Colorado Basketball

November 29th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle on 4-3 start: “I may have overscheduled for this team”

From the Daily Camera … The sting of the Buffaloes’ uneven start was dulled somewhat by Sunday’s 65-62 home win against Yale, though if not for a few late turnovers by the Bulldogs the outing could very well have ended with a fourth bad loss for CU in the season’s first three weeks.

Sunday’s victory marked just the second home game so far for CU through seven games. That’s a rare situation for a power conference program, although certainly it’s one neither the Buffs nor their coach have used as an excuse. Still, working through growing pains has been doubly challenging given the early schedule, which continues this week as CU opens Pac-12 Conference play at home on Thursday against Arizona State (6:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1).

The Sun Devils (6-1) have been a pleasant surprise for the Pac-12 in the season’s opening weeks, topping then-No. 20 Michigan on Nov. 17 and receiving six points in this week’s Associated Press top 25 poll.

“I may have overscheduled for this team,” Boyle said last week, bringing up a point he reiterated following the win against Yale. “As a coach, I’ve got to look internally, and I schedule based upon what I think our team can be successful with. There’s a little bit of art to that. There’s a little bit of science. There’s a little bit of luck. I thought our team would be further along from a toughness standpoint.

“I expect our players to play with pride and play with toughness. Play Colorado basketball. But I may have overscheduled. Yale is an NCAA Tournament team. Boise State won the Mountain West tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee is obviously a top (team). But we’ve taken care of the ranked teams.”

Boyle has been consistent through his tenure in attempting to assemble nonconference schedules in tune with the expectations surrounding his club. In the 2017-18 season, for instance, when McKinley Wright, Tyler Bey and D’Shawn Schwartz were freshmen and classmate Evan Battey was sitting out a redshirt season, the Buffs’ multi-team event featured dates against Quinnipiac, Drake and Mercer, plus home games against Denver and Air Force. Two years later, when those players were veterans, CU played neutral-floor games against Clemson and Dayton, plus road games at Kansas and Colorado State.

Continue reading story here

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November 27th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Led by Tristan da Silva’s 20 points, Buffs hold off Yale for 65-62 home win

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado put three players into double figures Sunday and held off a Yale rally in the final minutes to collect a 65-62 win at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffaloes improved to 4-3 while the Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 6-1.

The Buffs led from the outset and built their margin to as much as 12 at several different points throughout the game. But they could never completely put away Yale as the Bulldogs stayed within range to the end, cutting the CU lead down to one in the final seconds.

Tristan da Silva led CU with 20 points, J’Vonne Hadley added 12 and K.J. Simpson chipped in 10.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado led by 10 at intermission, 38-28. But the Buffs couldn’t put the Bulldogs away in the second half. Yale cut CU’s cushion down to two, 48-46, with 12:25 to play before the Buffs pushed the margin back to 11 with a 6-0 run. J’Vonne Hadley had four points in the surge.

Yale, though, wouldn’t go away. The Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the lead and with 1:49 to play, cut the CU lead to 61-58 on a John Poulakidas 3-pointer. Less than a minute later, Yale cut the deficit to just one on a Bez Mbeng drive to the hoop.

Colorado missed on its next possession and Yale had a chance to take the lead but CU forced a Bulldogs turnover to regain possession.

That forced the Bulldogs to resort to fouling in the final seconds. Julian Hammond hit two free throws for CU with 10 seconds left to give Colorado a 63-60 lead.

CU’s Simpson then forced a turnover on Yale’s next possession and Jalen Gabbidon — who transferred to CU from Yale in the offseason — clinched the win with a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs then got a layup at the buzzer to finish the scoring.

Read full story here

… Game Notes … Colorado (3-3) v. Yale (6-0) … Sunday, 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Pac-12 Networks … 

THE SEASON: Colorado is 3-3 overall, returning home for the first time in nearly three weeks. The Buffaloes are coming off a 12-day, three-state, five-game road trip. It’s the first time Colorado has played five of its first six games of any season on the road since the 1955-56 season.

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: A 6-0, Yale is off to its best start since the 1945-46 season when it won its first seven games. The Bulldogs are averaging 82.8 points per game while allowing only 51.7 a contest, ranking sixth in the nation in scoring defense.

Junior forward Matt Knowling leads Yale at 20.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting a whopping 71.1 percent from the field (54-76). Sophomore guard John Poulakidas averages 9.7 points and leads the Bulldogs with 13 3-point field goals.

IVY CONNECTION: Colorado graduate senior Jalen Gabbidon faces his former team in Yale. Gabbidon played in 78 games in three seasons, over five years, for Yale during his undergraduate career. A two-year team captain for the Bulldogs, he averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 45 percent from the field and 77 percent from the line. Helped Yale to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, ’22) and two Ivy League regular season and tournament titles. He was the 2019-20 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.

Ethan Wright is also quite familiar with Yale, having played for Princeton from 2018-20 and 2021-22 (the Ivy League did not compete in 2020-21). Wright’s Princeton teams were 1-7 against the Bullodgs in those three season.

THE SERIES: This will be the fourth meeting between Colorado and Yale with the Buffaloes holding a 2-1 series edge. It is the first meeting since a 70-59 Colorado win on Dec. 29, 2009, in Boulder. Yale’s lone win in over the Buffaloes came on Dec. 27, 1952 in Kansas City. The Bulldogs were the eighth team in the 1952 edition of the Big Seven Christmas Tournament and defeated the Buffaloes 56-54 in a first round game.

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November 22nd 

… CU in the Arena … 

Struggling Buffs not taking time off – Boyle: “We need to practice” 

From the Daily Camera … A few weeks ago, Boyle considered giving his club a few days’ rest after the long trip, given the Buffs have a full week to prepare for a Sunday home date against Yale (1 p.m., Pac-12 Network). Not anymore. The Buffs traveled back to Colorado on Monday, and when they reconvene on Tuesday, Boyle promised it will be time to roll up their sleeves.

“We need to practice,” Boyle said. “We have not had an opportunity to practice on this trip, and it shows. We’ve got to practice. We’ll travel back (Monday). I thought about, depending on how this trip went, giving them a little extra time this week. We’re not in school. It’s time to rock and roll. It’s time to get back in that gym and get after it.

“Tuesday’s practice, we’re going to hook it up. We’re going to hook it up. Our guys are going to get tougher or I might have to get to a five-man rotation.”

In each of CU’s three losses, the opposition shot at least 51% in the first half, forcing the Buffs to play catch-up after halftime. The Buffs hope the upcoming run of six of seven games at home straightens out their shooting touch. CU shot lights-out in the win against Texas A&M (.576 overall, 16-for-32 on 3-pointers). But in the other four games during the trip, the Buffs shot just .250 (23-for-92) from long range.

CU also needs the week’s respite from competition to get healthy. Starting forward J’Vonne Hadley missed the past two games after suffering a right shoulder injury and is set to be re-evaluated in Boulder. Forward Tristan da Silva took a shot to the head early in the second half against Boise State and did not return while dealing with what Boyle described as a migraine issue. And while point guard KJ Simpson returned to the action after getting his right ankle rolled late against Boise State, at first glance it appeared to be the sort of ailment that could bother him more in the coming days than it did while he was still loose and full of adrenaline.

Continue reading story here

 

 

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November 20th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs fall to 3-3 after losing 68-55 to Boise State – Tad Boyle: “We got out-toughed, we got out-hustled, we got out-executed and we got out-coached”

From CUBuffs.com … Consistency continued to evade Colorado on Sunday, as the Buffaloes dropped a 68-55 decision to Boise State in the fifth-place game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs, who fell to 3-3, have now followed a win-loss-win-loss pattern for the first six games of the season. Inexplicably, the Buffs are now 2-0 against top 25 teams and 1-3 against unranked opponents.

Boise State improved to 3-2.

The Buffs fell behind early against the Broncos and never recovered. Boise State led by as much as 11 in the first half, held an eight-point edge at intermission and never allowed the Buffs to come closer than six throughout the second half.

KJ Simpson led CU in scoring with 14 points but was the only Buff in double figures. CU shot just 36 percent from the floor, including a dismal 4-for-20 effort from 3-point range.

Marcus Shaver Jr. led BSU with 20 points. While the Broncos finished just 39 percent from the floor, it was their 52 percent effort in the first half (17-for-33, including seven 3-pointers) that made the difference.

Boyle, who watched his team dismantle No. 24 Texas A&M just two days earlier, 103-75, was understandably irate after the loss. CU has now dropped three games to unranked foes — Grambling State, UMass and Boise State while collecting wins over UC Riverside, No. 11 Tennessee and the No. 24 Aggies.

“Our players disrespected the Colorado uniform,” Boyle told KOA radio. “Every former player should be disappointed and embarrassed with the way these guys represented any former player who wore this uniform. We got out-toughed, we got out-hustled, we got out-executed and we got out-coached. I’m doing an absolutely awful job with this team and I thank God we get to go home and get some practice time. I’m telling you, Tuesday’s going to be a hell of a practice for us.”

Buffs looking for back-to-back wins in first-ever game against Boise State

… Tipoff v. Boise State at 5:00 p.m., MT, ESPNews … 

From the Daily Camera … It still has been less than two full weeks since CU opened the season with a home win against UC Riverside. Since then, the Buffs have posted a pair of wins against top-25 foes in a five-day span, first against then-No. 11 Tennessee in Nashville, and then routing No. 24 Texas A&M on Friday. Ahead of each of those wins, however, CU suffered a pair of bad losses, first at Grambling State and then in the Myrtle Beach opener on Thursday against UMass.

As it stands, the victories probably will rank as better wins than the defeats were bad losses. But that won’t be the case if the early up-and-down trend continues.

It still has been less than two full weeks since CU opened the season with a home win against UC Riverside. Since then, the Buffs have posted a pair of wins against top-25 foes in a five-day span, first against then-No. 11 Tennessee in Nashville, and then routing No. 24 Texas A&M on Friday. Ahead of each of those wins, however, CU suffered a pair of bad losses, first at Grambling State and then in the Myrtle Beach opener on Thursday against UMass.

As it stands, the victories probably will rank as better wins than the defeats were bad losses. But that won’t be the case if the early up-and-down trend continues.

Read full story here

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November 18th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Jekyll and Hyde: Buffs follow stunning loss to UMass with a dominating 103-75 win over No. 24 Texas A&M 

From CUBuffs.comTad Boyle‘s Colorado Buffaloes have developed an interesting pattern this year — lose when favored, then knock off a ranked team in their next outing.

The Buffs completed the pattern for the second time in this young season Friday, bouncing back from an opening loss to UMass in the Myrtle Beach Invitational to collect a 103-75 win over No. 24 Texas A&M in the consolation bracket.

The Buffaloes used a career-best 30 points from guard KJ Simpson to improve to 3-2 with the win while the Aggies dropped to 2-2.

CU’s win over the Aggies came just five days after CU’s 78-66 victory over No. 11 Tennessee — which came on the heels of a surprising loss to Grambling State.

The Buffs were once again a different team than the squad that lost its previous outing.

CU jumped on the Aggies early and never let up, building a 54-33 lead at intermission and extending the cushion to as much as 33 in the second half. CU hit 10 3-pointers in the first period after finishing with just six in the entire game against UMass and also had 14 assists in the opening period.

Simpson was one of four Buffs in double figures, shooting 11-for-17 from the floor (4-for-8 from 3-point range) to finish with 30 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists. Ethan Wright added 15 points — all on 3-pointers — while Javon Ruffin had 14 points and Nique Clifford chipped in 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado used a 15-2 run midway through the first half to take control and never let the Aggies back in the game.

Ethan Wright started the surge with his first of two 3-pointers and KJ Simpson had seven points in the run as Colorado turned a 14-12 deficit into a 27-16 lead with 8:24 to play in the half.

The Buffs continued to build the lead the rest of the half, extending the margin to as much as 24 down the stretch. CU hit six 3-pointers in the final five minutes of the period, with Javon RuffinJalen GabbidonNique Clifford, Simpson and Wright all delivering from long distance.

Wright’s third 3-pointer of the half gave Colorado a 24-point lead before the Aggies collected a trey with 25 seconds left in the half to cut the Buffs’ lead to 54-33 at the break.

Colorado shot 18-for-31 from the floor in the first half, including a 10-for-19 effort from long range. The Buffs finished with 14 assists in the first period, with five different Buffs having at least two.

Colorado’s defense, meanwhile, held the Aggies to 10-for-28 shooting.\ and the Buffs also had a 19-11 edge on the boards.

The Buffs didn’t let up in the second half. Colorado pushed its lead to 30 midway through the period and never let the Aggies mount anything that resembled a serious comeback down the stretch.

TURNING POINT: Colorado trailed 14-12 early, but used a 15-2 run to take a 27-16 lead, then built the margin to 13 two minutes later and the Aggies never closed the gap to single digits again.

NEXT UP: The Buffs will play in the fifth place game Sunday at 5 p.m.

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November 17th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs Giveth; Buffs Taketh Away: CU falls to UMass, 66-63

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado rallied late but could not completely overcome an 11-point second half deficit Thursday as the Buffaloes dropped a 66-63 decision to Massachusetts in the first round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs fell to 2-2 with the loss while UMass improved to 2-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado trailed 37-34 at the break, then watched UMass take control midway through the second half with an 11-0 run. The Buffs endured an 0-for-9 stretch from the floor that produced a five-minute scoring drought and UMass turned a 47-47 tie into a 58-47 lead with 7:31 to play.

But Colorado slowly whittled away at the lead. CU used a 6-0 run to pull within 61-58 with 4:12 left to play and still trailed by just five, 62-58, with just more than three minutes remaining.

Colorado missed several opportunities to close the gap over the next two minutes before UMass finally pushed its lead to seven, 65-58, with 1:26 left to play.

But the Buffaloes quickly answered with a Tristan da Silva 3-pointer and CU trailed by just four, 65-61, with 1:17 still to play.

Colorado then cut the deficit to just two with under a minute to play on a da Silva fadeaway, then missed an opportunity to take the lead seconds later when a da Silva 3-pointer drew iron.

Following a Noah Fernandes free throw that pushed the Minutemen’s lead back to three, 66-63, the Buffs missed two 3-point tries in the final seconds to hand UMass the win.

CU shot just 11-for-37 from the field in the second half and just 4-for-9 from the free throw line.

The Buffs started the game quickly, hitting six of their first eight shots to take a 13-7 lead less than five minutes in. Julian Hammond III had a 3-pointer early and KJ Simosn had four points to help Colorado push ahead early.

But the Minutemen responded with a 7-0 run, aided by two Colorado turnovers, and the game became a see-saw affair the rest of the half. The first period featured eight ties and 12 lead changes.

The Buffs didn’t help their cause on the offensive end. CU hit just eight of its final 28 field goal tries of the half while the Minutemen warmed up. UMass finished the first half 16-for-30 from the field and Colorado trailed, 37-34, at the break.

Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson led CU with eight points apiece in the first 20 minutes. The Minutemen got a big boost from guards RJ Luis and Noah Fernandes, with Luis scoring 13 off the bench and Fernandes adding 11.

Buffs taking on UMass at Myrtle Beach Classic (11:30 a.m., MT, ESPNU)

From the Daily Camera … It is just the second week of the season, but in a 40-hour span last week the Buffs may have learned a crucial lesson that could serve them well in Myrtle Beach and beyond. The effort, particularly on defense, simply wasn’t there at Grambling, and the Buffs lost against a less talented but far hungrier team.

The opposite was the case on Sunday. The talent gap between CU and the Vols may not have been quite as wide as between Grambling and the Buffs, but the energy and intensity on display during the win in Nashville should serve notice the Buffs have the ability to defeat anybody on their schedule — assuming they hit the floor with that same energy and intensity every night.

“We talk a lot about how you’re going to respond, how you’re going to handle adversity,” Wright said. “We’re now three games into the season, but we’ve got a lot of season left. We’re going to be in tough spots. There’s going to be in games on the road where there’s not a lot of people in the gym, not a lot of energy, and you’ve got to come in with the same mindset every game.

“What coach says a lot that we really have to resonate is we have to respect everybody but fear nobody. He said we didn’t respect Grambling going in and we took that game for granted. But we didn’t fear Tennessee and responded. That’s kind of what the season’s about, is responding. I think we’re going to have a much better mindset going into every game and it’s going to be a great lesson for us going down the line.”

Game Notes …

ABOUT THE MINUTEMEN: UMass is 1-1 overall, splitting a pair of home games last week. The Minutemen defeated Central Connecticut State 94-67, on Nov. 7, but then fell to Towson State, 67-55, on November 10th. UMass is shooting 45 percent from the floor and 36 percent from the 3-point line over its first two games.

Forward Isaac Kante has led the Minutemen in scoring averaging 13.0 points over the first two games while shooting 71.4 percent from the field (10-14). Dyondre Dominguez is averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 69.2 percent (9-13). Senior guard Noah Fernandes, a Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Second Team pick, is averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Frank Martin is in his first season as the head coach at UMass. He is in his 16th year overall as an NCAA Divison I head coach, with stops at Kansas State (2007-12) and South Carolina (2012-22).

THE SERIES: This will be the fourth meeting between Colorado and UMass with the Minutemen holding a 2-1 series edge. All three previous games have been on a neutral floor. The Buffaloes lone win was in the Third Place game of the 1991 NIT, Colorado took a 98-81 decision to end its season at Madison Square Garden. The last meeting was a 79-68 UMass decision on Dec. 20, 1997, in Las Vegas.

PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS: Colorado has won eight preseason tournaments – also called MTE’s or multi-team events – most recently the 2019 MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas by defeating Wyoming (56-41) and Clemson (71-67).

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November 15th

… CU at the Arena … 

CU picks up a commitment from four-star 6’10” power forward Assane Diop from Lakewood 

Rivals bio … (four-stars, No. 21 power forward in the nation, chose CU over Seton Hall and Arkansas. Diop had other offers from Kansas, Texas A&M, Illinois, Memphis and Kansas State) … 247 Sports bio … No. 13 center in the country; No. 2 overall player out of Colorado; No. 92 player nationally … Also showing offers from Auburn, BYU, Illinois, and Mississippi State …

From the Daily Camera … It was a jam-packed week of news for the Colorado men’s basketball team. And it was only the opening week.

Since the Buffaloes began the season with a win against UC Riverside, fans have celebrated the signing of a top-25 prospect in Cody Williams, endured an ugly loss, and watched a dramatic lineup shakeup lead to a big-time victory away from home. Oh yeah, and CU’s KJ Simpson won the season’s first Pac-12 Player of the Week award.

On Tuesday, the headlines kept coming.

The Buffs added to the excitement they have built on the recruiting trail by securing the commitment of Denver big man Assane Diop, who announced his decision on Tuesday afternoon during a press conference in Lakewood. The addition of Diop also left head coach Tad Boyle, now in his 13th season at CU, in a unique position regarding the construction of his roster.

The 6-foot-10 Diop is listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports but is a four-star in the 247Sports composite rankings. His weight is unclear — 247Sports has Diop listed at 210, while a release sent late last week on the behalf of his club, Accelerated Prep, lists Diop at 190. Regardless, his commitment adds to a 2023 class that should make a heavy impact immediately at CU.

247Sports has Diop ranked as the No. 2 recruit in Colorado and No. 132 nationally.

Diop’s commitment arrives six days after the Buffs landed Williams, the brother of the 12th pick in this year’s NBA draft, Jalen Williams, and the No. 21 prospect in the nation, per 247Sports. The Buffs also landed 6-foot-5 Courtney Anderson Jr., an athletic combo guard out of the Bay Area whose father is a former NFL tight end.

Continue reading story here

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November 14th

… CU in the Arena … 

K.J. Simpson named Pac-12 Player of the Week

From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado sophomore guard KJ Simpson has been named the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his efforts during the league’s opening week, the conference office announced on Monday.

Simpson, a native of West Hills, Calif., averaged 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in three games last week. He shot 41 percent from the field (17-42) and 72 percent from the free throw line (13-18).

Simpson recorded his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Buffaloes to a 78-66 win over then No. 11 ranked Tennessee on Nov. 13. Both figures were career highs for Simpson as was his seven field goals made. Coming off the bench, he had 15 points, seven rebounds and hit 7 of 9 free throws in the second half alone.

An honorable mention to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team, Simpson also led the Buffaloes in the Grambling State game, on Nov. 11, with 16 points and a season-high four assists. He scored 14 points on 50 percent shooting (5-10), with three assists and two steals in the opener against UC Riverside on Nov. 7.

The Player of the Week honor is the first for Simpson, and first for Colorado since McKinley Wright IV on March 1, 2021, his last of four that season. Simpson was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in 2021-22. Simpson was a two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in 2021-22.

CU “receiving votes” in latest AP Top 25 poll

From ESPN

Rising

Illinois (2-0) had the biggest jump, climbing four spots to No. 19 after two easy home wins. No. 14 Arizona and No. 21 Dayton each rose three spots. In all, 12 teams moved up from the preseason poll.

Sliding

Tennessee (1-1) took the biggest tumble, falling 11 spots to No. 22 after losing to Colorado in its home state.

Kansas — which fell out of the voting tie at No. 5 — Creighton and No. 15 TCU fell one spot each to round out the four teams that slid from their preseason rankings.

Status quo

Seven teams, all inside the top 10, held their preseason position.

Welcome

No. 24 Texas A&M and No. 25 Connecticut are the week’s new additions. The Huskies spent most of last season in the AP Top 25, and the Aggies joined the poll for the first time under fourth-year coach Buzz Williams. Texas A&M was last ranked in February 2018, a season that ended with an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.

Farewell (for now)

Oregon (No. 21) joined Villanova as the other team to fall out from the preseason poll. The Ducks opened with a home win against Florida A&M but lost at home to UC Irvine four days later.
First-place votes in parentheses:
1. North Carolina (44)
2. Gonzaga (14)
3. Houston (2)
4. Kentucky (3)
5. Baylor
5. Kansas
7. Duke
8. UCLA – same as last week
9. Arkansas
10. Creighton
11. Texas
12. Indiana
13. Auburn
14. Arizona – up three spots
15. TCU
16. Virginia
17. San Diego St.
18. Alabama
19. Illinois
20. Michigan
21. Dayton
22. Tennessee – down 11 spots 
23. Texas Tech
24. Texas A&M
25. UConn

Others receiving votes: Michigan State 119, Purdue 104, Villanova 96, Miami 61, Saint Louis 47, Xavier 44, Oregon 36, Iowa 36, Ohio State 36, Memphis 20, Virginia Tech 13, Colorado 11, Arizona State 9, Toledo 8, Rutgers 8, Saint Mary’s 7, Florida 5, Grambling 4, UC Irvine 4, Seton Hall 3, Penn State 1

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November 13th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Upset! Buffs knock off No. 11 Tennessee on the road, 78-66

From CUBuffs.com … Less than 48 hours after a shocking loss at Grambling, Tad Boyle‘s Colorado Buffaloes bounced back in a big way Sunday with a 78-66 win over No. 11 Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena.

The Buffs improved to 2-1 with the win on what was technically a neutral floor but in front of a crowd of 12,482 dominated by Tennessee fans. They saw their Volunteers fall to 1-1.

The victory was Colorado’s first over a ranked team away from home since beating No. 13 Dayton early in the 2019-20 season. It was also the highest-ranked team CU has beaten away from home since the Buffs beat No. 6 Missouri in the 1990 Big Eight tournament.

Sophomore guard KJ Simpson led Colorado with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double — both career highs — while Tristan da Silva added 14 points and J’Vonne Hadley had five points and 10 rebounds.

Josiah-Jordan James and Tyreke Key each scored 15 for the Volunteers.

The Buffs were a completely different team than the bunch that dropped an 83-74 decision at Grambling in a lackluster performance Friday. CU played with energy from the outset and trailed by two at the half, then turned on the offensive jets and kept the defensive pressure on after halftime to secure the win. Colorado took a 39-38 lead on a Jalen Gabbidon 3-pointer early in the second half and never trailed again. CU built its cushion to as much as 14 down the stretch.

After allowing Grambling to shoot 50 percent from the floor, the Buffs held Tennessee to 25 percent shooting (16-for-63), including a 10-for-37 effort from 3-point range. The Buffs also had a dominant 47-38 edge on the boards and while they committed 19 turnovers, they actually outscored Tennessee in points off turnovers, 16-14.

Colorado’s big edge came in the paint, where the Buffs outscored the Vols 34-10. CU’s bench also outscored their Tennessee counterparts, 52-34.

“We really got after them defensively,” Boyle said. “The grit and toughness our guys showed was great. We beat a very good basketball team.”

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado trailed by two at the half before using an 8-0 run early in the second period to take a 42-38 lead. Gabbidon and Julian Hammond III both hit 3-pointers to fuel the surge.

The Buffs then slowly built their edge, getting solid play on the defensive end and good ball movement on offense. An Ethan Wright 3-pointer pushed the Buffs’ edge to 49-45 with just under 13 minutes to play and two Simpson free throws four minutes later gave Colorado a 55-48 edge.

Simpson scored 15 of his points in the second half while da Silva had 10 of his after intermission.

“A lot of us were disappointed after Grambling,” Simpson said. “Coach was really disappointed. My job as a leader of this team is to set the tone. It’s all about a tough mindset.”

The Buffs continued to maintain their defensive pressure over the final minutes. With eight minutes remaining, Colorado held a 57-50 edge and Tennessee was just 5-for-20 from the floor in the period.

After a timeout, the Buffs’ offense truly caught fire, putting together a 9-0 run to build a 14-point lead.

Simpson started the run with a pair of layups. Hammond followed with another drive to the bucket. Da Silva then drained a 3-pointer from the top off an assist from Lawson Lovering to give Colorado a 66-52 cushion with just under five minutes to play.

“That three was really the dagger,” Boyle said.

Continue reading story here

Buffs face challenge in taking on No. 11 Tennessee: “We’ve got to put Grambling behind us”

From the Daily Camera … For CU, coming off a ragged and disjointed loss at Grambling State on Friday in the first game of a five-game road trip, the Buffs will have to get much better in a hurry to put up a fight against the 11th-ranked Volunteers.

“We’ve got to use (Grambling) as a learning experience, learn from our mistakes that we made,” CU’s Nique Clifford said. “We have a tough opponent on Sunday in Tennessee, so we’ve got to put (Grambling) behind us, learn from it, and move on to the next one and get ready.”

Early in the 2020-21 season, the Buffs faced a sudden void in their schedule when virus issues canceled the rivalry game against Colorado State. At the time, former CU assistant Kim English was an assistant at Tennessee, and he conspired with former Buffs guard Nate Tomlinson, then CU’s director of player development, to set up not only a replacement matchup that week, but a three-game series.

Game Notes … 

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado is 1-1 on the season after falling at Grambling State as part of the Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Series on Nov. 11th. The Buffaloes opened its 120th season of varsity men’s basketball with an 82-66 win over UC Riverside on Nov. 7 at the CU Events Center. It’s the first time in seven seasons the Buffaloes didn’t start with wins in their first two contests.

Colorado has had scoring balance with four players in double-digits in both games. Sophomore guard KJ Simpson is averaging a team-best 15.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. Simpson led the Buffaloes against Grambling State with 16 points and four assists.

Junior J’Vonne Hadley is leading the Buffaloes on the boards at 8.0 per game and is second in scoring (14.0 ppg) while shooting 50 percent from the field. Hadley led Colorado in the opener with 16 points and eight rebounds.

ABOUT THE VOLS: Tennessee is 1-0 overall, defeating Tennessee Tech, 75-43, in its home opener. The Volunteers are ranked No. 11 in both the Associated Press and Ferris Mowers Coaches Preseason Polls.

Tyreke Key led Tennessee in the opener with 17 points, hitting 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Zakai Zeigler had 12 points and dished out five of Tennessee’s 21 assists. Santiago Vescovi had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Tennessee was picked third in the Preseason SEC Media Poll.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the fifth meeting between Colorado and Tennessee. The Volunteers have won all four previous meetings including a 69-54 decision in Boulder on Dec. 4, 2021.

Colorado is 70-118 against current SEC schools, which looks odd, but a 55-96 all-time record vs. Missouri factors into that. Remove the Tigers, and Texas A&M (series tied 9-9), the Buffaloes are 6-13 against the rest of the SEC.

Continue reading story here

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November 11th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs embarrassed on the road, falling to Grambling State, 83-74

From the Daily Camera … A long road trip just became much more daunting for the Colorado men’s basketball team.

Unable to slow hot-shooting Grambling State while giving away far too many first half turnovers, the Buffaloes began a five-game trip with an 83-74 loss on Friday night.

A surprisingly sparse crowd greeted the Buffs at the Hobdy Assembly Center, but Grambling put on a shooting clinic for the Tigers fans that showed up. Grambling torched the CU defense for a .500 overall shooting percentage with a 7-for-17 mark on 3-pointers. The Tigers spent the bulk of the night over the 50% mark.

CU (1-1) wasn’t much better offensively, or on the glass. CU shot just 5-for-21 from long range, and the Buffs’ 11 first-half turnovers led to 14 points for Grambling, which led 46-32 at the break. The Tigers at one point led by 19 points. CU finished with 19 turnovers.

The Buffs cut the deficit to nine on several occasions in the second half but couldn’t get any closer until a seven-point deficit in the waning minutes.

KJ Simpson shot just 5-for-16 but led the Buffs with 16 points. Nique Clifford was one of the few bright spots offensively, going 7-for-12 with 15 points.

Grambling State is CU’s first opponent in the “Legacy Series” 

From the Daily Camera … The agreement between the Pac-12 and the HBCUs of the SWAC has been dubbed the “Legacy Series,” and CU’s game at Grambling will be the first road game for a Pac-12 club in the inaugural round of games. Oregon topped Florida A&M on opening night on Monday, and USC rebounded from its opening night loss against Florida Gulf Coast by defeating Alabama State 96-58 on Thursday night. Arizona also hosts a Legacy Series game on Friday night against Southern.

The final Legacy Series games on the men’s side will be road games for the Pac-12 teams, with Arizona State visiting Texas Southern on Sunday, followed by Washington State at Prairie View A&M on Tuesday. Grambling State is set to visit CU next season.

Cutting KJ turnovers

KJ Simpson’s debut as CU’s starting point guard followed a similar blueprint in the exhibition win against Nebraska as well as the season-opening win on Monday against UC Riverside. Simpson’s up-tempo pace and ability to share the ball helped the Buffs get off to quick starts in both contests, but he ultimately finished with an identical below-par ratio of three assists against four turnovers each time.

“That’s something I’ve obviously been working on a lot,” Simpson said. “I spent a huge amount of time in the offseason watching film, just coming in the gym and working strictly on passes, ball-handling. But the turnovers, I take full responsibility for that. I know as the season goes on I can’t be doing that stuff. Especially with a year of experience and my role being much bigger than what it was last year. I just have to cut down on that, and I will.”

Continue reading story here

Game Notes … 

OPENERS: Colorado tipped off its 120th season of varsity men’s basketball with an 82-66 win over UC Riverside on Nov. 7 at the CU Events Center. Colorado improved to 85-35 (.708) in all-time season openers and has won its last seven. The Buffaloes are 11-2 under head coach Tad Boyle and 38-5 in overall season openers since 1980-81.

The Buffaloes are 96-24 (.800) all-time in home openers, have won their last 15 and 21 of their last 22. Boyle’s teams are 13-0 in home openers.

NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 111-34 (.766) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including a 64-17 mark (.790) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season. Colorado is 83-7 (.922) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 6-1 mark in postseason action.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Grambling State opened its season with an 82-57 home win over UNT-Dallas on Nov. 7. Carte’are Gordon led the Grambling State effort with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Shawndarius Cowart and Terrence Lewis had 13 points each while Zahad Munford had 10 points off the bench.

Grambling State was picked to finish sixth in the SWAC Preseason poll. Cameron Christian was selected to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team.

THE SERIES: This is the second all-time meeting between Colorado and Grambling State. The Buffaloes won the first meeting, 93-47, on Dec. 29, 2007, in Boulder. Colorado is 13-0 all-time against the Southwest Athletic Conference. This will be the Buffaloes’ first road game with a SWAC opponent.

Continue with Game Notes here

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November 10th

… CU in the Arena … 

CU’s two-week, five-game road trip begins Friday v. Grambling (6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+, Pac-12 Networks)

From the Daily Camera … Make no mistake, this is a business trip for the Colorado men’s basketball team. A long one, sure, but a business trip nonetheless.

However, it will begin with a few historical and cultural lessons.

After opening the season with a solid home win against UC Riverside, and then celebrating the addition of five-star recruit Cody Williams on national signing day, the Buffaloes begin a two-week, five-game trip on Friday night in the program’s first visit to Grambling State University.

The matchup is part of the inaugural round of games in the Legacy Series, an offseason agreement made between the Pac-12 Conference and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Buffs likely will face a raucous environment, as the Tigers are hosting a power conference foe for the first time. But the day also will begin with a visit to the Eddie G. Robinson museum, which honors the contributions, on and off the field, of Grambling’s legendary former football coach.

It will offer a few teaching points to start an extended trip in which keeping up with class work will be just one of the items testing the Buffs’ focus.

“We sat down maybe a few days ago and learned some of the history of HBCUs, so we have that knowledge going into this trip,” said CU wing Nique Clifford, a Colorado Springs native. “We know how much it means for us to go on this trip and learn a lot of history off the court. So that’s going to be a really cool experience, just being able to see their culture, see their campus and see how different it is from where we are every day. I’m definitely excited about that piece of it.”

Continue reading story here

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November 9th

… CU in the Arena … 

Cody Williams: “It was about putting all the fancy stuff, the glitz and glamour aside and getting into the nitty gritty about what was the best for me”

From 247 Sports … “For me the only thing I was looking at was the best fit for me and what was going to help me reach my goals,” said Williams. “The name, the NIL, all of that stuff is cool but at the end of the day if I pick the right school and do what I’m supposed to do then God willing I will be making 10x more than I would from NIL at any school. So it was about putting all the fancy stuff, the glitz and glamour aside and getting into the nitty gritty about what was the best for me.”

Right about now Colorado fans are racing to find out all they can about Williams and they should. He’s a big wing who is skilled, handles the ball extremely well and is very capable playmaker for others. His own scouting report of what he can bring to the table in Boulder is pretty much dead on.

“I think a big thing is versatility,” said Williams. “With my size, length and quickness I can defend multiple positions and then I’m unselfish so I look to move the ball. I like to find my teammates. Then I bring a threat offensively because I can see the floor, I like to shoot it which is something I’m still improving on.”

… “The people of Colorado should know that I’m bringing energy and that each time I step on the floor I’m going to be giving it all that I’ve got and if they see me around campus to say hi, I don’t bite, most of the time,” said Williams.

“Really on becoming a lockdown defender,” said Williams when asked what he’s working on the most. “I have the physical attributes to become a lockdown defender so I’ve been working very hard on that. Then being a more consistent shooter. I’m trying to get to the point where if I’m left open or if I have a catch and shoot everybody knows it’s going in. Those are the biggest things.”

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CU receives a commitment from five-star forward Cody Williams (the highest-rated CU signing in the Rivals era, which dates back to 2002)

From ESPN … Five-star senior Cody Williams committed to Colorado on Wednesday, giving the Buffaloes their first five-star men’s basketball prospect in at least 15 years.

Williams chose Tad Boyle’s program over LSU, although Arizona, UCLA and USC, among others, also recruited him.

“The program and the players are very connected, and they have built a great culture,” Williams told ESPN. “I see myself as part of it. I love the staff and Coach Boyle. When Coach Boyle tells you something, you know it is the truth whether it’s on or off the court. It is to help you. He is a very genuine person.”

Williams is the younger brother of Jalen Williams, the Santa Clara star who came out of nowhere to be selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the lottery of last year’s NBA draft.

“My brother was a tremendous help with the process,” he said. “He told me what to look for in a program. A place I would fit, play, and learn. I see myself achieving my goals in Colorado. Playing in the NCAA tournament, being one of the top freshmen in the country and someday in the NBA. I plan to take everything one step at a time.”

A 6-foot-8 small forward from Perry High School (Arizona), Williams is ranked No. 14 in the ESPN 100 for the 2023 class — slotting in as the No. 3 small forward in the country. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 24 games with Vegas Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer.

Williams is Colorado’s first five-star recruit since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007 and the Buffaloes’ first ESPN 100 commitment since the 2021 class. He joins four-star guard Courtney Anderson, who picked Colorado earlier in the fall.

From CUSportsReport … Colorado has scored a major recruiting win on the first day of the early signing period. Wednesday, four-star wing Cody Williams  announced his commitment to the Buffaloes over a host of other offers including LSU, Arizona, UCLA, Georgia Tech, USC and many others.

Williams is now the highest-rated prospect to sign with Tad Boyle’s program in the Rivals era, which goes back to 2002.

The versatile 6-foot-8 wing from Gilbert, Arizona took his time with the recruiting process before settling in on several official visits throughout the summer and fall. CU was one of the first schools to get him out on a visit in the summer when he visited Boulder in August.

He then made trips to LSU, Arizona and USC before zeroing in on his decision.

Williams, who is the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Jalen Williams, took a unique path through the recruiting process after watching his brother become a lottery pick after playing at Santa Clara. Ultimately, what he valued was finding the right fit over anything else.

The four-star prospect, who ranks No. 42 overall in the Rivals rankings, wants to make an immediate impact and CU was one of the programs that will allow him to do that.

“For me, it doesn’t matter where I go. It’s the best fit for me. Whichever place can help develop me and get me to where I see myself going, that’s kind of the factor for me. So it doesn’t matter where I go as long as I can be the best player I can be,” he told CU Sports Report.

Continue reading story here

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November 7th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs take care of business with 82-66 opening win over UC-Riverside

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado produced balanced scoring and the Buffaloes received some solid performances from their newcomers Monday as CU opened the season with an 82-66 win over UC Riverside at the CU Events Center.

The Buffs built a double-digit lead midway through the first half, held a 46-28 edge at the half and never let the Highlanders come closer than 10 in the second half.

The Buffs finished with four players in double figures, led by a 15-point effort from junior college transfer J’Vonne Hadley, who just missed a double-double in his CU debut, finishing with nine rebounds. Point guard KJ Simpson scored 14 and Tristan da Silva and Jalen Gabbidon each added 12 to the CU effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado led early, 10-5, before the Highlanders put together a 10-4 run to take a 15-14 lead with 11:13 to play in the first half.

But the Buffs quickly righted themselves after a timeout, putting together a 14-0 run to take control. Nique Clifford had a 3-pointer early in the surge, Tristan da Silva added another triple three possessions later and Jalen Gabbidon wrapped it up with a second-chance bucket and free throw to give Colorado a 28-15 edge with 7:46 still to play in the half.

The Buffs then maintained their double-digit edge the rest of the half, building it to as much as 19 (45-26) before heading into intermission with a 46-28 edge.

Colorado finished the first half with 10 assists on 19 baskets while forcing nine UCR turnovers on the defensive end that led to 15 CU points. The Buffs used 10 different players in the first half, with nine breaking into the scoring column.

CU pushed its cushion to 21 early in the second half before UCR made a brief run with an 8-0 surge to pull within 55-42, prompting a Boyle timeout.

The Buffs then responded by stopping the Highlanders run and built the lead back into the 20s. UCR managed to cut Colorado’s cushion back down to 10 in the final minutes but could never come closer.

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Game Notes … Colorado is 84-35 (.706) in all-time season openers and has won its last six. The Buffaloes are 10-2 under head coach Tad Boyle and 37-5 in overall season openers since 1980-81.

The Buffaloes are 95-24 (.798) all-time in home openers, have won their last 14 and 20 of their last 21. Boyle’s teams are 12-0 in home openers.

NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 110-34 (.764) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including a 63-17 mark (.788) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season. Colorado is 82-7 (.932) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 6-1 mark in postseason action.

NOVEMBER ‘REIGN’: Since the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Colorado is tied with Arkansas for the best winning percentage in the month of November in NCAA Division I. The Buffaloes have won 16 of their last 17, the only blemish coming last season against Southern Illinois in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS: UC Riverside begins its 21st season at the NCAA Division I level on Monday against the Buffaloes. The Highlanders out of the Big West Conference were 16-12 a year ago, finishing sixth in the league race at 9-6. UC Riverside had a notable nonconference win at Arizona State on a buzzer beating 3-pointer last season.

All-Big West guard Zyon Pullin led UCR at 14.3 points and 4.3 assists per game last season.

UCR defeated CSU Dominguez Hills 94-79 in its lone exhibition game on Oct. 28. Flynn Cameron led the Highlanders with 21 points, shooting 7 of 15 from the field. Kyle Owens, a transfer from Montana, had 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting along with a team-best nine rebounds. The Highlanders are picked to finish fifth in the 2022-23 race according to the Big West Preseason Poll.

Read full Game Notes here

Buffs open season at home against UC-Riverside: “We’re not going to play a perfect game”

From the Daily Camera … As far as motivational speeches go, Tad Boyle wasn’t exactly spouting win-one-for-the-Gipper material as Colorado honed in on its men’s basketball season opener.

By no means is Boyle bracing for the worst when the Buffaloes begin their 120th season of varsity basketball at home on Monday night against UC Riverside. But, even as they harbor expectations of outplaying the bulk of their preseason projections, there is an admission the Buffs will be a work in progress — particularly during an early slate featuring the start of a two-week road trip later this week.

“We’re not going to play a perfect game on Monday, I’ve got news for you,” Boyle said. “We’re going to make mistakes. We’ve got to play through mistakes. We’ve got to not get your head down when mistakes happen. And let the chips fall where they may.”

Although the Buffs impressed during a dress rehearsal last week against Nebraska, posting a 71-62 exhibition win, Monday’s opener marks the official debut of a Buffs squad balanced equally between veterans who have developed within the program and newcomers expecting to give CU a deep and balanced rotation.

Continue reading story here

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October 30th 

… CU in the Arena … 

CU jumps to 10-0 lead, handles Nebraska 72-61 in exhibition

Head coach Tad Boyle, KJ Simpson and J’Vonne Hadley discuss win over Nebraska …

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October 26th 

CU picked to finish 6th in Pac-12 Preseason media poll

From the Pac-12 … For the third consecutive preseason, UCLA has been chosen the favorite to win the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball title in a vote of 33 media members who cover the league and announced prior to the league’s 2022 Media Day on Wednesday.

The preseason No. 8 nationally ranked Bruins, who received 26-of-33 first-place votes, return four of their top seven scorers from a team that finished runner-up in the Pac-12 regular season and tournament in 2021-22.

Defending champion and No. 17 nationally ranked ARIZONA, which became the first program in Conference history to reach 18 league wins last season, picked up three first-place votes and finished second in the prediction. No. 21 OREGON also garnered a trio of first-place votes to place third, marking the eighth straight polling the Ducks are inside the top 4.

USC, which joined the Bruins and Wildcats in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, was picked fourth. STANFORD collected the final first-place vote and slotted fifth, while COLORADO rounded out the top half of the poll.

Media have correctly picked the Conference winner 17 times in 33 tries, including five times in the Pac-12 era (since 2011-12), while the winner has been accurately chosen in 21 of the 38 all-time preseason votes.

2022-23 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll (First-Place Votes in parentheses)
1. UCLA (26) – 386 pts.
2. Arizona (3) – 352
3. Oregon (3) – 336
4. USC – 300
5. Stanford (1) – 239
6. Colorado – 207
7. Arizona State – 193
8. Washington State – 185
9. Washington – 158
10. Utah – 102
11. California – 69
12. Oregon State – 47

CU 2022-23 Roster … 

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Exp Hometown (High School/Previous School)
0 *Luke O’Brien G 6-8 210 Jr. 2L Littleton, Colo. (Columbine)
1 Julian Hammond III G 6-3 190 So. 1L Denver, Colo. (Cherry Creek)
2 KJ Simpson G 6-2 187 So. 1L West Hills, Calif. (Chaminade)
3 Jalen Gabbidon G 6-5 205 Gr. TR Harrisburg, Pa. (Glenelg Country School/Yale)
5 Quincy Allen G/F 6-8 198 Fr. RS Silver Spring, Md. (Maret School [Washington D.C.])
10 RJ Smith G 6-3 185 Fr. HS Chino, Calif. (Damien)
11 Javon Ruffin G 6-5 195 Fr. RS New Orleans, La. (PHHoenix Prep [Ariz])
13 *J’Vonne Hadley G 6-6 206 Jr. TR St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall/Northeastern/Indian Hills CC)
14 Ethan Wright G 6-4 190 Gr. TR Newton Centre, Mass. (Newton North/Princeton)
15 Amondo Miller, Jr. G/F 6-6 187 Fr. RS Littleton, Colo. (Valor Christian)
23 *Tristan da Silva F 6-9 229 Jr. 2L Munich, Germany (Ludwigsgymnasium Munich)
24 Joe Hurlburt F 6-11 232 Fr. HS Enderlin, N.D. (Enderlin Area)
30 Greg Gerhardt F/C 6-10 212 Fr. HS Superior, Colo. (Monarch/Sunrise Christian (Kan.))
31 Harrison Carrington G/F 6-7 190 Fr. HS Menlo Park, Calif. (Northfield Mount Hermon [Mass.])
32 *Nique Clifford G 6-6 200 Jr. 2L Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Vanguard School)
34 Lawson Lovering C 7-1 231 So. 1L Cheyenne, Wyo. (Central)
41 Cody Mains F 6-8 210 So. 1L Fairfax, Va. (Woodson)
44 Ethan Johnson G 5-11 148 Fr. HS Holyoke, Colo. (Holyoke)
* – Eligible for an additional year due to COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-21 season waiver)

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October 24th

… CU in the Arena … 

Tristan da Silva; K.J. Simpson named to preseason All-Pac-12 teams

From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado junior forward Tristan da Silva was named to the 2022-23 men’s basketball Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team, voted on by media members who cover the league on Monday.

In addition, sophomore guard KJ Simpson earned honorable mention, receiving at least eight media member votes.

A 6-foot, 9-inch forward from Munich, Germany, da Silva is Colorado’s leading returning scorer from a year ago at 9.4 points per game. He ranked second on the team in field goal shooting (.479) and free throw percentage (.797), third in assists (61) and fourth in scoring and rebounding (3.5 rpg). During conference games, da Silva ranked third in 3-point percentage (.477), sixth in free throw percentage (.822) and ninth in overall field goal shooting (.525) on the league leaderboard.

Da Silva was one of five players on the Preseason All-Pac-12 Second Team. There are 10 players on the first team.

Simpson, a 6-2 guard from West Hills, Calif., was an All-Pac-12 Freshman Team selection in 2021-22 after averaging 7.4 points per game and leading the Buffaloes in assists (86) and steals (26). His 86 assists tied for the seventh most in a season by a CU freshman.

2022-23 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team
Tyger Campbell, UCLA
Branden Carlson, Utah
Boogie Ellis, USC
Mouhamed Gueye, Washington State
Harrison Ingram, Stanford
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA
Spencer Jones, Stanford
Drew Peterson, USC
Will Richardson, Oregon
Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona

Second Team
Marcus Bagley, Arizona State
Tristan da Silva, Colorado
DJ Horne, Arizona State
Kerr Kriisa, Arizona
Pelle Larsson, Arizona

Honorable Mention (at least 8 media member votes)
Amari Bailey, UCLA
Oumar Ballo, Arizona
Jaylen Clark, UCLA
Quincy Guerrier, Oregon
K.J. Simpson, Colorado
Kel’el Ware, Oregon

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October 18th

… CU in the Arena … 

ESPN and CBS Sports both have CU pegged for 9th in the Pac-12 

From CBS Sports … Pac-12 Predicted order of finish:

  1. UCLA
  2. Arizona
  3. Oregon
  4. USC
  5. Stanford
  6. Arizona State
  7. Washington
  8. Washington State
  9. Colorado has surpassed 20 wins each of the past four seasons, but the Buffaloes may be challenged to keep that trajectory after losing their top three scorers from last season. Point guard K.J. Simpson made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team last season, and versatile forward Tristan Da Silva enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign. With Ivy League transfer guards Ethan Wright (Princeton) and Jalen Gabbidon (Yale) on board, the Buffs look solid on the perimeter. But sophomore center Lawson Lovering will need to make a big jump on the interior, where Colorado looks a bit lean following the departures of Jabari Walker and Evan Battey.
  10. Utah
  11. California
  12. Oregon State

Read full preview story here

From ESPN … As the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season draws closer, ESPN.com’s panel of experts is predicting the order of finish for the nation’s top conferences. Having already looked at the mid-majors and the American, the focus now shifts to the Pac-12.

There is uncertainty ahead for this league. With both UCLA and USC set to bolt for the Big Ten in 2024 and reports that others schools within the conference could also be looking to move, it’s unclear what the Pac-12 will look like in the coming years, or if it can sustain its standing among the power conferences.

This season in men’s basketball, however, it faces a familiar challenge in the national landscape: This is a top-heavy conference with a couple of teams that seem capable of second-weekend potential. The last time that happened — 2020-2021 — two Pac-12 (Oregon State, USC) teams reached the Elite Eight, and UCLA only missed its chance to play in the title game because of a 30-foot buzzer beater from Gonzaga in the Final Four.

This league might lack last year’s star power, but the returning veterans should contribute to the collective postseason potential of the entire league.

ESPN Pac-12 predicted order of finish … 

  1. UCLA
  2. Arizona
  3. Oregon
  4. USC
  5. Stanford
  6. Arizona State
  7. Washington State
  8. Washington
  9. Colorado 
  10. Utah
  11. California
  12. Oregon State

Read full preview story here

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October 7th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs to hold an open scrimmage before the Cal game

From CUBuffs.com … CU men’s basketball will be hosting an open scrimmage at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Oct. 15th, prior to the football team’s home game against Cal. Admission is free to the public. Doors on the upper concourse will open at 8:45 am. The scrimmage will last about an hour.

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October 5th

… CU in the Arena … 

*Video: Tad Boyle’s Media Day*

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsReport … Boyle: “It’s going to be a fun team to coach … By the end of the season, this team could be very, very dangerous” …

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September 27th

… CU in the Arena … 

CU Basketball opens practices: “We lost some size, but we gained some speed”

From CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado men’s basketball team opened official practice for the 2022-23 season on Monday at the CU Events Center, six weeks from the season opener against UC Riverside.

Between now and then, the Buffaloes will have 30 practices where a lot of questions will be answered. How does Colorado replace Evan Battey’s leadership? Who will become the leading scorer? Leading rebounder? Are the Buffaloes at a size disadvantage? Who is that “X-Factor?”

Time will tell, but for now an early look at some of those storylines.

Energy & Leadership
Energy and leadership have been key components to the culture the Buffaloes have built over the past five years, in large part due to once-in-a-generation players like Battey and McKinley Wright IV. But for the first time in five years, both are gone. The task going forward is figuring out who will step into those roles.

It will be up to the returners to continue to build on that culture and bring along the newcomers. KJ Simpson, a member of the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team a year ago, certainly has the motor and as the point guard should transition into a leadership role.

“Having played with Evan and learning so much from McKinley – I talk to him a lot – I feel like I’ve learned a lot and absorbing their knowledge, I feel like I’m ready to lead as well as with other guys,” Simpson said. “One person doesn’t just lead; the whole team can lead. But I feel like my role as a leader has to step up.”

Juniors Tristan da SilvaLuke O’Brien and Nique Clifford have the most experience within the Colorado locker room and all three are expecting to have increased roles.

Continue reading story here

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157 Replies to “Colorado Basketball – Fall, 2022”

  1. Lambs to the slaughter
    always fun to roast the mutton
    Great ball movement (finally a great TO to assist ratio) Hitting more shots than the mile high covid vaccine day. Tad had to be happy with the D and rebounds too.
    caveat?
    CSU didnt have many above average athletes on the floor.
    We still need PAC wins.
    No excuses
    We know you can do it

  2. Whaddaya know
    30 minutes of hell for ASU from the Buffs in the first half. So you know its possible.
    When ASU came out in the second and tightened their D immensely the Buffs had no answer. They couldnt make any adjustments on offense. Thats on coaching. Bad passing led to an avalanche of turnovers and also a lot of forced shats.
    ASU’s length and superior athleticism was apparent in that regard. Until Tad gets over his guard fetish the Buffs will be at a disadvantage in the paint against a number of teams. Hopefully Allen will finally be able to get on the court and relieve some of this front line pain. He is supposed to be a superior athlete.
    Until then the Buffs better continue to hit the 3’s but you know that always will not be the case.

  3. Can some answer the Quincy Allen question???

    Everything just lists him as out with an illness, don’t think this is the case.

    Just curious.

  4. When did Boise become a basketball school?
    How is it you can throw a 103 point whupping one night and only score 55 the next?
    The last two losses offense has been the problem. A team playing well as a team doesnt produce a piddling 9 assists in a game.
    Right now it will be quite an improvement to reach a “plateau”

  5. Lose to mighty Boise State! Proving CU basketball is a .500 team with dreams of top 20. Keep dreaming. Until Tad can get his guys up for second tier competition we’ll be licking UCLA’s boots again.

    1. That was fun. Funny/frustrating how shooting is contagious both ways (good or bad). But when it’s good you can see why some of us think highly of this squad. Challenge for any young team is to find the middle, consistent ground…rather than on fire or ice cold.

  6. Baby Buffs hung their heads when UMass went on their run in the 2nd half…yes, super frustrating to miss 5-7 layups in a row, but there was still plenty of time left. Need to take these lessons to heart.
    Other than all the missed shots, the game was decided by the backcourt. Hammond had maybe his worst outing…KJ still a bit out of sync w/Tad. Ruffin needs to develop quickly as he has the length/quickness to defend quality guards.
    Positive note, DeSilva showed he should be featured nightly.
    Still believe….though hate all the missed FTs, can’t have that.

  7. Once in a while a bud takes me to a MBB game cause his wifey ain’t going. It’s nice.
    For WBB I actually buy tickets. I like the game better although it is starting to look like MBB and NBA with all the 3 pointers. Sheesh.

    Tad is Tad
    Everyone likes him and glad he is the CUMBB coach.

    Everyone knows who Tad is.

    “Twenty and out”

    You can depend on that. Steady freddy.

    Doesn’t matter what happens.

    You can count on Tad and in this world that is uncommon
    rolling rolling rolling……………….Roll Tad

    The familiarity, knowing “20 and out” is the rule………….does not breed contempt.

      1. Not at all. But? We knew with the youth movement, there’d be growing pains. Probably going to be a bit of a rollercoaster year. Especially early.

        Is umass better at basketball than they are football? Let’s hope so.

        Go Buffs

    1. C’mon Eric, I know you know who the UMass coach is….they play a tight/pressing “D”. His teams are known for that.

      UMass will make some noise in March and should be ranked higher than they are now.

  8. Also watched the aforementioned Zags MSU…there are teams with better players, but there are not widely better teams than the Buffs.
    BB ups and downs based on shooting, but the team showed their potential today. Keep going to the paint. Like the starting five. Win this next mini tourney.

    1. Sky is the limit…seriously need to play high level comp. until the tourney, get used to playing ‘fast’ like tonight….they can thrive at it.

  9. Fire tad. Well? Maybe we aren’t a basketball school. But maybe we’re become big one. Great win. Can’t say I saw it though. Was getting the first turns of the season in. Pretty good day.

    Go Buffs

  10. Nice effort by Tad’s crew taking down the 11th ranked Vols on national TV this afternoon in a “neutral site” game played in a decidedly non-neutral location.

  11. Unbelievable swing… how on earth does a team go from losing to Grambling State, to turn around and beat Tennessee on their court (!) Great high profile win for the Buffs, but that loss is going to sting come Selection Sunday (glad it happened early in the season)

  12. But hey. We outrebounded them
    yeah, I know its early in the season but it looks like not much has changed.
    Tad ball
    get the rebound then throw it away. If the team had held on to a third of those turnovers and scored instead they would have won the game in spite of not defending the three.
    rolling Tad
    Got to watch a great game if team ball anyway between Mich State and Gonzaga. They played the game on a navy ship in camo uniforms in honor of the vets .
    Only thing crappy there was the refs who were trying to keep both teams from winning. Zags finally beat the refs by one point.

  13. Watched the basketball game to keep my mind off of CU football for awhile… wish I hadn’t; complete disaster on the road

    1. No +…maybe for the better, imagine it was painful to watch.
      They really are Baby Buffs and there will be nights like this…but it comes at the right time. Expect a much better performance through the rest of the trip.

    1. Stuart always goes to rivals first.

      I always go to the one who rates em highest first.

      Go Buffs.

      Note: The Women got 2 four stars as well.

      Note 2: I’m looking for a 5 star football coach. No anyone.

      Note 3: Also looking for a mort bankee who counts his pennies

    2. EP, how about Assane Diop joining the 5 and 4 star ????????????

      This is this is the biggest coup since Moses was born.

      DAMN…………………I CAN’T WAIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Tad does it again … keep roll’n

    I wonder if recruits are starting to go cold on USC (maybe not UCLA so much) because of the pending move to B1G. Not much excitement about playing games in places like Lincoln or Iowa City.

  15. Only able to watch the first half due to live streaming only…but agree this team (and next year) should be legit looking at the tourney. Aside from the defensive rebounding, free throws will be huge for this team. Just about everyone can get to the rim, which should generate offense even on poor shooting nights. Transfers are all players (bball smart). Strength in numbers. Roll Tad.

  16. Everyone in the PAC was playing tomato cans, except the “Beavs” and knocking them over, except for Cal who got beat by UC Davis can. Interesting too that AZ State played what could only be described, by those not in the know, as an old brand of cigarettes and only won by 3. ( I have no idea who they are)

  17. Happy to see the Buffs get out of the gate with a season opening win. We may have scored a JUCO steal with Hadley. One thing conspicuously missing in the lineup so far in the exhibition against NU and against Riverside last night is no Quincy Allen. I hope the highly touted 2020 commit is simply climbing the ladder and rounding into form and hasn’t incurred some sort of setback in his injury recovery.

  18. I have no doubt Tristan and KJ will be major factors for the success of this team but I am thinking Quincy Allen may the guy these pundolts have overlooked….as they have pretty much everyone else on the team besides the previously mentioned 2 and the ones that have left.
    Dont know yet how effective Hurlburt or Allen will be in Tad’s eyes when it comes to D but I have a feeling Allen could light it up on O. Got my fingers crossed with Hurlburt and Lovering’s progress.

  19. Checked in on the roster and nothing much has changed there.
    Out of then 18 players listed there are 13 guards, 3 of which are described as “guard/forwards.”
    Allen is the only one who I think would be truly effective on the wing.
    That leaves Lovering at Center and Da Silva and Hurlburt, a freshman as true forwards.
    Get ready for more struggles against teams that have a couple of dominant guys down low.

        1. Luckily, in today’s game teams’ w/two dominant ‘traditional’ big men, is getting rare. Think this style of ball (outside in vs. inside out) is better for Tad, and expect us to be more athletic as a group. Very interested to see Allen and Lawson (his last game was his best…like a light went off, was the aggressor he should be).

          1. one of these days Tad might actually find the unconscious guard shooting the three.
            Meanwhile the butter on Tad’s bread, rebounding, might suffer with this lineup. Lets hope Lovering and Hurlburt get tough

  20. I don’t think enough can be said about the power of advertising. In this case paid advertising. ESPN promotes their properties (yes, that’s what they call them) mens football and basketball… SECESPN is real in football and ACCESPN is real in basketball. The cable provider has its favorites (properties they own) and promote them incessantly. The World Wide Leader in Sports doesn’t give equal coverage to other programs, conferences and kids are quite impressionable. They feel this not stop marketing/advertising of teams that support ESPNs best interest. In part, some of the best players from States that typically feed into PAC-12 schools lost players that headed East. Larry Scott awoke the beast when he launched the PAC-12 networks. It was the right idea, cut out the middle man (cable/network providers). Larry’s only problem was he didn’t have a plan for the full on assault of ESPN bad mouthing the PAC-12 and the incessant coverage of sports programs that they essentially owned. There was a huge sucking sound of talent that went to the programs ESPN supported. It’s hard to notice. It’s advertising, creating impulses that we don’t recognize… but the sheer coverage and praising of the properties it owned paid in spades… and the talent left the PAC. You should look at the rosters of the top programs… they are littered with California kids. You have to hand it to ESPN, they crushed Larry and the PAC-12 networks and subsequently this is why we find ourselves where we are today with USC/UCLA bolting. Larry, should of called out ESPN for what they were doing. Really the only recourse was Fans of teams in the PAC-12 to tune out ESPN for all of its sports coverage. Hit them in the purse string and break their advertising revenue. Now. Sadly all we can hope for is that ESPN figures out how to strap together a third super conference made up of ACC/PAC-12 teams so they further own both coasts.

  21. So I guess they’re pretty sure Jabari’s not coming back? Ok then. Unless they figure someone else will move on, if he does.

    Meanwhile, looks like Tad’s got a team full of guards. Would be cool if their two young big guys can step up this year, too.

    Go Buffs

  22. “He fit exactly what we need”
    First impulse is to go “whaaa???”
    Then the cognizance kicks in that this is ground hog day at CU hoops.
    Tad already has 7 guards on the roster trying to get on the court and a very thin front court.
    But he can rebound and play D. All great, wonderful and desirable. Problem is there is another aspect to the game that doesnt seem to get anywhere the same attention.
    Once you play your D and are successful snatching the rebound you still have to put the ball in the other basket.
    Once in a while Tad gets lucky with a Dinwiddie or a Wright who can do that on a consistent basis and the team will make that one and done appearance at the dance. Maybe thats the strategy here. If we get enough guards the odds will increase another Wright will emerge from the pack.
    Even so that still isnt an adequate substitute for a well coordinated team offense.

    1. I think tad likes Steve kerr’s style of positionless basketball. No starter of the warriors tops 6’6”. Of course it helps when you have some of the best players in the nba, regardless of size.

      I still think Jabari comes back, which would be most excellent.

      Go Buffs

  23. Thais is great, “head coach of the 2022 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team”, I remember reading about Tad’s assistant coaching on these teams, and thought then it could be helping him with his evaluations and recruiting; at least just getting know players.

    Now, I’m thinking this is a major chance to meet young talent and recruit, I can see players bonding with a coach during a medal or trophy run and then deciding to join his program. Only NIL can stop that… Unfortunately.

  24. I assume Bobi’s grades or classes taken didn’t measure up to CU standards, so we couldn’t get him in. IDK anything, but it would be a reasonable scenario. A foreign student and a religious school may have classes that do not correspond with what we need. Of course, Maryland was able to get him…

    1. yeah I may have jumped the gun. Bel Air Sunrise Christian. Even so, how hard would it have been for Tad to vet the academics prior to an offer? Then again this school is probably so small it s not well connected with the outside world. Also makes me wonder about the level of competition on the court.

      1. I agreeing with you on the classes, having gone to a Catholic School 4th – 8th grade and a Christian college for my teaching credential I can say without a doubt some of the classes didn’t transfer or content wasn’t there. I had a very high math score when I went back to public school for HS, but the curriculum wasn’t there at the Catholic School. I was first placed in too high of an algebra class because of my score and the fact that I came from a private school, so the counselor decided to put me in the sophomore algebra class and I was lost. By the time I argued my way down a basic freshman algebra class I was too far behind (6 weeks grading period) and had to go down too far to a consumer math class just to save the year and get the credits.

        The small school with only 30 kids per grade didn’t teach the same basic algebra that 7th graders study in public schools and while I could do word problems like no one else, I didn’t know how to solve for “x” or other basic algebra problems. My parents wanted me to go to Mater Dei High School (you know the football factory) and they would have known from experience where to place me, but I was done with Catholics schools and thus I went back to public.

        My college studies were too slanted towards stroking their faith, one class taught me nothing regarding teaching but I wrote to my audience and got an “A”; having grown up in a religious school I just wrote what they wanted to read regardless if I believed what I wrote. And for that I got an “A”, I can’t see that class transferring to say UCLA.

        1. I arrived in college from a slightly different path through math but we traveled similar paths in college.

          I did extremely well in algerbra 1, 2 and geometry (public school). So well they forced me to take an elective math analysis course even though it wasnt necessary for graduation. All it did was exacerbate my existing problem with authority and I rebelled and flunked it on purpose. Only F I got in high school.

          That attitude was extended when I arrived in Boulder. I studied all the degree requirements until I found a path to one that did not require a single math course. It was basically a poli sci major. I had professors who were really extreme to both the political right and left. so much so it was easy to write what they wanted hear. One good thing came out of it in that I took everything said to me from that point on with a grain of salt and I feel it did enhance my critical thinking..

  25. So Bobi (what a cute name) is the latest to use CU as a pre marriage prostitute. I couldnt bring myself the read the whole article but I’m betting he got a nice fat NIL offer waiting for him somewhere else.

  26. Think Jabari even thinking about leaving is just wrong…not sure who he is talking to but he is undersized for the NBA to play ‘bigs’ in the post, not quick enough to play the wing, his MO is that he is a good rebounder (which will be difficult when playing against taller, more athletic players). Needs to work on all aspects of his offensive game (shooting, ballhandling, post/back to the basket), but maybe he feels his stock is as high as it’s ever going to be??

      1. Almost everyone in the NBA are physical/athletic freaks….the few that are not, are high IQ players that bring toughness/grit/defense to a team. Jabari, unfortunately is neither and therefore I personally don’t think he has a NBA future today nor in the future. Of the players we saw last year, the #1 ‘NBA’ prospect on the team is ‘Nique (he at least has the ‘profile’).

  27. Oregon just dived on my shit list below USC and just above Nebraska. I hope both Altman and Lanning fall on their face and get fired

  28. I like the two additions to the team. The youngster Klintman has a eye popping highlight reel. High three star at Rivals and 247 and a four star by ESPN Scout. 247 and ESPN listing him as the #35 rated PF recruit.

  29. Mya used to wear he over coming down her forehead like one of those sheepdogs. She could still shoot. If you never saw her play you missed something. I hope she has a long great career

    Buffalo Up Mya…………

  30. Did Allen hit the portal? sign up for the Army? run off to Pago Pago with his girlfriend?
    or
    is College hoops today another lazy 3rd rate sports publication ?
    Buffs cant even get the respect of a competent evaluation from these ditts

  31. Not sure of any success making sense of the D league salary structure but it seems the max a player can make, at least in his first year is 25K. Would it be that hard for the Buff nation to get that much together for Walker through the NIL? And maybe some more for the other players.
    As distasteful as I find the current no limit of the NIL ya cant just sit and do nuttin. If you dont and even if Walker doesnt go pro this year another avenue would be another school poaching him with NIL.
    What a wonderful college sports would we have now.

  32. I am bummed to see keeshawn go. But, I think with kj, Hammond and rj coming in, the guards are in great shape. Let alone the guys who were hurt this year.

    Go Buffs

  33. Interesting how the schools in the Men’s bracket almost parallels the schools in the women’s bracket

    Yup

  34. Am I missing something?
    The Big 10 got 9 invites and 2 are in the sweet 16? Same invites last year and only one made the sweet 16? Hey, thats 100% improvement….right? (gag).
    Last year the select committee lost their mind and let 5 PAC teams in 4 of which showed up in the sweet 16. This year only 3 and 2 are still there.
    I’m still not convinced this KenPom-NET-Quad crap isnt inbred and name weighted

    1. It’s a little bit of a false equivalency here, the two teams that are from the PAC-12 were top 10 teams (NET wise) so its no surprise they are in the Sweet 16, most of the Big 10 teams were outside the top 16 (only 2 were ranked 16 or above). In the end the Big 10 had a bunch of teams in the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s that got in, unfortunately the PAC-12 didn’t have any, so the results are kind of in line with expectations.

      1. unfortunately some B10 teams with a NET higher than the Buffs, Rutgers comes to mind….and they arent the only example. A&M with a net of 43 didnt get in. Iowa with 14 gone after one. Illinois with 15 gone after 2. I get the impression any big 10 loss to another big 10 is a “good loss” that carried these teams along. Thats what I call inbred. The system is flawed. There should be a limit of 6 teams from anyone conference.
        The committee members are AD’s and commishes who are each assigned one set of teams (conferences ?)to watch. They should each watch some of each conference or get retired coaches to watch all the games of teams who have a reasonable chance.

        1. I’d agree that some of the other conferences got screwed in favor of the Big 10, but not necessarily the Pac12.

  35. The wind was blowing yesterday like a departed political radio pundit so I stayed indoors and watched a bushel of basketball . I’m glad I did. If the air wasnt filled with worthless dust I may have missed it.
    Most of the lower seeds were jazzed to be there and it showed. UCon-gone. Kentucky not lucky, Iowas wondering where you went. Other lower seeds who didnt win still gave the opposing coaches ulcers. UCLA almost got zipped. SD state almost found Providence and Vermont came within a pig’s whisker of frying bacon.
    All the lower seeds mentioned brought motivated, and disciplined teams with well oiled motion offenses. They were certainly not skeered. In deference to Tad I should also mention most played manic velcro defense.
    In retrospect the Buffs wouldn’t have had much of a chance…..well maybe if they were a 12 seed. If those ancient geezers that comprise the selection committee ever played the game they were using the two handed set shot.

    1. ep just can help himself by bringing his political crap to this website….you have as much sense as your installed leader.

    1. Okay next game

      TBD

      Good season Buffs.

      Note: Welp Tad was only off a bit. CU is in the top 100………..not 54

      Note 2: Good is who most CU teams are. Sometimes bad……..Sometimes great…………ya just never know………………….
      The ride of the CU Fan.

  36. More sour grapes, sorry.
    Just checked out the NCAA bracket. It’s a joke. They are drunk on the Cinderella fantasy, which is cute, but makes the later rounds less competitive with the stupid mis-matches and doesn’t bring the best product to the tournament. And yes Colorado should be in the big dance. Oregon probably too. Pac12 should get more credit after they embarrassed all the genius tournament seed-makers last year. Didn’t learn their lesson.
    Example, Indiana. Good program history, sure. But they are under 0.500 in conference. Yet they get the chance as a 12-seed play in game. Huh? And from there you can take just about every 12 seed or lower and say Colorado is probably a more competitive team. It’s just become a stupid contest in my opinion. Go buffs.

    1. The SOS thing is a joke as well. That didnt bother CSU any. They did beat Creighton but the rest of their non con was teams l never heard of. They are a 5 seed . They play Michigan right out of the gate who has barely a 500 record.
      I went to a NET website and realized it would take damn near forever for the uninitiated to comprehend all the nuances for their formulas but it sounds so math oriented they cant see the tree for the forest. One thing I’m not sure of but it sounds like a team gets some SOS credit for a LOSS. Is that true? If it is thats pure crap. Maybe why the big 10 has 9 teams in the dance.

  37. Well……………….SOUR GRAPES !

    I try to stay objective about the officiating….but, the Buffs got screwed.

    Then, UCLA got it….in the same fashion. It was obvious. 1,001 reasons OBVIOUS. I can point to about 5 calls against CU that were questionable and I will give the Zebras a cushion there……however there were 3 or 4 that were blatantly called at critical times. Did you notice how Battey and Walker got called shortly after the 2nd half started ? ODD.

    It’s tough playing a good team when 2 of your best have 4 fouls. ILL SHUT UP.

  38. Ol Tad is whining……………

    And rightfully so…………….The East coast bias, driven by espn is real……………….

    Go Buffs………………………….win the 3rd game…………..

    Just whip em dang nab it

    Buffs

    1. Strategy? wrong word
      It probably wont happen but the “possibility” (right word) may be stronger than it appears. All this is moot anyway before ASU’s and the Buff’s first games

    2. see what you mean now. Just checked the score. Stanford checked em out . ASU not the only bipolar team in the conference.
      OSU is hanging in there so far…12 minutes to go…only 7 down

  39. Personally I hope they end up in the NIT, they could win it all there. I’ll caveat that with it would still be fun to watch them win the PAC-12 tourney and go on to the NCAA’s. It wouldn’t be a deep run like they might have in a year or two but it would be great winning the PAC-12.

  40. lets say the top 4 seeds in the first round win. Seems to me AU would then play ASU in the second round. That would be an interesting game. ASU is on a roll and AU is their neighborhood rival.
    If the Buffs beat Oregon and ASU gets past AU then the Buffs would probably get UCLA in the semis.
    If I remember correkly it was Tyger who was the difference in the first game. If they can contain that midget I think the Buffs match up with the others pretty well.

    1. I don’t think they rotate em based on seed. yur in yur lane you stay in your lane.

      So if asu Beats AZ And buffs beat duckpoop, then Buffs play ASU

  41. Welp Rooney says the Buffs have 11 days off from the Utah game before they play in the pac 12 championship.

    Sheesh Sports writer math.

    Go Buffs
    at a minimum you need 2 wins oh wait that means beating az again. make it happen. piss off Wilner and those other know it all dickweeds

    Buffs win

    1. I would like to thank Wilner for pointing out the WSU ludicrous NET rating of 58
      otherwise
      scribe to the geeks

        1. To be fair, VK, Tad never tries to pad the schedule and they did lose the KU game to COVID. He understands how the scheduling effects NET and NCAA bids. But the weak SOS is not helping this year plus the early season loss to S Illinois.

          1. Yup Tad tries not to pad.
            Lost a couple of stunners in the pre conference
            And you are right not playing kansas actually hurt.
            Even a loss would have helped

  42. In 2011 who would’ve thought that over a decade later the Buffs would have a strong basketball program and Utah sucks, whereas Utah would have a strong football program and the Buffs suck

  43. Early.

    Go Buffs.

    Note: Dinwiddie has a 3 year $54,000,000 contract. Wonder if he has donated any to CU. Just wondering.

      1. Spencer Dinwiddie’s contract details
        He’s in the first year of a three-year, $54 million contract. The final year of his deal (2023-24) is only partially guaranteed. $10 million of his $18.8 million salary that season is guaranteed, while the rest will have to be guaranteed by June 30, 2023

  44. with 3 minutes to go Ducks have been hit by a 20 point shotgun. Buffs have the bye.
    HOWEVER
    NO LET DOWNS
    YOU NEED EVRY WIN POSSIBLE
    to at least make it plausible for the fans to scream about a dance snub…especially if teams like OU and Michigan are going.
    I cont believe viewership and the subsequent money dont play just a little role when the committee puts the hammer down

    1. Well now that the French Roast is kicked in, maybe getting that bye is as great as it may seem. Maybe getting that extra win is important.

      As it is now, they bye, Oregon beats OSU, then Buffs Beat Oregon face AZ lose? end up 21-11
      Could have been
      Buffs beat OSU, Buffs Beat, Oregon, Buffs face AZ Lose? end up 22-11

      Does that help???

      Anyway just win all 3 and nothing else matters. Actually if buffs win 2 they might make it Win over a tier one or whatever it is called.

      Buffs.

      The Buffs downfall to the NCAA was its preseason schedule

      Out Of Conference Strength of schedule = 330

  45. Yup, almost gave it away with that last turnover. Arizona has a great press which whipped the Buffs during the season and almost again today.
    Y haaaaaaaaa.

    Okay now number 2 Stanford. The Buffs always play them tough. Always as stated by the Stanford HC after their game today.

    Recent games
    2-13-2022 L 46-63
    1-24-2022 L 52-60
    2- 5-2021 L54-62
    1-17-2021 W 77-72 OT
    2-16-2020 L 66-69
    1-24-2020 L 68-76 OT

    Just got a good feeling about this one. Buffs have not played like they can in this tourney.
    Nothing to lose here
    Looking forward to the Buffs playing a great game

    Buffs win

  46. I checked a couple of mock drafts and didnt see Jabari’s name. that doesnt mean anything though as I doubt GMs are going to base any of their decisions off of that.
    If he stays the sky is the limit next year. Allen will be playing. Hopefully Hurlburt is more ready to play than Lovering was. North Dakota does have a competitive hoops atmosphere. Lovering should be getting more in the groove as well.
    Playing together for another year should they should get better of taking care of the ball and handing out more assists. I can see Hammond coming in off the bench to settle things down if the O gets disorganized.
    With Jabari next year could be the year the Buffs hit the sweet 16. Thats all I’m asking Tad.

  47. just checked the NET rankings…I am calling BS. I dont know what they call a quad one win but the Buff’s blowout of AZ only got them from 76 to 75.
    Consider
    Vermont at 69…no quad 1 wins but 16 quad 4 wins…bfd
    Utah State at 68 says they have 2 quad 1 wins but they are barely 500. their only win that might
    even approach a quad one was Oklahoma
    Kansas State at 61. They are only 14 and 15. Says they have 4 quad wins…which are suspect when they are losing to everyone else.
    Okie State at 56 even worse 13 and 15 with 2 quad one wins
    previously mentioned Oklahoma at 47 and a record of 16-14. Beating them is a quad 1 win?

  48. So’Oto = POS
    His family lives in So-Cal (I think) and now he is going to No-Cal.
    No wonder why players transfer when their coaches are liars.
    Make a commitment and stick to it.
    My only take is that Chris Wilson can go back to coaching the D-line. Hopefully it is easier to find and OLB coach.
    In the end this is on KD for hiring the wrong guy.

  49. Lest the Moderator forget, or ignore

    Buff Woman are 5 seed in the pac 12 Wednesday pm
    Buff Woman are an 8 seed in the Dance.

    Go Buffs.

    1. Lest the commentator forget, or ignore …
      I was at the women’s game on Saturday, watching the Buffs defeated Oregon State on Senior Day, traveling 700 miles for the opportunity.
      The poster, who lives in Boulder … was not.

      1. probably on the golf course. Dont they have these golf balls now that have a signaling device so you can find them in the snow?

      2. Really, Well congrats for you.

        Na you went to see the boys. The girls were an afterthought

        I was not at that game. Down in the south

        Warming up.

        But back now.

        You going to Vegas………….For the girls?

        Musta missed your write up

        Go Buffs.

        Looking forward to all your write ups on the women going forward.

        Buffs

        Note: Nothing on the undefeated Lax team either.
        Note 2: Any female nil interviews on the horizon.

        1. I have sent in a request to freshman Kindyll Wetta for an interview (none of the seniors are on the INFLCR site), but with the Pac-12 tournament starting Wednesday, it might not be until next week (or after the NCAA tournament) that I get the interview done.
          I gave $500 donors the option of requesting specific athletes they wanted to have interviewed. Donate $500 or more, and give me the name of the WBB or lacrosse player you want to have interviewed.

          1. Nice.

            Buffs.

            The nil is nice

            but you don’t need that to post a tidbit about the lacrox team.

            For the informed CU Fan

            Guess

          2. Not that it’s any of your concern, but my policy for the past decade has been to run stories on CU’s Olympic Sports when they are nationally ranked, and will post accordingly if the lacrosse team breaks into the Top 25 this week.

            Football drives the bus, so until you or someone else pays me to the contrary, I’m going to post stories which will generate the most interest.
            The podcast downloads tell the story … The podcast with WR Montana Lemonious-Craig has three times the downloads of hurdler Reese Renz. Nothing against Reese – I like her and her story, and will be following her progress, but Olympic sports don’t generate the same interest.

            If you would like to $pon$er a lacrosse heading, I will post on it daily.

          3. Hey I know.

            I’ll be your gatherer of Info and articles on the “lesser sports” in the Conference of Champions.

            I’ll put it together. send it to you. You decide.
            Save you a lot of time you aren’t putting in anyway.
            No charge.

            What ya think
            ??

          4. I offered you a regular column, and you burned out after what – doing one?
            I’ll see it when I see it.

          5. You didn’t offer a column. Quit making things up.

            So in this deal I really don’t have to write anything really, I’m gonna lay out a schedule plan to provide you info, updates, facts, opinions on the lesser sports. Focus
            CU
            Conference of Champions
            National
            I’m gonna work hard on this and hopefully your webside can expand its reach without you having to do much more than you currently do.

            Hmmmm

  50. So correct me if I’m wrong, but if CU ends up in a tie with Oregon, CU wins the first tie breaker (and the bye) as they have a better record against the top PAC-12 team (AZ).

    1. I think you are right.

      AZ is the opponent
      oregon 0-1
      Buffs 1-1

      Interesting oregon only played arizona once but ASU Twice.

      Oh wall

      Go Buffs

  51. other than the score list and a video highlite of Keeshawn on ESPN way down on their list no mention at all of the Buffs resounding victory against the 2ND RANKED TEAM last night on either ESPN or SI.
    Just like the recruiting services they pander exclusively to the biggest viewer numbers.

  52. Nice,

    Time to make it 7 out of 8
    then then 9 out of 10
    and the icing on top 10 out of 11
    and then to the dance 11 out of 12

    A frigging Miracle

    Buffs
    Win
    Buffs
    Win

  53. damn that was satisfying. Buffs D hung with the AZ monsters, attacked the rim unmercifully. and closed em out emphatically. Mostly one on one hoops on O by the Buffs but it worked. Walker was Walker and Da Silva was unconscious. Simpson not skeered. He was obviously even more animated than usual against his almost team.
    Please please please dont slip back into a coma against Utah.

  54. This team was never going to be an NCAA tournament team this year. Said at the beginning of the year, and saying it again now. A lot of talent, but too young, too many new players. A win against AZ should solidify an NIT tournament bid which is where they belong this year. JMHO.

  55. This obviously was a major blow to any chances on the bubble. Looking back there has been some significant let downs this year and possibly it’s youth. What concerns me is lack of effort particularly on defense. No excuse for youth there and Tad needs to figure that out in a hurry. Best hope at this point is NIT and that might be a stretch given the schedule.

  56. deja vu
    If the Buffs get it back together and actually win the next game they will get blown out against Utah.
    Tad needs to place a phone call to Nolan Rchardson

  57. This Tad hate is completely baffling to me. The only thing I can think of is carry over from the football malaise. But be careful what you wish for, if Tad goes away. I also notice that those who bitch about Tad and say it is time for Tad to go, never have a solution. Who would he be replaced with? Who would repeatedly deliver 20+ win seasons, an always competitive team, frequent NCAA tournament bids, and generally entertaining basketball? This year has been one of his best jobs ever. A team that seemed to be heading for a .500 or worse record after all of the pre-season and in-season injuries is now competing for a top 4 PAC 12 finish and getting some consideration for the Big Dance and will probably get into the NIT failing a NCAA bid. Sit back and enjoy the success, at least one of the major teams in Boulder making some positive noise.

    1. Thanks for the hyperbole but no one “hates” Tad.
      If you are talking about coaching salaries these days it may be real tough to find someone else to improve the product to a point where it makes at least the sweet 16.
      The recent win streak has been the result of increased offensive efficiency, assists etc. Rooney calls it a player led resurgence and Tad agrees.
      btw
      Fort Fun found a guy who has raised the bar pretty far beyond the Buffs this year.

      1. Hyberbole in a comments page, hard to believe. Of course I didn’t mean literal hate and I appreciate all of your comments, it wasn’t a personal attack. I still think that this is one of Tad’s best years as a coach considering all the injuries and roster turnover. If it is a player led resurgence it is because Tad gives them the leash to lead and understands that they are mature enough to handle it. The good and bad always goes back to the coach. A good coach takes the blame for the bad and deflects the good to others. Tad is a good coach. Contrast that with a former football coach named Mickey Mac, who seemed to make everything good about himself and everything bad was not his fault.

        As far as Niko Medved in FoCo, he is also a good coach and has a very good team this year. The MWC is a really good conference this year and fun to watch. May get 4 teams into the Tourney. But is this a one year wonder or can he sustain it? If he can for a couple more years, he will move on to bigger, better (read higher paying) job. I like the stability and consistency Tad provides. But that is just one man’s opinion.

  58. I wonder who clued Wilner in about Jabari. It wasn’t you…was it…Eric? For Jabari’s sake I hope Wilner finally gets something right. For the Buffs, I hope Wilner’s failed record of predictions continues and he stays another year in Boulder.

  59. It would be awesome to see jabari come back next year. Doubt he will, especially if he has a shot at the first round, but who knows? This team could dominate with him next year. He might think that’d be fun.

    Go Buffs

  60. Assists are up, leading to 4 and 5 players scoring in double figures. Turnovers are down but need to get down further. Rooney calls it a Player led resurgence” and quotes Tad as saying he just wants to stay out of the way.
    Whatever it takes
    Go Buffs

  61. I have been critical of Tad not upgrading his assn’t coaches. I still think the telling sign is that no body wants to steal these main assn’t away from us. Our last 3 good young guys were taken to DU and George Mason, while our older, not so hot recruiting or teaching main coaches, are still on the bench. The last one he hired from the SE is probably just as bad or the worst decision to hire. That great ASU 7′ coach we had for 1 year really helped our bigs and recruited Quincy to CU. No way we get Q without his being here.
    That said, I didn’t expect a 3 game road sweep at all. Very happy and very surprised by the trip, and the continued development of players like Luke, KJ, Nico. They have grown this year and hope Tristan can make a big jump soon toward double doubles,. Of course Jabari and Even have gotten better too and have all the main players have Barth, Julian etc. Hope Lawson can use the off season to see his role better and play up to his natural talent, which I think will really surprise people in a year or two. Go Buffs

  62. Of course it’s causation! Unless the cause was EP’s proclamation that he’s not a Tad Boyle fan. But one of those certainly caused this young team’s latest run.

    Go Buffs

    1. Thats rich coming from someone who only likes a football coach who stunk up the joint……and if you go back I previously posted that Simpson would make us forget who Mason Faulkner was. Now and then there is a guy in here who calls himself “drive by poster. ” shoulda been your name.

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