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Colorado Basketball
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January 18th
… CU in the Arena …
McKinley Wright on the mend – “Hopefully we’ll have him Sunday”
… Related … “CU’s Gatling Aims To Keep Playmaking Skills In Arsenal” … from CUBuffs.com
From the Daily Camera … It’s mixed reviews on the latest injury update for the Colorado men’s basketball team.
While senior Namon Wright remains sidelined due to a foot injury, sophomore point guard McKinley Wright did some light shooting exercises during Thursday’s practice, and coach Tad Boyle said the Buffaloes’ floor general will attempt to practice on Friday.
McKinley Wright suffered a dislocated shoulder last week in the first half of CU’s home loss against Washington and said earlier this week he will attempt to finish the season while wearing a brace to protect his injured left shoulder. While his availability remains in question for Sunday’s date at Utah (4 p.m., ESPNU), McKinley Wright’s progress is a positive sign for a Buffs team that has gone 2-5 since an 8-1 start.
“He’ll give it a go at practice (Friday) and we’ll see how he responds,” Boyle said. “He feels good. He’s going to play with a brace, I think that will give him a little extra security and peace of mind. Hopefully we’ll have him Sunday but we don’t know that yet.”
McKinley Wright leads the Buffs in scoring (12.9 points per game) and assists (5.3), while also averaging 4.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting a solid .510 from the floor despite struggling to a .250 mark from 3-point range (10-for-40). He previously had been playing through a partially torn labrum in the same shoulder for three games before suffering the setback against the Huskies.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 17th
… CU in the Arena …
“Playing smart” to be a key for under-manned Buffs
From the Daily Camera … Tad Boyle believes the problem is correctable. But at the very least, it will require far more discipline out of his Colorado men’s basketball team. And the Buffaloes will have to play much smarter than they’ve shown during their three losses in four games to start Pac-12 Conference play.
One setback that has been a common thread through all three of those losses has been the inability of some of the Buffs’ key players to stay out of foul trouble. With the availability of guards McKinley Wright (shoulder) and Namon Wright (foot) unclear due to injuries, that will need to change if the Buffs hope to start gaining traction in the Pac-12 race on the road in the coming weeks, beginning Sunday at Utah (4 p.m. MT, ESPNU).
“What it reflects is the fact I think we have to be more disciplined defensively, because we have to be in better position,” Boyle said. “We have to play smarter. I think we have to anticipate rotations. We had a couple of fouls just out of rotations the other night against Washington because we weren’t anticipating the rotations before they happen.
“It’s a lot of different things. I can’t point to one thing, and I can’t point to one person either. We’re all guilty of it. But playing smart is the key.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 16th
… CU in the Arena …
Pac-12 basketball: USC in turmoil; Washington and Oregon State rising
From the San Jose Mercury News … USC coach Andy Enfield placed freshman Kevin Porter Jr. on indefinite suspension before Sunday’s game at Oregon. Enfield said the suspension was for conduct reasons and hinted that Porter may not return the rest of the season. Porter is an NBA Lottery talent who has already missed nine games this year because of injuries.
Earlier this season, Enfield suspended sophomore guard Jordan Usher, who subsequently transferred to Georgia Tech. The Trojans were down to eight scholarship players during the blowout loss to the Ducks.
As you’ll recall, the promise of last season was derailed in part by the suspension of De’Anthony Melton in connection with the FBI probe into college basketball. Former USC assistant coach Tony Bland pleaded guilty last month to federal conspiracy to commit bribery charges stemming from that investigation.
All this raises several questions: 1) Just what the heck is going on in Troy? 2) When will USC get out of its own way in both major sports? 3) Could we see concurrent basketball coaching searches in L.A. this spring?
*** Washington is red hot, at least by this year’s Pac-12 standards.
The veteran-laden Huskies have won five straight by an average of 13 points per game and handily took care of Utah and Colorado for their first conference road sweep in six years.
With the Bay Area schools visiting Seattle this week, UW stands a great chance of getting to 5-0 in league play.
Washington and Arizona have emerged as the likely league favorites now, depending on your mileage with Oregon State. It’s worth pointing out, then, that the Huskies and Wildcats meet only once in the regular season: on Feb. 7, at McKale Center.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 15th
… CU in the Arena …
Boyle: Good news on McKinley Wright; bad news on Deleon Brown
From the Daily Camera … After its first practice since Saturday’s home loss against Washington, the best news for the struggling Colorado men’s basketball team is that point guard McKinley Wright is likely to return at some point this season.
The status of senior guard Namon Wright, however, remains murky. And while Deleon Brown’s status was clarified, he won’t be helping the Buffaloes’ lagging backcourt depth any time soon.
McKinley Wright may not be back for Sunday’s road date at Utah (4 p.m., ESPNU) but head coach Tad Boyle expressed optimism CU’s leading scorer and undisputed floor general didn’t suffer a season-ending setback when he left the UW game in the first half with a left shoulder injury.
Namon Wright remains day-to-day due to a foot injury, while Boyle took back his previous statements regarding the potential of a February return for the academically ineligible Brown, who has played his final game of the 2018-19 season.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 14th
… CU in the Arena …
Shane Gatling comfortable at point guard if McKinley Wright shoulder injury is lasting
From the Daily Camera … If McKinley Wright’s shoulder injury proves problematic for the next few weeks and beyond, the Colorado men’s basketball team will have a colossal void to fill.
Yet one of the bright spots of Saturday night’s close-but-not-quite 77-70 home loss against Washington was the play of junior guard Shane Gatling, who showed he is capable of substituting for Wright at the top of the Buffaloes’ attack even while his shooting woes continue.
Wright, who played through a left shoulder injury during last week’s pair of losses in Arizona, exited Saturday’s contest with 8 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in the first half and did not return. Gatling has played mostly off the ball this season after transferring from Indian Hills Community College, but he impressed in his return to a ball-handling role that helped make him a junior college All-American last season.
… Continue reading story here …
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USC star (and projected lottery pick) suspended indefinitely
From The Los Angeles Times … This long weekend in Oregon was supposed to be the moment this year’s USC Trojans finally became whole.
Kevin Porter Jr. was returning to the lineup after a mysterious six-week recovery from a thigh bruise. His family made the trip down from Seattle to watch Porter, projected as a consensus NBA lottery pick, play his first Pac-12 games. Thursday night, Porter played 25 minutes as the Trojans lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Oregon State. After the game, Porter appeared to be emotionally wrecked by the defeat and put the blame on himself.
If one had witnessed Porter then, one never would have been able to see what was coming in just a few days. What was in the basement hallway of Gill Coliseum was a frustrated 18-year-old kid who really wanted to lead his team to a victory and couldn’t get it done.
But these Pac-12 trips can test a young player’s focus.
“We just sat around Eugene for three days now,” USC coach Andy Enfield said.
Apparently, there was plenty of action, too, none of it much good for the Trojans. Porter had an undisclosed conduct issue, and Enfield felt he had no choice but to suspend the freshman.
It was no surprise that USC came out flat Sunday night against Oregon, and the Ducks gladly sent the Trojans back to Los Angeles with an 81-60 whipping and another grotesque wart on their resume.
That was only the beginning of USC’s problems. After the game, Enfield said that Porter’s suspension was indefinite and indicated that there was a chance Porter could have played his last game for the Trojans.
“We’ll reevaluate his future with the program this week,” Enfield said.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 12th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs spot Huskies 12-0 lead, fall 77-70 to Washington
… Related … “Second-half rally not enough for shorthanded CU basketball against Washington” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … A furious Colorado rally in the second half came up just short Saturday night, as the Buffs dropped a 77-70 decision to Washington at the CU Events Center.
The Buffs, who played much of the game without star point guard McKinley Wright (shoulder injury), rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to cut the margin to one with just more than seven minutes left. But that was as close as the Buffs could come, as the Huskies answered each Colorado rally and held on down the stretch for the win.
CU fell to 10-6 overall and 1-3 in Pac-12 play while the Huskies improved to 12-4, 3-0.
D’Shawn Schwartz led Colorado with a career-high 22 points — his second straight game with a career high — and Tyler Bey added 15 points and nine rebounds. Shane Gatling added eight points and a career-high six assists.
Jaylen Nowell led UW with 19 points.
The Huskies shot 55.1 percent from the field (27-for-49), including a red-hot 19-for30 in the first half, paving the way for a 48-35 lead at intermission. The Buffs, who battled foul trouble for much of the night, connected on 44.4 percent of their field goal tries (24-for-54).
While obviously disappointed with his team’s loss, CU head coach Tad Boyle still said he was proud of the way Colorado battled back.
“I thought there were some really good things that came out of tonight’s game, out of a loss,” Boyle said. “I don’t say that very often, but I thought with all the things we battled tonight — our defensive atrociousness, them scoring 48 points and shooting 63 percent — as bad as that was, for our guys to battle back, with McKinley going out and the foul trouble we battled all night long, is a testament to our guys.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 11th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs will need to crack Huskies zone defense to pull off an upset
… Related … “UW men at Colorado: Projected starting lineups and scouting reports” … from the Seattle Times
… Related … “D’Shawn Schwartz putting it all together going into CU Buffs’ showdown against Washington” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … If the Colorado Buffaloes want to prove they belong in the conversation when it comes to Pac-12 contenders, they have the perfect opportunity Saturday night to make such a statement.
Fresh off a 92-60 thumping of Washington State on Thursday, the Buffs (10-5 overall, 1-2 Pac-12) hit their home floor again Saturday when they play host to Washington in an 8 p.m. game at the CU Events Center.
The Huskies are already proving they belong in the contender discussion. Currently boasting the best NCAA NET ranking of any team in the Pac-12 (No. 44), the Huskies improved to 11-4 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 play Thursday with a convincing 69-53 win at Utah. It was the same Utah team that won at Arizona State and took Arizona to overtime last weekend — and Washington dominated the game, holding the Utes to a season low in points and 22 under their season average.
That the Huskies are making a living on defense — they are second in the Pac-12, holding opponents to just 65.6 points per game — is no surprise. Second-year head coach Mike Hopkins, a disciple of Syracuse Jim Boeheim, has made the 2-3 zone defense a Huskies staple.
“It’s all they do,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “When it’s all you do, you’re usually pretty good at it.”
Indeed, while most teams will play a variety of defenses throughout the course of a game, alternating between man-to-man and zone, the Huskies play 40 minutes of 2-3 zone — and they have the experience and athletes to make it work. The Huskies start three seniors, including 6-foot-5 guard Matisse Thybulle, last year’s Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Throw in another senior guard in 6-0 David Crisp, along with a front line that includes 6-8 senior Noah Dickerson and 6-9 sophomore Hameir Wright and talented 6-4 sophomore Jaylen Nowell, and it is a formidable lineup.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 10th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs rebound with a 92-60 rout of Washington State
… Related … “Bey scores 26 as Colorado beats Washington State 92-60” ... from ESPN
… Related … “Shooting touch returns for CU Buffs basketball in rout of Washington State” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Home cooking appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for the Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday night.
The Buffs returned to the CU Events Center for their first home game in more than a month, and treated themselves to a runaway 92-60 win over Washington State.
Colorado ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 10-5 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play while the Cougars fell to 7-8, 0-2.
Thursday’s effort was the textbook definition of a balanced effort. The Buffs put four players in double figures, led by a career-high 26 points from sophomore Tyler Bey, who also pulled down 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double. Sophomore forward D’Shawn Schwartz added a career-high 16 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four assists; sophomore point guard McKinley Wright IV chipped in 10 points and seven assists; and junior guard Shane Gatling scored a career-high 17 with a career-best five 3-pointers. Freshman Evan Battey, meanwhile, had a career-high 14 rebounds.
The Buffs also regained their shooting eye, which had abandoned them on a recent swing through Arizona. After shooting just 34.2 percent from the field in a pair of losses in the desert, CU hit 35 of its 64 field goal attempts (54.7 percent) against the Cougars, while holding WSU to just 36.8 percent from the floor (21-for-57). Colorado was 11-for-27 from 3-point range and 24-for-37 from inside the arc.
The Buffs also held a 41-27 edge on the boards and finished with a season-high 20 assists and just 12 turnovers, their fewest since having just eight against Colorado State in early December.
Marvin Cannon led WSU with 14 points.
“It’s nice to see the ball go in the basket,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We haven’t seen that in a while. We got some guys going. Making 11 threes is obviously big. We knew we were going to see a lot of zone, we didn’t know how much. They started out man, and when they went to there zone, we did a good job there, too.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 9th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs hope to end skid with Washington State in town (Thurs., 7:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
… Related … “Staying on floor for CU basketball critical for Tyler Bey” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … With their worst loss of the season — an 83-61 loss at Arizona State on Saturday — still fresh in their minds, there is no doubt the Colorado Buffaloes are glad to finally be playing on their home floor this week.
After a month-long stretch that saw CU play six in a row away from home, the Buffs return to the Events Center this week for a pair of Pac-12 games, with Washington State on tap Thursday (7 p.m.) and Washington on Saturday (8 p.m.).
“I think we’re all excited to get back out here and be in front of our home fans,” sophomore point guard McKinley Wright IV said. “We’re definitely excited to have the opportunity to get back on track. We have a good opportunity and we have to take advantage of it.”
Indeed, with the 9-5 Buffs already in an 0-2 hole in the Pac-12 standings, the weekend represents a crucial juncture. With four losses in the their last six games — and their next three after this weekend back on the road — it is imperative that the Buffs find a way to cure their recent ills and get into the conference win column.
Or, as head coach Tad Boyle put it earlier in the week, “We have to get ourselves out of this funk.”
Thursday night, the Buffs will be facing a team in a similar situation. The Cougars (7-7, 0-1) have lost four in a row and are 0-6 away from home this year. While they lead the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 81.1 points per game, they are 11th in the conference in defense, giving up 76.7 points per game.
The Buffs have never lost to WSU in Boulder, a 7-0 stretch that includes a 6-0 mark since CU joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12.
… Continue reading story here …
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Tad Boyle’s contract renewed – Rick George: “I’m very confident in the direction Tad is taking this program”
From the Daily Camera … Even with his Colorado men’s basketball team mired in an often unsightly slump, the confidence in head coach Tad Boyle remains high among his superiors within the CU athletic department.
That fact was confirmed yet again in recent weeks, as the automatic one-year extension that is written into the terms of Boyle’s contract was renewed for another season, keeping CU’s leader under contract through the 2023-24 season.
Per the terms of that contract, the one-year extension is automatically invoked unless one side — either Boyle and his agent, or the university — gives notice about opting out of the extension prior to Dec. 31 each year. CU athletic director Rick George confirmed to BuffZone.com neither side gave notice before the recent deadline, adding another year to a contract that pays Boyle a shade under $1.425 million per year in base and supplemental salary.
The automatic extension simply adds a year to the agreement while the terms of the deal remain unchanged. The extension is expected to be approved at the Board of Regents meeting Feb. 13-14.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 8th
… CU in the Arena …
Former Arizona and USC assistants accept plea deals
Related … “Even with conviction now in books, NCAA still mum regarding FBI probe” … from the Daily Camera
From the Daily Camera … Former Arizona assistant coach Emanuel Richardson has reached an agreement with New York prosecutors to plead guilty to one count of federal funds bribery at a hearing later this month.
Craig Murdock, Richardson’s New Orleans-based attorney, said Monday the plea agreement for the Jan. 22 hearing contains stipulated sentencing guidelines range of 18 to 24 months, though the sentence is up to the judge.
Murdock added the plea is not part of a deal requiring him to cooperate against others, but that could always change. Richardson also could change his mind prior to the hearing and not plead guilty.
“Mr. Richardson is remorseful about what transpired,” Murdock said. “It’s a hiccup in a career in which he’s had a positive effect on many young men in and out of basketball. This is something he did. It’s not who he is.”
A spokesman for the prosecutors declined comment.
Richardson was among 10 people arrested as part of a federal probe into college basketball recruiting practices in September 2017, including assistant coaches at four prominent schools.
Former Southern California assistant coach Tony Bland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery last Wednesday, admitting he accepted $4,100 in cash to steer players at the school to certain financial advisers and business managers.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 7th
… CU in the Arena …
Tad Boyle: “We’re going to fix our defensive woes. We’re going to fix our rebounding woes”
Related ... “Eli Parquet ready to help CU basketball if number called again” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … It’s been a month since the Colorado Buffaloes played a game on their home floor.
It hasn’t been a month to remember. Since a home win over Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 8 bumped their record to 7-1, the 9-5 Buffs have lost four of six, including a pair of losses at Arizona and Arizona State last weekend to open their Pac-12 schedule.
But this week, Tad Boyle‘s Buffs finally get to practice at home and stay there for games. The Buffs host Washington State on Thursday (7 p.m.) before welcoming Washington to the CU Events Center on Saturday for an 8 p.m. contest.
Monday, they set about the task of correcting the problems that have plagued them for much of the last four weeks.
“We came back and here’s what we’re going to fix,” Boyle said after Monday’s workout. “We’re going to fix our defensive woes. We’re going to fix our rebounding woes and we’re going to become better in our zone offense.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 6th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs hoping first home game in a month will help spur on the offense
From the Daily Camera … If there is a silver lining for the reeling Colorado men’s basketball team, it’s that the Buffaloes are returning home.
Thursday’s initial Pac-12 Conference date at the CU Events Center against Washington State will be the first time the Buffs have played at home since a Dec. 8 win against Illinois-Chicago. After picking up a road win at New Mexico a three days later, the Buffs were 8-1, averaging 84.3 points and shooting an impressive .486 from the field.
What a difference a month can make. Despite that win at The Pit in New Mexico, the Buffs’ longest road swing since 1986 has not been a kind one, a run futility capped by Arizona State’s 83-61 rout of the Buffaloes Saturday afternoon.
With three more road games in a row awaiting CU after games this week against WSU and Washington, the home cooking better settle well for coach Tad Boyle’s club. Asked after Saturday’s loss if his club is battling a collective confidence issue, CU’s leader said he believed the matter is less about confidence than allowing the negative momentum swings to continue snowballing.
“I like the way we’re practicing. I like our demeanor,” Boyle said. “I don’t feel like (it’s confidence), but when you see guys’ heads go down when they miss shots, that’s when mental toughness has to take hold. When you miss open shots and you’re struggling offensively, you can’t let it affect you on the other end of the floor. That’s easier said than done. Guys want to shoot the ball well. They’re frustrated when they miss open shots.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 5th
… CU in the Arena …
Colorado embarrassed on the road by Arizona State, 83-61
… Game recap: “White scores 19, Arizona State rolls over Colorado 83-61” … from ESPN
From CUBuffs.com … A trip to the desert proved to be no cure for the Colorado Buffaloes’ recent ills away from home.
Playing their sixth straight game away from the CU Events Center on Saturday, the Buffs fell behind early by double digits to Arizona State and never recovered, dropping an 83-61 decision to the Sun Devils at Wells Fargo Arena.
The loss, the Buffs’ fourth in their last five games, dropped their record to 9-5 overall and 0-2 in Pac-12 play while ASU improved to 10-4, 1-1.
McKinley Wright IV led Colorado with 12 points and D’Shawn Schwartz and Daylen Kountz each added 10. The Buffs were cold all afternoon from the field, finishing just 19-for-58 from the field (32.8 percent) while also losing the rebound battle, 42-28.
Romello White led five Sun Devils in double figures, finishing with 19 points as ASU shot a red-hot 57.1 percent from the field (32-for-56). ASU’s 83 points are the most given up by the Buffs this year.
“We’re just not making shots right now,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We just can’t throw it in the ocean. When that happens, you have to come back and get stops. But tonight, we weren’t good enough in any aspect of the game. We weren’t good enough in rebounding, we weren’t good enough in taking care of the ball, we weren’t good enough offensively, we weren’t good enough defensively. It was just a tail whipping. We deserved it and we got it.”
… Continue reading story here …
NEXT UP: The Buffs finally return home for a pair of games next week, beginning with a Thursday matchup with Washington State (7 p.m.) at the CU Events Center, followed by an 8 p.m. Saturday game with Washington.
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January 4th
… CU in the Arena …
CU looks to get offense going against Arizona State (Sat., 4:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
From the Daily Camera … Where oh where have all the points gone?
That is the most pressing question facing head coach Tad Boyle as the Colorado men’s basketball team attempts to get back on track Saturday afternoon in a Pac-12 Conference battle at Arizona State. When the Buffaloes raced out of the gate to an 8-1 start, albeit against mostly middle-of-the-pack mid-major programs, it was behind an offense both high-octane and versatile.
While losing three of the past four games, that offense has practically been non-existent. After scoring a season-low 62 points — in overtime, no less — two weeks ago at Hawaii, CU’s offense hit a new low Thursday night in a 64-56 loss at Arizona in the Pac-12 opener.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 3rd
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs fall on the road to Arizona in Pac-12 opener
… Related … “Turnovers again doom CU Buffs basketball at Arizona in Pac-12 opener” … from the Daily Camera
... Related … “Deleon Brown doesn’t make the grades, ruled ineligible for CU basketball” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado started fast and finished strong Thursday night in its Pac-12 opener, but a difficult stretch in the middle of game proved too much to overcome, as CU dropped a 64-56 decision to Arizona at the McKale Center.
The loss, CU’s third in the last four games, dropped the Buffs to 9-4 overall (0-1 in Pac-12) while Arizona improved to 10-4, 1-0. The loss was CU’s seventh in as many tries at McKale since the Buffs joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12. Since the beginning of the 2013 season, Arizona is 90-4 on its home floor.
After trailing by as much as 17 in the second half, the Buffs cut the margin to seven, 57-50, with 2:42 still left to play on a D’Shawn Schwartz 3-pointer.
But that was as close as the Buffs could come. Arizona build the lead back to double digits, then held the Buffs off in the final minute.
Sophomore McKinley Wright IV led CU with 17 points and Lucas Siewert added 11, but they were the only Buffs in double figures as Colorado shot just 19-for-53 from the field (35.8 percent). Schwartz had eight points and eight rebounds for CU and Tyler Bey had 11 rebounds and four points.
Brandon Williams led Arizona with 14 points as the Wildcats shot 25-for-58 (43.1 percent) and Brandon Randolph added 11.
CU was once again plagued by turnovers, committing 17 — including six by Wright — which led to 14 Arizona points. The Wildcats also dominated the game inside, outscoring Colorado 38-18 in the paint.
“We have some offensive woes right now,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “When you combine 35 percent shooting with 17 turnovers, you put a lot of pressure on your defense. I thought our defense was great in the second half, it really was. But our offensive efficiency is just not very good right now. I’ve got to do a better job as a coach to get these guys to understand that it’s about the execution. When you get good shots you have to be able to stick them in the basket. I don’t care if you’re in the paint, I don’t care if you’re wide open from three. You have to be able to capitalize.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Oregon star center Bol Bol may be out for the rest of the season
From Duck Territory … Freshman star center Bol Bol‘s future at Oregon is likely going to be over, according to multiple sources close to the Oregon basketball program.
Bol has missed the team’s last four games with a left foot injury and the outlook on his return to the team this season gets grimmer by the day. According to sources who can’t speak on the record, Bol suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and his timeline to return from injury will likely keep him out of the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Multiple sources have told DuckTerritory.com Bol is likely going to begin rehab work ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft with basketball and medical trainers outside the Oregon basketball program. Bol has spent most of the last two weeks back home in Kansas with his family mulling over his options to rehab his injury. Multiple sources have told DuckTerritory they do not believe Bol will play the rest of the year, but a final decision has not been made.
“I would be completely shocked if Bol played the rest of this year,” one source said.
… Continue reading story here …
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Jon Wilner picks CU to finish 5th in Pac-12
From the San Jose Mercury News … The past eight weeks? Irrelevant.
The inexplicable losses … the blowouts … the meltdowns … the no-shows?
Never happened. None of it.
At least, that’s the approach every program should adopt as conference play begins today across the Pac-12.
Outside the 12 bubbles, however, the carnage cannot be forgotten (unfortunately), and it has altered our view of teams, players and coaches.
Hotline projections, derived from a blend of preseason expectations and in-season performance …
*** All-conference
Third team
G Colorado’s McKinley Wright
*** Order of finish
1. Oregon: Best combination of high-end talent, experience and coach. But injuries — it’s not just Bol — make the Ducks a fragile frontrunner.
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5. Colorado: Quietly collecting the victories, but until the Buffaloes prove they can do it at sea level, we’ll slot them on the second tier.
… Read full story here …
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Tad Boyle: “If you want to have a chance to win a championship, you have to win on the road”
… Related … “Fresh start awaits CU men’s basketball in Pac-12 opener at Arizona” … from the Daily Camera
… Related … “Pac-12 basketball: Who will rise above mediocrity in wide-open league race?” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … In what might be the most wide-open Pac-12 in recent years — not a single conference team is ranked in the nation’s top 25 — the Colorado Buffaloes believe opportunity awaits this week as they begin conference play.
But taking advantage of that opportunity won’t be easy. It begins with a weekend trip to the desert, where they will open conference play with games at Arizona (7 p.m. Thursday) and Arizona State (4 p.m. Saturday) and an eye on collecting at least one road win — a rarity in conference play.
How rare? Last season, Colorado won just one road game, a victory at UCLA.
But this year, the 9-3 Buffs already have two road wins under their belts, and would like to push that number to at least seven — which means they will need five Pac-12 road wins to hit their goal.
“Every league — it doesn’t matter if you’re in the Pac-12 or the Big Sky or the ACC — if you want to finish in the top half of the league and have a chance to win a championship, you have to win on the road,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said Tuesday, just before the Buffs left for their Arizona trip. “You don’t have to win every game on the road, but you have to win games on the road. … You can’t win five unless you win the first one.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 2nd
… CU in the Arena …
Pac-12 without a ranked team for the first time since the 2011-12 season
From azdesertswarm.com … Every Pac-12 school has at least one thing in common — none of their men’s basketball teams are ranked.
For the first time since 2011-12, zero Pac-12 schools find themselves inside the AP Top 25. The Arizona State Sun Devils, who were ranked 17th last week, were upset at home by Princeton and subsequently fell out of the polls.
Perhaps even more shuddering is that ASU is the only Pac-12 school to have even received votes this week, as it garnered 116, the most among non-ranked teams.
The Pac-12 ranks as the sixth-best conference in the country by KenPom, the worst among the major conferences. The so-called Conference of Champions has a losing record against the West Coast Conference this year.
Some embarrassing results for the Pac-12 this week included UCLA losing at home to Liberty by 15 points (then firing Steve Alford), Washington State falling to Santa Clara in Spokane, and Cal losing at home to Seattle, the Redhawks’ second win over a Pac-12 school.
As of Dec. 27, ESPN projected that two Pac-12 teams will make the NCAA Tournament this season — ASU and Oregon. However, that was before the Sun Devils lost to Princeton.
KenPom rates the Ducks as the conference’s best team … all the way down at No. 39. Them and ASU are the only Pac-12 teams rated inside KenPom’s Top 50. One-third of the conference — Stanford, Utah, Washington State and Cal — ranks outside the Top 100. Cal ranks outside the Top 200.
Every Pac-12 team has at least three losses heading into conference play, which mercifully begins this week.
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January 1st – Happy New Year!
… CU in the Arena …
Evan Battey coming into his own as conference play opens – Thurs., 7:00 p.m., MT, FS1
Related … “Building on solid start the goal for CU basketball freshman Daylen Kountz” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado redshirt freshman Evan Battey is steadily coming into his own as a Division I college basketball player.
Battey, whose much-publicized return to the game has been a focal point of nearly every Buffs television broadcast, is slowly but surely shaking off the rust of a two-year layoff from playing competitively.
Now, that layoff — due first to ineligibility issues, then a life-threatening stroke — is becoming more and more of a memory from the distant past. After 12 games for the 9-3 Buffs, Battey is the team’s fourth-leading scorer (8.7 points per game) and fourth-leading rebounder (4.3 rpg), while currently just sixth on the team in minutes played (21.1 per game).
Equally importantly, he is displaying the versatility that makes him such a rarity for a 6-foot-8, 265-pound forward. He is fourth on the team in assists (13) and steals (7), leads the team in offensive rebounds (25) and is shooting a respectable 44.2 percent from the field.
“I think the rust is going away,” Battey said. “I still find myself in situations now and then that I haven’t been in for a long time, and I won’t finish or I won’t get a rebound. But I’m not experiencing as many of those situations anymore. Overall, I think I’m back — it’s just a matter of not tricking myself into thinking there’s something I can’t do. I just have to play.”
Battey’s season has already been one of many “firsts” in his comeback — first game, first basket, first win, first start, etc.
This week, he will add to the list when he plays in his first Pac-12 game. The Buffs open conference play Thursday with a 7 p.m. game at Arizona — one of the most raucous environments in the conference — followed by a 4 p.m. Saturday matchup at Arizona State.
… Continue reading story here …
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… Note … With Arizona State’s loss to Princeton, the Sun Devils fell out of the Associated Press rankings, leaving exactly zero Pac-12 teams in the rankings as teams shift to conference play …
Pac-12 standings heading into conference play
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Colorado Basketball
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January 18th
… CU in the Arena …
McKinley Wright on the mend – “Hopefully we’ll have him Sunday”
… Related … “CU’s Gatling Aims To Keep Playmaking Skills In Arsenal” … from CUBuffs.com
From the Daily Camera … It’s mixed reviews on the latest injury update for the Colorado men’s basketball team.
While senior Namon Wright remains sidelined due to a foot injury, sophomore point guard McKinley Wright did some light shooting exercises during Thursday’s practice, and coach Tad Boyle said the Buffaloes’ floor general will attempt to practice on Friday.
McKinley Wright suffered a dislocated shoulder last week in the first half of CU’s home loss against Washington and said earlier this week he will attempt to finish the season while wearing a brace to protect his injured left shoulder. While his availability remains in question for Sunday’s date at Utah (4 p.m., ESPNU), McKinley Wright’s progress is a positive sign for a Buffs team that has gone 2-5 since an 8-1 start.
“He’ll give it a go at practice (Friday) and we’ll see how he responds,” Boyle said. “He feels good. He’s going to play with a brace, I think that will give him a little extra security and peace of mind. Hopefully we’ll have him Sunday but we don’t know that yet.”
McKinley Wright leads the Buffs in scoring (12.9 points per game) and assists (5.3), while also averaging 4.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting a solid .510 from the floor despite struggling to a .250 mark from 3-point range (10-for-40). He previously had been playing through a partially torn labrum in the same shoulder for three games before suffering the setback against the Huskies.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 17th
… CU in the Arena …
“Playing smart” to be a key for under-manned Buffs
From the Daily Camera … Tad Boyle believes the problem is correctable. But at the very least, it will require far more discipline out of his Colorado men’s basketball team. And the Buffaloes will have to play much smarter than they’ve shown during their three losses in four games to start Pac-12 Conference play.
One setback that has been a common thread through all three of those losses has been the inability of some of the Buffs’ key players to stay out of foul trouble. With the availability of guards McKinley Wright (shoulder) and Namon Wright (foot) unclear due to injuries, that will need to change if the Buffs hope to start gaining traction in the Pac-12 race on the road in the coming weeks, beginning Sunday at Utah (4 p.m. MT, ESPNU).
“What it reflects is the fact I think we have to be more disciplined defensively, because we have to be in better position,” Boyle said. “We have to play smarter. I think we have to anticipate rotations. We had a couple of fouls just out of rotations the other night against Washington because we weren’t anticipating the rotations before they happen.
“It’s a lot of different things. I can’t point to one thing, and I can’t point to one person either. We’re all guilty of it. But playing smart is the key.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 16th
… CU in the Arena …
Pac-12 basketball: USC in turmoil; Washington and Oregon State rising
From the San Jose Mercury News … USC coach Andy Enfield placed freshman Kevin Porter Jr. on indefinite suspension before Sunday’s game at Oregon. Enfield said the suspension was for conduct reasons and hinted that Porter may not return the rest of the season. Porter is an NBA Lottery talent who has already missed nine games this year because of injuries.
Earlier this season, Enfield suspended sophomore guard Jordan Usher, who subsequently transferred to Georgia Tech. The Trojans were down to eight scholarship players during the blowout loss to the Ducks.
As you’ll recall, the promise of last season was derailed in part by the suspension of De’Anthony Melton in connection with the FBI probe into college basketball. Former USC assistant coach Tony Bland pleaded guilty last month to federal conspiracy to commit bribery charges stemming from that investigation.
All this raises several questions: 1) Just what the heck is going on in Troy? 2) When will USC get out of its own way in both major sports? 3) Could we see concurrent basketball coaching searches in L.A. this spring?
*** Washington is red hot, at least by this year’s Pac-12 standards.
The veteran-laden Huskies have won five straight by an average of 13 points per game and handily took care of Utah and Colorado for their first conference road sweep in six years.
With the Bay Area schools visiting Seattle this week, UW stands a great chance of getting to 5-0 in league play.
Washington and Arizona have emerged as the likely league favorites now, depending on your mileage with Oregon State. It’s worth pointing out, then, that the Huskies and Wildcats meet only once in the regular season: on Feb. 7, at McKale Center.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 15th
… CU in the Arena …
Boyle: Good news on McKinley Wright; bad news on Deleon Brown
From the Daily Camera … After its first practice since Saturday’s home loss against Washington, the best news for the struggling Colorado men’s basketball team is that point guard McKinley Wright is likely to return at some point this season.
The status of senior guard Namon Wright, however, remains murky. And while Deleon Brown’s status was clarified, he won’t be helping the Buffaloes’ lagging backcourt depth any time soon.
McKinley Wright may not be back for Sunday’s road date at Utah (4 p.m., ESPNU) but head coach Tad Boyle expressed optimism CU’s leading scorer and undisputed floor general didn’t suffer a season-ending setback when he left the UW game in the first half with a left shoulder injury.
Namon Wright remains day-to-day due to a foot injury, while Boyle took back his previous statements regarding the potential of a February return for the academically ineligible Brown, who has played his final game of the 2018-19 season.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 14th
… CU in the Arena …
Shane Gatling comfortable at point guard if McKinley Wright shoulder injury is lasting
From the Daily Camera … If McKinley Wright’s shoulder injury proves problematic for the next few weeks and beyond, the Colorado men’s basketball team will have a colossal void to fill.
Yet one of the bright spots of Saturday night’s close-but-not-quite 77-70 home loss against Washington was the play of junior guard Shane Gatling, who showed he is capable of substituting for Wright at the top of the Buffaloes’ attack even while his shooting woes continue.
Wright, who played through a left shoulder injury during last week’s pair of losses in Arizona, exited Saturday’s contest with 8 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in the first half and did not return. Gatling has played mostly off the ball this season after transferring from Indian Hills Community College, but he impressed in his return to a ball-handling role that helped make him a junior college All-American last season.
… Continue reading story here …
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USC star (and projected lottery pick) suspended indefinitely
From The Los Angeles Times … This long weekend in Oregon was supposed to be the moment this year’s USC Trojans finally became whole.
Kevin Porter Jr. was returning to the lineup after a mysterious six-week recovery from a thigh bruise. His family made the trip down from Seattle to watch Porter, projected as a consensus NBA lottery pick, play his first Pac-12 games. Thursday night, Porter played 25 minutes as the Trojans lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Oregon State. After the game, Porter appeared to be emotionally wrecked by the defeat and put the blame on himself.
If one had witnessed Porter then, one never would have been able to see what was coming in just a few days. What was in the basement hallway of Gill Coliseum was a frustrated 18-year-old kid who really wanted to lead his team to a victory and couldn’t get it done.
But these Pac-12 trips can test a young player’s focus.
“We just sat around Eugene for three days now,” USC coach Andy Enfield said.
Apparently, there was plenty of action, too, none of it much good for the Trojans. Porter had an undisclosed conduct issue, and Enfield felt he had no choice but to suspend the freshman.
It was no surprise that USC came out flat Sunday night against Oregon, and the Ducks gladly sent the Trojans back to Los Angeles with an 81-60 whipping and another grotesque wart on their resume.
That was only the beginning of USC’s problems. After the game, Enfield said that Porter’s suspension was indefinite and indicated that there was a chance Porter could have played his last game for the Trojans.
“We’ll reevaluate his future with the program this week,” Enfield said.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 12th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs spot Huskies 12-0 lead, fall 77-70 to Washington
… Related … “Second-half rally not enough for shorthanded CU basketball against Washington” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … A furious Colorado rally in the second half came up just short Saturday night, as the Buffs dropped a 77-70 decision to Washington at the CU Events Center.
The Buffs, who played much of the game without star point guard McKinley Wright (shoulder injury), rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to cut the margin to one with just more than seven minutes left. But that was as close as the Buffs could come, as the Huskies answered each Colorado rally and held on down the stretch for the win.
CU fell to 10-6 overall and 1-3 in Pac-12 play while the Huskies improved to 12-4, 3-0.
D’Shawn Schwartz led Colorado with a career-high 22 points — his second straight game with a career high — and Tyler Bey added 15 points and nine rebounds. Shane Gatling added eight points and a career-high six assists.
Jaylen Nowell led UW with 19 points.
The Huskies shot 55.1 percent from the field (27-for-49), including a red-hot 19-for30 in the first half, paving the way for a 48-35 lead at intermission. The Buffs, who battled foul trouble for much of the night, connected on 44.4 percent of their field goal tries (24-for-54).
While obviously disappointed with his team’s loss, CU head coach Tad Boyle still said he was proud of the way Colorado battled back.
“I thought there were some really good things that came out of tonight’s game, out of a loss,” Boyle said. “I don’t say that very often, but I thought with all the things we battled tonight — our defensive atrociousness, them scoring 48 points and shooting 63 percent — as bad as that was, for our guys to battle back, with McKinley going out and the foul trouble we battled all night long, is a testament to our guys.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 11th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs will need to crack Huskies zone defense to pull off an upset
… Related … “UW men at Colorado: Projected starting lineups and scouting reports” … from the Seattle Times
… Related … “D’Shawn Schwartz putting it all together going into CU Buffs’ showdown against Washington” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … If the Colorado Buffaloes want to prove they belong in the conversation when it comes to Pac-12 contenders, they have the perfect opportunity Saturday night to make such a statement.
Fresh off a 92-60 thumping of Washington State on Thursday, the Buffs (10-5 overall, 1-2 Pac-12) hit their home floor again Saturday when they play host to Washington in an 8 p.m. game at the CU Events Center.
The Huskies are already proving they belong in the contender discussion. Currently boasting the best NCAA NET ranking of any team in the Pac-12 (No. 44), the Huskies improved to 11-4 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 play Thursday with a convincing 69-53 win at Utah. It was the same Utah team that won at Arizona State and took Arizona to overtime last weekend — and Washington dominated the game, holding the Utes to a season low in points and 22 under their season average.
That the Huskies are making a living on defense — they are second in the Pac-12, holding opponents to just 65.6 points per game — is no surprise. Second-year head coach Mike Hopkins, a disciple of Syracuse Jim Boeheim, has made the 2-3 zone defense a Huskies staple.
“It’s all they do,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “When it’s all you do, you’re usually pretty good at it.”
Indeed, while most teams will play a variety of defenses throughout the course of a game, alternating between man-to-man and zone, the Huskies play 40 minutes of 2-3 zone — and they have the experience and athletes to make it work. The Huskies start three seniors, including 6-foot-5 guard Matisse Thybulle, last year’s Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Throw in another senior guard in 6-0 David Crisp, along with a front line that includes 6-8 senior Noah Dickerson and 6-9 sophomore Hameir Wright and talented 6-4 sophomore Jaylen Nowell, and it is a formidable lineup.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 10th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs rebound with a 92-60 rout of Washington State
… Related … “Bey scores 26 as Colorado beats Washington State 92-60” ... from ESPN
… Related … “Shooting touch returns for CU Buffs basketball in rout of Washington State” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Home cooking appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for the Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday night.
The Buffs returned to the CU Events Center for their first home game in more than a month, and treated themselves to a runaway 92-60 win over Washington State.
Colorado ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 10-5 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play while the Cougars fell to 7-8, 0-2.
Thursday’s effort was the textbook definition of a balanced effort. The Buffs put four players in double figures, led by a career-high 26 points from sophomore Tyler Bey, who also pulled down 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double. Sophomore forward D’Shawn Schwartz added a career-high 16 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four assists; sophomore point guard McKinley Wright IV chipped in 10 points and seven assists; and junior guard Shane Gatling scored a career-high 17 with a career-best five 3-pointers. Freshman Evan Battey, meanwhile, had a career-high 14 rebounds.
The Buffs also regained their shooting eye, which had abandoned them on a recent swing through Arizona. After shooting just 34.2 percent from the field in a pair of losses in the desert, CU hit 35 of its 64 field goal attempts (54.7 percent) against the Cougars, while holding WSU to just 36.8 percent from the floor (21-for-57). Colorado was 11-for-27 from 3-point range and 24-for-37 from inside the arc.
The Buffs also held a 41-27 edge on the boards and finished with a season-high 20 assists and just 12 turnovers, their fewest since having just eight against Colorado State in early December.
Marvin Cannon led WSU with 14 points.
“It’s nice to see the ball go in the basket,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We haven’t seen that in a while. We got some guys going. Making 11 threes is obviously big. We knew we were going to see a lot of zone, we didn’t know how much. They started out man, and when they went to there zone, we did a good job there, too.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 9th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs hope to end skid with Washington State in town (Thurs., 7:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
… Related … “Staying on floor for CU basketball critical for Tyler Bey” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … With their worst loss of the season — an 83-61 loss at Arizona State on Saturday — still fresh in their minds, there is no doubt the Colorado Buffaloes are glad to finally be playing on their home floor this week.
After a month-long stretch that saw CU play six in a row away from home, the Buffs return to the Events Center this week for a pair of Pac-12 games, with Washington State on tap Thursday (7 p.m.) and Washington on Saturday (8 p.m.).
“I think we’re all excited to get back out here and be in front of our home fans,” sophomore point guard McKinley Wright IV said. “We’re definitely excited to have the opportunity to get back on track. We have a good opportunity and we have to take advantage of it.”
Indeed, with the 9-5 Buffs already in an 0-2 hole in the Pac-12 standings, the weekend represents a crucial juncture. With four losses in the their last six games — and their next three after this weekend back on the road — it is imperative that the Buffs find a way to cure their recent ills and get into the conference win column.
Or, as head coach Tad Boyle put it earlier in the week, “We have to get ourselves out of this funk.”
Thursday night, the Buffs will be facing a team in a similar situation. The Cougars (7-7, 0-1) have lost four in a row and are 0-6 away from home this year. While they lead the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 81.1 points per game, they are 11th in the conference in defense, giving up 76.7 points per game.
The Buffs have never lost to WSU in Boulder, a 7-0 stretch that includes a 6-0 mark since CU joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12.
… Continue reading story here …
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Tad Boyle’s contract renewed – Rick George: “I’m very confident in the direction Tad is taking this program”
From the Daily Camera … Even with his Colorado men’s basketball team mired in an often unsightly slump, the confidence in head coach Tad Boyle remains high among his superiors within the CU athletic department.
That fact was confirmed yet again in recent weeks, as the automatic one-year extension that is written into the terms of Boyle’s contract was renewed for another season, keeping CU’s leader under contract through the 2023-24 season.
Per the terms of that contract, the one-year extension is automatically invoked unless one side — either Boyle and his agent, or the university — gives notice about opting out of the extension prior to Dec. 31 each year. CU athletic director Rick George confirmed to BuffZone.com neither side gave notice before the recent deadline, adding another year to a contract that pays Boyle a shade under $1.425 million per year in base and supplemental salary.
The automatic extension simply adds a year to the agreement while the terms of the deal remain unchanged. The extension is expected to be approved at the Board of Regents meeting Feb. 13-14.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 8th
… CU in the Arena …
Former Arizona and USC assistants accept plea deals
Related … “Even with conviction now in books, NCAA still mum regarding FBI probe” … from the Daily Camera
From the Daily Camera … Former Arizona assistant coach Emanuel Richardson has reached an agreement with New York prosecutors to plead guilty to one count of federal funds bribery at a hearing later this month.
Craig Murdock, Richardson’s New Orleans-based attorney, said Monday the plea agreement for the Jan. 22 hearing contains stipulated sentencing guidelines range of 18 to 24 months, though the sentence is up to the judge.
Murdock added the plea is not part of a deal requiring him to cooperate against others, but that could always change. Richardson also could change his mind prior to the hearing and not plead guilty.
“Mr. Richardson is remorseful about what transpired,” Murdock said. “It’s a hiccup in a career in which he’s had a positive effect on many young men in and out of basketball. This is something he did. It’s not who he is.”
A spokesman for the prosecutors declined comment.
Richardson was among 10 people arrested as part of a federal probe into college basketball recruiting practices in September 2017, including assistant coaches at four prominent schools.
Former Southern California assistant coach Tony Bland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery last Wednesday, admitting he accepted $4,100 in cash to steer players at the school to certain financial advisers and business managers.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 7th
… CU in the Arena …
Tad Boyle: “We’re going to fix our defensive woes. We’re going to fix our rebounding woes”
Related ... “Eli Parquet ready to help CU basketball if number called again” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … It’s been a month since the Colorado Buffaloes played a game on their home floor.
It hasn’t been a month to remember. Since a home win over Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 8 bumped their record to 7-1, the 9-5 Buffs have lost four of six, including a pair of losses at Arizona and Arizona State last weekend to open their Pac-12 schedule.
But this week, Tad Boyle‘s Buffs finally get to practice at home and stay there for games. The Buffs host Washington State on Thursday (7 p.m.) before welcoming Washington to the CU Events Center on Saturday for an 8 p.m. contest.
Monday, they set about the task of correcting the problems that have plagued them for much of the last four weeks.
“We came back and here’s what we’re going to fix,” Boyle said after Monday’s workout. “We’re going to fix our defensive woes. We’re going to fix our rebounding woes and we’re going to become better in our zone offense.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 6th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs hoping first home game in a month will help spur on the offense
From the Daily Camera … If there is a silver lining for the reeling Colorado men’s basketball team, it’s that the Buffaloes are returning home.
Thursday’s initial Pac-12 Conference date at the CU Events Center against Washington State will be the first time the Buffs have played at home since a Dec. 8 win against Illinois-Chicago. After picking up a road win at New Mexico a three days later, the Buffs were 8-1, averaging 84.3 points and shooting an impressive .486 from the field.
What a difference a month can make. Despite that win at The Pit in New Mexico, the Buffs’ longest road swing since 1986 has not been a kind one, a run futility capped by Arizona State’s 83-61 rout of the Buffaloes Saturday afternoon.
With three more road games in a row awaiting CU after games this week against WSU and Washington, the home cooking better settle well for coach Tad Boyle’s club. Asked after Saturday’s loss if his club is battling a collective confidence issue, CU’s leader said he believed the matter is less about confidence than allowing the negative momentum swings to continue snowballing.
“I like the way we’re practicing. I like our demeanor,” Boyle said. “I don’t feel like (it’s confidence), but when you see guys’ heads go down when they miss shots, that’s when mental toughness has to take hold. When you miss open shots and you’re struggling offensively, you can’t let it affect you on the other end of the floor. That’s easier said than done. Guys want to shoot the ball well. They’re frustrated when they miss open shots.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 5th
… CU in the Arena …
Colorado embarrassed on the road by Arizona State, 83-61
… Game recap: “White scores 19, Arizona State rolls over Colorado 83-61” … from ESPN
From CUBuffs.com … A trip to the desert proved to be no cure for the Colorado Buffaloes’ recent ills away from home.
Playing their sixth straight game away from the CU Events Center on Saturday, the Buffs fell behind early by double digits to Arizona State and never recovered, dropping an 83-61 decision to the Sun Devils at Wells Fargo Arena.
The loss, the Buffs’ fourth in their last five games, dropped their record to 9-5 overall and 0-2 in Pac-12 play while ASU improved to 10-4, 1-1.
McKinley Wright IV led Colorado with 12 points and D’Shawn Schwartz and Daylen Kountz each added 10. The Buffs were cold all afternoon from the field, finishing just 19-for-58 from the field (32.8 percent) while also losing the rebound battle, 42-28.
Romello White led five Sun Devils in double figures, finishing with 19 points as ASU shot a red-hot 57.1 percent from the field (32-for-56). ASU’s 83 points are the most given up by the Buffs this year.
“We’re just not making shots right now,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We just can’t throw it in the ocean. When that happens, you have to come back and get stops. But tonight, we weren’t good enough in any aspect of the game. We weren’t good enough in rebounding, we weren’t good enough in taking care of the ball, we weren’t good enough offensively, we weren’t good enough defensively. It was just a tail whipping. We deserved it and we got it.”
… Continue reading story here …
NEXT UP: The Buffs finally return home for a pair of games next week, beginning with a Thursday matchup with Washington State (7 p.m.) at the CU Events Center, followed by an 8 p.m. Saturday game with Washington.
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January 4th
… CU in the Arena …
CU looks to get offense going against Arizona State (Sat., 4:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
From the Daily Camera … Where oh where have all the points gone?
That is the most pressing question facing head coach Tad Boyle as the Colorado men’s basketball team attempts to get back on track Saturday afternoon in a Pac-12 Conference battle at Arizona State. When the Buffaloes raced out of the gate to an 8-1 start, albeit against mostly middle-of-the-pack mid-major programs, it was behind an offense both high-octane and versatile.
While losing three of the past four games, that offense has practically been non-existent. After scoring a season-low 62 points — in overtime, no less — two weeks ago at Hawaii, CU’s offense hit a new low Thursday night in a 64-56 loss at Arizona in the Pac-12 opener.
… Continue reading story here …
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January 3rd
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs fall on the road to Arizona in Pac-12 opener
… Related … “Turnovers again doom CU Buffs basketball at Arizona in Pac-12 opener” … from the Daily Camera
... Related … “Deleon Brown doesn’t make the grades, ruled ineligible for CU basketball” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado started fast and finished strong Thursday night in its Pac-12 opener, but a difficult stretch in the middle of game proved too much to overcome, as CU dropped a 64-56 decision to Arizona at the McKale Center.
The loss, CU’s third in the last four games, dropped the Buffs to 9-4 overall (0-1 in Pac-12) while Arizona improved to 10-4, 1-0. The loss was CU’s seventh in as many tries at McKale since the Buffs joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12. Since the beginning of the 2013 season, Arizona is 90-4 on its home floor.
After trailing by as much as 17 in the second half, the Buffs cut the margin to seven, 57-50, with 2:42 still left to play on a D’Shawn Schwartz 3-pointer.
But that was as close as the Buffs could come. Arizona build the lead back to double digits, then held the Buffs off in the final minute.
Sophomore McKinley Wright IV led CU with 17 points and Lucas Siewert added 11, but they were the only Buffs in double figures as Colorado shot just 19-for-53 from the field (35.8 percent). Schwartz had eight points and eight rebounds for CU and Tyler Bey had 11 rebounds and four points.
Brandon Williams led Arizona with 14 points as the Wildcats shot 25-for-58 (43.1 percent) and Brandon Randolph added 11.
CU was once again plagued by turnovers, committing 17 — including six by Wright — which led to 14 Arizona points. The Wildcats also dominated the game inside, outscoring Colorado 38-18 in the paint.
“We have some offensive woes right now,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “When you combine 35 percent shooting with 17 turnovers, you put a lot of pressure on your defense. I thought our defense was great in the second half, it really was. But our offensive efficiency is just not very good right now. I’ve got to do a better job as a coach to get these guys to understand that it’s about the execution. When you get good shots you have to be able to stick them in the basket. I don’t care if you’re in the paint, I don’t care if you’re wide open from three. You have to be able to capitalize.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Oregon star center Bol Bol may be out for the rest of the season
From Duck Territory … Freshman star center Bol Bol‘s future at Oregon is likely going to be over, according to multiple sources close to the Oregon basketball program.
Bol has missed the team’s last four games with a left foot injury and the outlook on his return to the team this season gets grimmer by the day. According to sources who can’t speak on the record, Bol suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and his timeline to return from injury will likely keep him out of the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Multiple sources have told DuckTerritory.com Bol is likely going to begin rehab work ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft with basketball and medical trainers outside the Oregon basketball program. Bol has spent most of the last two weeks back home in Kansas with his family mulling over his options to rehab his injury. Multiple sources have told DuckTerritory they do not believe Bol will play the rest of the year, but a final decision has not been made.
“I would be completely shocked if Bol played the rest of this year,” one source said.
… Continue reading story here …
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Jon Wilner picks CU to finish 5th in Pac-12
From the San Jose Mercury News … The past eight weeks? Irrelevant.
The inexplicable losses … the blowouts … the meltdowns … the no-shows?
Never happened. None of it.
At least, that’s the approach every program should adopt as conference play begins today across the Pac-12.
Outside the 12 bubbles, however, the carnage cannot be forgotten (unfortunately), and it has altered our view of teams, players and coaches.
Hotline projections, derived from a blend of preseason expectations and in-season performance …
*** All-conference
Third team
G Colorado’s McKinley Wright
*** Order of finish
1. Oregon: Best combination of high-end talent, experience and coach. But injuries — it’s not just Bol — make the Ducks a fragile frontrunner.
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5. Colorado: Quietly collecting the victories, but until the Buffaloes prove they can do it at sea level, we’ll slot them on the second tier.
… Read full story here …
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Tad Boyle: “If you want to have a chance to win a championship, you have to win on the road”
… Related … “Fresh start awaits CU men’s basketball in Pac-12 opener at Arizona” … from the Daily Camera
… Related … “Pac-12 basketball: Who will rise above mediocrity in wide-open league race?” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … In what might be the most wide-open Pac-12 in recent years — not a single conference team is ranked in the nation’s top 25 — the Colorado Buffaloes believe opportunity awaits this week as they begin conference play.
But taking advantage of that opportunity won’t be easy. It begins with a weekend trip to the desert, where they will open conference play with games at Arizona (7 p.m. Thursday) and Arizona State (4 p.m. Saturday) and an eye on collecting at least one road win — a rarity in conference play.
How rare? Last season, Colorado won just one road game, a victory at UCLA.
But this year, the 9-3 Buffs already have two road wins under their belts, and would like to push that number to at least seven — which means they will need five Pac-12 road wins to hit their goal.
“Every league — it doesn’t matter if you’re in the Pac-12 or the Big Sky or the ACC — if you want to finish in the top half of the league and have a chance to win a championship, you have to win on the road,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said Tuesday, just before the Buffs left for their Arizona trip. “You don’t have to win every game on the road, but you have to win games on the road. … You can’t win five unless you win the first one.”
… Continue reading story here …
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January 2nd
… CU in the Arena …
Pac-12 without a ranked team for the first time since the 2011-12 season
From azdesertswarm.com … Every Pac-12 school has at least one thing in common — none of their men’s basketball teams are ranked.
For the first time since 2011-12, zero Pac-12 schools find themselves inside the AP Top 25. The Arizona State Sun Devils, who were ranked 17th last week, were upset at home by Princeton and subsequently fell out of the polls.
Perhaps even more shuddering is that ASU is the only Pac-12 school to have even received votes this week, as it garnered 116, the most among non-ranked teams.
The Pac-12 ranks as the sixth-best conference in the country by KenPom, the worst among the major conferences. The so-called Conference of Champions has a losing record against the West Coast Conference this year.
Some embarrassing results for the Pac-12 this week included UCLA losing at home to Liberty by 15 points (then firing Steve Alford), Washington State falling to Santa Clara in Spokane, and Cal losing at home to Seattle, the Redhawks’ second win over a Pac-12 school.
As of Dec. 27, ESPN projected that two Pac-12 teams will make the NCAA Tournament this season — ASU and Oregon. However, that was before the Sun Devils lost to Princeton.
KenPom rates the Ducks as the conference’s best team … all the way down at No. 39. Them and ASU are the only Pac-12 teams rated inside KenPom’s Top 50. One-third of the conference — Stanford, Utah, Washington State and Cal — ranks outside the Top 100. Cal ranks outside the Top 200.
Every Pac-12 team has at least three losses heading into conference play, which mercifully begins this week.
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January 1st – Happy New Year!
… CU in the Arena …
Evan Battey coming into his own as conference play opens – Thurs., 7:00 p.m., MT, FS1
Related … “Building on solid start the goal for CU basketball freshman Daylen Kountz” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado redshirt freshman Evan Battey is steadily coming into his own as a Division I college basketball player.
Battey, whose much-publicized return to the game has been a focal point of nearly every Buffs television broadcast, is slowly but surely shaking off the rust of a two-year layoff from playing competitively.
Now, that layoff — due first to ineligibility issues, then a life-threatening stroke — is becoming more and more of a memory from the distant past. After 12 games for the 9-3 Buffs, Battey is the team’s fourth-leading scorer (8.7 points per game) and fourth-leading rebounder (4.3 rpg), while currently just sixth on the team in minutes played (21.1 per game).
Equally importantly, he is displaying the versatility that makes him such a rarity for a 6-foot-8, 265-pound forward. He is fourth on the team in assists (13) and steals (7), leads the team in offensive rebounds (25) and is shooting a respectable 44.2 percent from the field.
“I think the rust is going away,” Battey said. “I still find myself in situations now and then that I haven’t been in for a long time, and I won’t finish or I won’t get a rebound. But I’m not experiencing as many of those situations anymore. Overall, I think I’m back — it’s just a matter of not tricking myself into thinking there’s something I can’t do. I just have to play.”
Battey’s season has already been one of many “firsts” in his comeback — first game, first basket, first win, first start, etc.
This week, he will add to the list when he plays in his first Pac-12 game. The Buffs open conference play Thursday with a 7 p.m. game at Arizona — one of the most raucous environments in the conference — followed by a 4 p.m. Saturday matchup at Arizona State.
… Continue reading story here …
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… Note … With Arizona State’s loss to Princeton, the Sun Devils fell out of the Associated Press rankings, leaving exactly zero Pac-12 teams in the rankings as teams shift to conference play …
Pac-12 standings heading into conference play
| TEAMS | CONF | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | 9-3 |
| 0-0 | 9-3 |
| 0-0 | 9-4 |
| 0-0 | 9-4 |
| 0-0 | 8-4 |
| 0-0 | 8-4 |
| 0-0 | 7-5 |
| 0-0 | 7-6 |
| 0-0 | 7-6 |
| 0-0 | 7-6 |
| 0-0 | 6-6 |
| 0-0 | 5-7 |
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
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Stuart
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