Today we continue our Cliff Notes look at the Buffs non-conference schedule. Today we're going to deal with the first four games of December - of which 3 will be in the cozy confines of the Coors Event Center. While this non-conference schedule lacks the sizzle of last year, you'll notice that the substance is pretty solid and it's not the disappointment that many thought it was going to be. In today's grouping there are two games that could seriously catch the Buffs off guard if they're not prepared. They have an early tip off in Athens against a sneaky dangerous Georgia team and Colorado State may be the third best team on the team's schedule this year (behind only Arizona and Utah).
San Francisco
Is San Francisco the Oregon of the WCC? The Dons have had 21 players transfer out in the six years under coach Rex Walters causing some to question his intense approach. Despite losing two players to transfer this year and losing their leading scorer from the last two seasons, the Dons should still be a solid team. They return two starters who averaged double digits in big men Mark Tollefsen and Kruize Pinkins. Tollefsen can play anywhere from the 2 to the 5 depending on matchups and while Pinkins is more suitable at the 4, he can play the 5 if DePaul transfer Derrell Robertson and junior Matt Christiansen aren't ready to hold down the middle. The big question is goign to be who runs the point for the Dons - with many thinking that it's going to be one of their two true freshmen - Devin Watson or Franki Ferrari.
Georgia
The Bulldogs will be led by the backcourt duo of Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines. Mann is a bigger point guard who will drive the lane with ease to open things up for Gaines on the outside. The big factor on how good Georgia will be is big man Marcus Thornton. Last year was the first time he played pain free after numerous knee injuries and eh put up 8.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. If he can put up similar numbers again, Georgia could be scary - especially after adding incoming freshman (and potential CU target) Yante Maten. They're not as good as Kentucky or Florida, but don't be surprised if Georgia is in the group fighting for 3rd in the SEC.
CSU
Larry Eustachy can coach. If there were any doubts about this, you just had to watch the Rams last season. He replaced all five starters from the previous year and still took the team to a .500 record. Now, he's ready to make some serious noise in the MWC. Leading the way for the Rams are returning starters J.J. Avila (who I love) and Daniel Bejarano (who I am less fond of). Avila will do whatever the team needs in the middle and is one of those guys who you absolutely love if he's on your team and hate if he isn't. While the Rams did lose Jon Octeus, they replaced him with transfer Antwan Scott from Grambling. Two other players who will be suiting up this year after sitting out last season due to transfer rules are forwards Stanton Kidd (North Carolina Central) and Dantiel Daniels (Southern Illinois). The Rams are going to throw out a versatile lineup that can match up with most lineups and make some teams lives hell this year. If the chemistry clicks, this team could easily win the MWC.
UNC
All of Tad's players are finally gone, so the Bears are finally coming to Boulder for a game. Unfortunately for UNC, this is probably not the way that they wanted to come in to the Keg. The team lost two players who were two-time all-conference selections and there's a bit of a drop off on the team talent wise. BJ Hill's Bears will be led by two in-state transfers in Dwight Smith (CSU) and Cameron Michael (Air Force). Smith will give the Bears some big play ability. He put up 21 points on Utah State last season before moving on as a graduate transfer. As for Michael, he was with the Bears last year and got to spend the season on the scout team. Hill says that he's already seen a world of a difference in his game - and confidence - after torturing the Bears in practice last year. Honestly, the Bears aren't winning the Big Sky, but they could compete to end up in the top 4 if everything goes well.
San Francisco
Is San Francisco the Oregon of the WCC? The Dons have had 21 players transfer out in the six years under coach Rex Walters causing some to question his intense approach. Despite losing two players to transfer this year and losing their leading scorer from the last two seasons, the Dons should still be a solid team. They return two starters who averaged double digits in big men Mark Tollefsen and Kruize Pinkins. Tollefsen can play anywhere from the 2 to the 5 depending on matchups and while Pinkins is more suitable at the 4, he can play the 5 if DePaul transfer Derrell Robertson and junior Matt Christiansen aren't ready to hold down the middle. The big question is goign to be who runs the point for the Dons - with many thinking that it's going to be one of their two true freshmen - Devin Watson or Franki Ferrari.
Georgia
The Bulldogs will be led by the backcourt duo of Charles Mann and Kenny Gaines. Mann is a bigger point guard who will drive the lane with ease to open things up for Gaines on the outside. The big factor on how good Georgia will be is big man Marcus Thornton. Last year was the first time he played pain free after numerous knee injuries and eh put up 8.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. If he can put up similar numbers again, Georgia could be scary - especially after adding incoming freshman (and potential CU target) Yante Maten. They're not as good as Kentucky or Florida, but don't be surprised if Georgia is in the group fighting for 3rd in the SEC.
CSU
Larry Eustachy can coach. If there were any doubts about this, you just had to watch the Rams last season. He replaced all five starters from the previous year and still took the team to a .500 record. Now, he's ready to make some serious noise in the MWC. Leading the way for the Rams are returning starters J.J. Avila (who I love) and Daniel Bejarano (who I am less fond of). Avila will do whatever the team needs in the middle and is one of those guys who you absolutely love if he's on your team and hate if he isn't. While the Rams did lose Jon Octeus, they replaced him with transfer Antwan Scott from Grambling. Two other players who will be suiting up this year after sitting out last season due to transfer rules are forwards Stanton Kidd (North Carolina Central) and Dantiel Daniels (Southern Illinois). The Rams are going to throw out a versatile lineup that can match up with most lineups and make some teams lives hell this year. If the chemistry clicks, this team could easily win the MWC.
UNC
All of Tad's players are finally gone, so the Bears are finally coming to Boulder for a game. Unfortunately for UNC, this is probably not the way that they wanted to come in to the Keg. The team lost two players who were two-time all-conference selections and there's a bit of a drop off on the team talent wise. BJ Hill's Bears will be led by two in-state transfers in Dwight Smith (CSU) and Cameron Michael (Air Force). Smith will give the Bears some big play ability. He put up 21 points on Utah State last season before moving on as a graduate transfer. As for Michael, he was with the Bears last year and got to spend the season on the scout team. Hill says that he's already seen a world of a difference in his game - and confidence - after torturing the Bears in practice last year. Honestly, the Bears aren't winning the Big Sky, but they could compete to end up in the top 4 if everything goes well.
