysfunction in the backcourt was particularly evident in last month's 39-30 win over UC Riverside. Using 56 possessions, that translates to a shockingly awful .66 ppp. My head hurts just thinking about that. The lesson, as always, is that point guard play is important.
Outside of the three guards, the Bulldog starting five is in near-permanent flux. One player who should see extended minutes, while not necessarily a starter, is 6-8 sophomore forward Kevin Foster. When on the court, the Florida native sees a ton of the ball, getting used on close to 27% of possessions. He's a strong rebounder, with better percentages than 'Dre does this season (27.7% of defensive opportunities/13.5% of offensive), but his offensive touches are a drag on the team (84.1 ORtg). He makes less than 30% of his two-point shots, which is downright criminal coming from a forward.
 |
| Foster's best attributes are not found on the offensive end. |
--
It was pointed out to me by friend of the blog Matthew Robbins that I've been quick to pick against CU this season. I'll show you Bups; I am nothing if not rebellious, so, K-BOOSH, pickin' the Buffs!
CU should matchup well with the guard-heavy Bulldog rotation. If the Buffs can get anywhere near the trips to the free throw line they received last year (32, making 27), they should be just fine. Additionally, I expect Josh Scott and Andre Roberson will have a nice game against the FSU front-court.
So, I'll go out on a limb, and take the Buffs to get their annual non-conference road win this evening. What's more, I'll say our hoops heroes hold the Bulldogs to fewer points than their football-playing compatriots managed to do this past September.
CU 67 - FSU 62
GO BUFFS! PROVE ME RIGHT, AND COLLAR THE BULLDOGS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)