Athlon's College Basketball Preview

[Buffnik]

I just picked up Athlon's preview mag today and figured I'd post some of the highlights regarding the Buffs:

1. Picked us to finish 12th in the conference. "A postseason berth may be too much to ask, but don't be surprised to see marked improvement in Boulder."

2. Interesting stat that shows how important getting improved PG play is for this season: "Colorado went 0-10 in 2008-09 when point guard Nate Tomlinson had more turnovers than assists."

3. Cory Higgins projected for All-Big 12 3rd Team. On being 3rd team All-Conference last year: "would have been higher had his team won more than one conference game."

4. Cory Higgins the #32 overall player in the country and the #11 guard for Fantasy (went #49 in their mock draft).

5. Cory Higgins was ranked as the #10 scorer in college basketball in their "Hoop Superlatives" section.

6. Alec Burks missed out on the "Top 100 Overall" in the Recruiting Report, but was listed in their "Next 200 Overall" (alphabetical order, unfortunately). No other Colorado recruit made the list.

7. Analysis of the CU newcomers: "Harris-Tunks had better be good, or Colorado is in big trouble. The freshman is older and experienced from international competition, which boosts Jeff Bzdelik's hopes. Like with CoryHiggins, the Buffs hope they've struck spring gold again in Relphorde. Sharpe, a YouTube star, adds athleticism to a roster that needs it. Swingmen Hornbuckle and Burks will get a chance to play early, but given CU's perimeter depth, they won't be forced to play too early."

8. Quick blurbs on other guys:
- Austin Dufault had a decent freshman season but wore down. Gained much needed weight and strength in offseason. (Read elsewhere he hit a growth spurt, is now 6'9" or taller and weighing in between 240-250.)
- Casey Crawford can shoot, but his minutes dwindled last season due to his defense and rebounding. Knows what he needs to do, just needs to do it.
- Dwight Thorne is a fine example of perseverance and has developed into a solid Big 12 performer.
- Nate Tomlinson is a pure point guard that needs to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Cory Higgins needs to deliver further development this year for CU to win more games.
- Levi Knutson has been plagued by hip problems but played better at the end of last season.
- Nothing on Eckloff. Kind of the odd man out. Read elsewhere he'd improved a lot at a big man camp this summer.

9. Not mentioned specifically, but in the reported stats: CU's top 5 scorers from last year return. Higgins - 17.4; Thorne - 12.0; Dufault - 8.2; Tomlinson - 7.4; Crawford - 5.4 ppg.

10. Key Losses: Jermyl Jackson-Wilson (5.4 ppg; 3.8 rpg). "It's tough to say how much Toby Veal's transfer hurts - he totaled only 125 minutes in 18 games. Otherwise, signs of optimism abound. Inexperience won't be such a problem."

Also, here's how they saw the rest of the Big 12:

#1 Kansas (Big 12 & National Champions)
#2 Texas (NCAA Tourney Final 4)
#3 Oklahoma (NCAA Tourney Sweet 16)
#4 Kansas State (NCAA Tourney 2nd Round)
#5 Oklahoma State (NCAA Tourney 1st Round)
#6 Texas A&M (NCAA Tourney 1st Round)
#7 Missouri (NIT)
#8 Baylor (NIT)
#9 Iowa State (NIT)
#10 Nebraska (NIT)
#11 Texas Tech (No Postseason and Pat Knight on the Hot Seat)

 

[Gum San]

I just picked up Athlon's preview mag today and figured I'd post some of the highlights regarding the Buffs:

1. Picked us to finish 12th in the conference. "A postseason berth may be too much to ask, but don't be surprised to see marked improvement in Boulder."

2. Interesting stat that shows how important getting improved PG play is for this season: "Colorado went 0-10 in 2008-09 when point guard Nate Tomlinson had more turnovers than assists."

3. Cory Higgins projected for All-Big 12 3rd Team. On being 3rd team All-Conference last year: "would have been higher had his team won more than one conference game."

4. Cory Higgins the #32 overall player in the country and the #11 guard for Fantasy (went #49 in their mock draft).

5. Cory Higgins was ranked as the #10 scorer in college basketball in their "Hoop Superlatives" section.

6. Alec Burks missed out on the "Top 100 Overall" in the Recruiting Report, but was listed in their "Next 200 Overall" (alphabetical order, unfortunately). No other Colorado recruit made the list.

7. Analysis of the CU newcomers: "Harris-Tunks had better be good, or Colorado is in big trouble. The freshman is older and experienced from international competition, which boosts Jeff Bzdelik's hopes. Like with CoryHiggins, the Buffs hope they've struck spring gold again in Relphorde. Sharpe, a YouTube star, adds athleticism to a roster that needs it. Swingmen Hornbuckle and Burks will get a chance to play early, but given CU's perimeter depth, they won't be forced to play too early."

8. Quick blurbs on other guys:
- Austin Dufault had a decent freshman season but wore down. Gained much needed weight and strength in offseason. (Read elsewhere he hit a growth spurt, is now 6'9" or taller and weighing in between 240-250.)
- Casey Crawford can shoot, but his minutes dwindled last season due to his defense and rebounding. Knows what he needs to do, just needs to do it.
- Dwight Thorne is a fine example of perseverance and has developed into a solid Big 12 performer.
- Nate Tomlinson is a pure point guard that needs to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Cory Higgins needs to deliver further development this year for CU to win more games.
- Levi Knutson has been plagued by hip problems but played better at the end of last season.
- Nothing on Eckloff. Kind of the odd man out. Read elsewhere he'd improved a lot at a big man camp this summer.

9. Not mentioned specifically, but in the reported stats: CU's top 5 scorers from last year return. Higgins - 17.4; Thorne - 12.0; Dufault - 8.2; Tomlinson - 7.4; Crawford - 5.4 ppg.

10. Key Losses: Jermyl Jackson-Wilson (5.4 ppg; 3.8 rpg). "It's tough to say how much Toby Veal's transfer hurts - he totaled only 125 minutes in 18 games. Otherwise, signs of optimism abound. Inexperience won't be such a problem."

Knutson had more hip surgery and may be healthy for the first time this season.

Eckloff was the youngest player in D1 last year---he should have been a HS Sr except he skipped a grade(unlike knU players where the best four years of their lives was "7th grade")---smart, tough kid who needed seasoning and a solid camp where he played against other big men. Lord know they are few and far between in Colo! Look for good things from him!

Relphorde played D1 as a frosh and then played in the toughest JC conf.... a great pick-up.

Tomlinson played more International ball and will be pushed by Sharpe, which should make him better.

Dufault had excellent off-season and benefited from the new BB S&C guy, should be much improved.

Higgins, just keeps getting better, same with Thorne.....enough said.

Two excellent coachs, looking forward to an interesting season.