Game thread- Women’s basketball hosting Loyola Marymount (Saturday, 2:00)

[AztecBuff]

Official Preview- http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=210495525

“
ABOUT THE BUFFS: Colorado head coach Linda Lappe begins her sixth season at the helm for the Buffaloes as the team will look to return to the postseason after missing it for the first time last season under Lappe’s tenure. In 2014-15, the Buffs posted a 15-17 overall record and went 6-12 in Pac-12 play, finishing ninth.

Colorado returns seven letter winners from last season’s roster and a highly touted group of five newcomers, four of whom are freshmen. The Buffaloes will turn to forward Jamee Swan for continued leadership both on and off the court as she is the lone senior on this year’s team. As a junior, Swan led the Buffs in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest.

Juniors Haley Smith and Lauren Huggins will provide support on the wing along with freshman Makenzie Ellis. Smith and Huggins are each coming off sophomore campaigns where they averaged 9.4 and 4.5 points, respectively.

SophomoreBrecca Thomaswill be joined by freshmenKennedy LeonardandAlexis Robinsonat the guard position to help run the backcourt. Thomas played in all 32 contests last year and tallied 40 assists, while averaging 3.3 points per contest.

Junior forward Zoe Beard-Fails and sophomore center Zoe Correal are also back and will be pivotal underneath as they each saw playing time in all 32 games during 2014-15.

Freshman Monica Burich and sophomore Ariana Freeman, both new faces on the team will not see action this year. Burich is out for the season with a torn ACL and Freeman will redshirt after transferring from Louisville.

GAME 1 FUN: All tickets to Saturday’s opener are only $1 each. In addition, selected concessions will also be available for $1, including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and soda. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game or online by visiting CUBuffs.com/tickets. Season ticket holders will receive an extra perk with an exclusive t-shirt giveaway.
…

ABOUT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: Loyola Marymount went 7-24 in 2014-15 and was 4-14 in West Coast Conference play, finishing seventh overall.

The Lions return eight letterwinners from last season’s roster and three starters, including junior guard Leslie Lopez-Wood, who led the team in scoring as a sophomore with 13.5 points per game.

Senior guard Sophie Taylor also returns, coming off a junior campaign in which she averaged 11.7 points per outing, third most on the team and was second on the squad, grabbing 6.2 rebounds during each contest.

The Lions played in a pair of exhibition games as a tune-up for the regular season, winning both on their home court. They first defeated Cal State San Bernadino by a score of 64-59 and then earned a 20-point victory over Bethesda, 101-81.

Loyola Marymount is led by fourth-year head coach Charity Elliott, who is 29-63 in three seasons at the helm for the Lions.
…
“

Free live video stream- http://pac-12.com/live/university-colorado

Link to link to Free live audio of radio broadcast (also on radio at KKZN 760) - http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?type=live&db_oem_id=600

Possible link to Live Stats (No live link showing available for this (or any non-conference) game yet, but hopefully there will be by game time) - http://www.cubuffs.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml OR http://www.cubuffs.com/liveStats/li...G=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&LIST_SPORT_KEY=W_BASKETBALL

Note- The Buffs also posted a couple videos featuring Buff (redshirting) transfer Ariana Freeman:
1) Rules changes (included as part of an article on the same topic) - http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=210489888
2) More about this 1st game of the year, entitled "Game One Fun") - http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=4673699

 

[Buffnik]

GAME 1 FUN: All tickets to Saturday’s opener are only $1 each. In addition, selected concessions will also be available for $1, including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and soda. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game or online by visiting CUBuffs.com/tickets. Season ticket holders will receive an extra perk with an exclusive t-shirt giveaway.

Going to be a fun one for the family.

 

[Goose]

Such a brilliant promotion.

Let's go Buffs!

 

[buffgal]

Wish I could be there in person, but I will be cheering them on from my living room!

 

[AztecBuff]

Just looking at the emailed itinerary for today's game, and one thing listed for those interested is "1:10 p.m. Pregame Interview in Chip's Corral with Linda Lappe and Ceal Barry"

 

[AztecBuff]

And 8t's tipoff.

 

[jsmilkst]

Correal gets the start today over Swan? Did she do something?

 

[jsmilkst]

Swan started 2nd q, must have been suspended. Alexis Robinson looking sharp early.

 

[jsmilkst]

Not a clean half, but a lot of positive. Way too many fouls (but yeesh, don't touch anyone, it's a foul). Transition d got confused a couple times. But Huggy is on fire.

 

[AztecBuff]

44-33 at the half. Buffs (esp. Huggins) deadly so far from outside. Team 7-11 from 3.

A few more turnovers than ideal (8), but have to love the # of assists (13) for a half.

Bri Watts not in uni today. Injured???

 

[MarkW]

My gut reaction to the first half (in person) . . . This team isn't going to win many more game's than last season.

 

[MarkW]

Only 9 players suited up today. Watts, Burich and of course Freeman not available. Don't know what's up with Watts.

Buffs can't afford foul trouble or injuries this season.

Leonard and Robinson are very good.

 

[cnbuff410]

Those freshmen are GOOD

 

[AztecBuff]

Buffs get the win 92-81. Always nice to start the year with a W. Was also nice to see that, following in the tradition of Lexy Kresl, looks like we have a point in Ms. Leonard who can nail free throws at the end of games. ( Think she went 7-8 or 9-10 when they kept fouling her intentionally at the end to keep the game from getting close.)

 

[BeBe]

Well, they made that a lot harder than it should have been. Kennedy Leonard and Alexis Robinson look like they are the real deal. Good to see the assist to turnover ratio. But the coaches will have lots of things to work on when they review the tape

 

[Buffnik]

At the game, it was heavy handed officiating that dramatically favored the road team. If not for the intentional fouling, I think we would have only taken 16 FTs to LMU's 30.

Worse is what it did to pace. With any flow, the Buffs win that by 30 instead of it coming back from 19 to be around 10 for most of the 4th.

I'll post my player impressions later when home.

 

[buffgal]

The Camera said Swan didn't start because of a violation of team rules. Bri Watts didn't play because of a violation of team rules.

Carol Callan, the color analyst, said those last 2 minutes could take 30 minutes the way fouls were being called. They took 34.

My first impressions were not adjusting to the officials and foul calling, too many turnovers again and getting outrebounded.

I am still very, very impressed with Kennedy Leonard. Can't fault Lauren Huggins going 4-5 from behind the arc, but she didn't score in the second half. I do like five players in double figures.

 

[Buffnik]

I really like the foundation of this team.

It all starts with Jamee Swan. Although she struggled with her shot today, she looked really good. Seemed to put a lot of work in because her fitness level looks higher than last year. The offense runs through her.

Haley Smith is so skilled and needs to be on the court -- a lot. I'm very impressed by her game.

Then there's Lauren Huggins, who is pretty much a dedicated 3pt shooter but is also the vocal leader of the team who gets everyone where they need to be. A bit one dimensional, but that dimension opens the court and allows her to get into double figures without commanding a high usage rate.

After that, it's the freshmen. Kennedy Leonard and Alexis Robinson have serious game. That's the back court that is going to determine how good this team can be. And I'm thinking that they are going to be spectacular.

As much as Lappe may need to go bigger in some games with high usage rates and possibly starting Beard-Fails, Correal or Watts... I think it's a better team if they can go a bit smaller with the 5 I mentioned at the top. The bigs are useful, but none have shown me enough to make me think that their size offers the team more than the skill of the players I mentioned.

And the wildcard here is Makenzie Ellis. Early foul trouble limited her, but she looks like another player. This is going to be a defining freshman class for Lappe.

 

[AztecBuff]

Some official media for the game-
Article (entitled Buffs Show Up Strong At Free Throw Line, Win Season Opener) - http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=210498690
Post-game press conference with Coach Lappe (3:38) - http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=4687556
Post game press conference with players Lauren Huggins & Kennedy Leonard (4:17) - http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=4687826
Highlights (3:41) - http://www.cubuffs.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&id=4687822
Boxscore- http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210498636

 

[jsmilkst]

Pretty much concur on all above. Jamee looks great this season. Not that she was ever small, but she looks cut now. Prepped for not getting pushed around in conference. Correal I think is improved, which is needed, but will still be big step down when we have to spell Swan.
At one point we played a lineup that was 5-10, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. That's a huge line for women's ball.
Couple of the problems that showed up was a) started getting out hustled to the ball and b) got completely frazzled for a couple minutes when it got close again. Lost all composure.
The reason I still put this team ahead of last year, as far as ceiling, is that a lot of the issues seem like very teachable issues, and so many young minutes. Make those corrections, continue to grow in to college ball, I think there's some possibilities.
Lastly on the freshmen: still have no idea on Ellis, but she started both games so Lappe must like her. And as impressed as I've been by Kennedy, Alexis looks even more mature, poised and effective out there. Sad to say, because of course terrible for her, but Burich injury may be blessing in class balance. This is a STRONG class. And I'm already being concerned about replacing them in 4 years haha.

 

[buffgal]

And today we have another commitment from a point guard for the class of 16. What about the post? We need post players!

 

[MarkW]

I wasn't able to watch the last 6 minutes of the game yesterday so I wasn't able to witness the foul fest. However, my impression of this team remains the same as I posted during the game, this season's team won't win significantly more games than last season. This won't be due to a lack of effort or some talent in the freshmen class. And of course there are Jamee Swan and Haley Smith. But somehow that parts aren't looking like they are going to be able to handle the top tier teams in the Pac 12.

Maybe it's the hangover from the previous two season. Or perhaps it's due to several recruiting classes that didn't have the talent this current group of freshmen do. Regardless, my prediction at this time is that the Buffs will have about the same record as last season.

As for the talent in the freshmen class, wow when it comes to Robinson and Leonard. Neither looked like a freshman yesterday. They combined for 15 assists and 31 points. Robinson in particular - IMHO she was the best player on the court yesterday. It's been a while since the Buffs have had a point guard who could make smart passes in both transition and the half court. Now they have two who can do so.

I thought Swan was initially a little off her game as she was missing interior shots she would normally make (much like Josh Scott in the ISU game). But she is so smooth when she has it going on offense and she had several bit swats.

LMU is not a very good team. The Buffs face Northern Colorado next, another team that won't really prepare the Buffs for Pac 12 play. When they travel to Kentucky they will really see a strong opponent and we'll have a better sense of this team.

 

[buffgal]

Lappe has a habit of scheduling patsy teams in the non-conference schedule. I would like to see them playing more good teams than Kentucky.

Swan was being punished for something. Maybe coming in after sitting out the first quarter bothered her. She did have some good blocks. Free throw shooting was much improved from the exhibition game.

 

[MarkW]

I know this was mentioned earlier, but the officiating really had an impact on the game. What is a foul this season wasn't a foul last season, for the most part. In CU's case this put a lot of players in foul trouble. And if CU doesn't adjust or the officiating doesn't change then CU is going to have trouble at the end of a lot of games as they'll run low on numbers.

watched the highlights and was even more impressed with the passing of both Leonard and Robinson. Not only did they get the ball to their teammates in the right place but also at the right moment. Very well done, especially for freshmen.

It was difficult to get s sense of Makenzie Ellis in this game. Her knee brace impedes her mobility and she and she had some foul issues. It will be interesting to see if she continues to start.

 

[BeBe]

Lappe has a habit of scheduling patsy teams in the non-conference schedule. I would like to see them playing more good teams than Kentucky. ......

It looks like Florida has a pretty good team also. They beat pre-season #6 Fla State by 10 yesterday although FSU lost a lot when Romero went down with a high ankle sprain. Even when Romero was in the game it was a pretty tightly contested game.
Florida will be in Boulder for the Omni tourney later this month. First round they face Ball State and I expect Florida to win that one.

 

[buffgal]

I watched the Florida/Florida State game. Agree that Florida should beat Ball State.

I did not understand why the team didn't adjust by the end of the game to the way fouls were being called. Made no sense to me.