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MBB: @ Texas Game Notes & Game Thread

Buffnik

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
MBB Travels to No. 2 Texas

Game #15 Notes (at Texas)

at No. 2/2 Texas Longhorns (14-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 9 • Tipoff: 11:47 a.m. (MST)

• Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports & Entertainment); ESPN360.com; ESPN Full Court

• Announcers: Mitch Holthus (p-b-p), Jon Sundvold (analyst).

• Location: Erwin Center (16,734)

• CU Radio: 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 126

• Series vs. Texas: UT leads 13-8 (at Boulder, 5-4; at Texas 2-6; Neutral, 1-3). UT has won five straight; last three games by an average of 7.3 points.

CU NOTES: Entering the week, CU was the top free throw shooting team nationally • CU is 8-0 at home for the first time since the 1982-83 season (9-0) • Alec Burks ranks seventh nationally of all freshmen in scoring (16.3 ppg.). His last five games lead CU: 17.8 ppg., 6.0 rpg., .536 FG% (30-of-56); .833 FT%-all team high. Burks netted his first career double-double with 17 pts., 10 rebounds against Miami (OH) last Tuesday • CU is 6-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits • CU is 7-1 when shooting over 50 percent from the field • CU has scored over 70 points in 10 of 14 games and are 8-2 in those games.

BACK IN THE DAY: CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik and Texas coach Rick Barnes share a past for those who don't know. Both were assistant coaches together at Davidson College (N.C.) in 1978. Although Coach Barnes leads the head-to-head series, 3-0, margin of victory is only 7.3 points.

TEXAS UPDATE: The Longhorns are ranked No. 2 in both polls and have won their first 14 games of the season. They average 87 points per game, have four players averaging in double figures. The 'Horns are 9-0 at home with an average victory of 30 points at the Erwin Center. Head coach Rick Barnes is the winningest coach in UT basketball history with 284 wins (105 losses).

BIG 12 OPENERS: Colorado brings a 12-game losing streak in conference openers with six of those coming on the road. The 2010 Big 12 opener is also the fourth time the Buffaloes will be playing Texas and second time in Austin (2005-06). CU's lone conference opening win came in the first season of the Big 12 (Jan. 4, 1997, Nebraska, 79-73).

AGAINST THE LONGHORNS: CU trails in the series, 13-8 and have lost the last five in a row, however, the last three games have been an average of 7.3 points. The Buffs are 2-6 at the Erwin Center. Back in 2008, CU dropped a 69-67 decision in Austin. CU last won in Austin, Feb. 28, 1998.

HOME vs. THE ROAD: CU is averaging 81.1 points per game with four players in double figures in eight home games (.530 FG%). Cory Higgins (20.6 ppg.), Alec Burks (15.9), Marcus Relphorde (11.4), Dwight Thorne (11.6). In the six combined away/neutral court games, the Buffs are averaging 70.3 ppg., shoot .432 from the field and average only two players in double figures.

BIG 12 PLAY SETBACKS: Winning on the road is sometimes a difficult task, especially in the Big 12. CU has lost 29-straight Big 12 Conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006. All eight games in 2008-09, 2007-08 and 2006-07; and the last five games of the 2005-06 season.

Last Big 12 Road Win: Jan. 21, 2006 at Oklahoma State, 80-78 (ot).

Last Big 12 Road Win (Regulation): Jan. 14, 2006 at Missouri, 74-71.

vs. RANKED OPPONENTS: The Buffaloes have lost eight straight games to nationally ranked opponents dating back to the 2006-07. Their last win came in Boulder against then-No. 18/19 Oklahoma State, 84-75 (Feb. 15, 2007).

http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204866336

***************

Could we pull a program changing upset today?

:gobuffs:
 
If y'all spot a gold CU flag way up in the upper deck behind one of the goals, that's NB96 and family! Leaving after kids' flag football practice. GO BUFFS!
 
navybuff96 said:
If y'all spot a gold CU flag way up in the upper deck behind one of the goals, that's NB96 and family! Leaving after kids' flag football practice. GO BUFFS!
Click to expand...

We'll likely see you multiple times. Prime-time camera spot.
 
What do you guys expect? I'd be happy just to stay close for a while.
 
Down 42-57 at half.

And we played pretty well. There's a reason Vegas has Texas as a big favorite to win it all this year. That team is incredible. Their bigs are extremely athletic, they play good team defense, they can post up and shoot from the outside, and they're the best rebounding team I've seen all year. In case you can't tell, I'm extremely impressed.

Hopefully we can figure out a way to force some turnovers and keep Texas off the offensive glass in the second half. And their shooting has to cool off, right? Hell, it seems like they've made every shot. We've shown we can score and are capable of going on some runs in this game. But we need to hold UT under 40 points in the 2nd half to have any chance of coming back, imo.
 
i've seen UT 3-4 times this year. they are for real. i thought it might take some growing pains for them to get it going but they hit the ground running. double digit W's over Mich St. and UNC.

and not a good situation for us to step into; since they've "struggled" in their last two (ATM-CC and Arkie)...and ready to set the "tone" in Big XII play, at home, against us.
 
Just kind of depressing. We can't even compete down low. That is what is killing us, more than any other aspect of the game. What I keep telling myself, though, is that no one can compete with Texas down low, not just us. We definetly need to get stronger on the defensive boards, though. We also need a bit more depth on the offensive end. We can't just keep relying on Higgins and Burks. Some other guys need to pick it up.
 
Buffs are going to have trouble coming back, but Relphorde just ****ing threw it down on some longhorn's face. Jesus tits!
 
Cut it to 10 (64-74) with a little over 11 minutes to play. Doing a great job of hanging around.
 
Final score was 86-103.

Texas ended up fouling out our entire front line and rolled from there. We hung tough until we ran out of fouls.
 
Not a bad offensive performance against one of the elite, on the road mind you.

However, CU will not improve to the next level (which is the level where things can really get fun) until they can find someone that can be ANY KIND OF force on the boards. 18 rebounds aint gonna cut it against anyone.

If/when Bzdelik finds 1 or 2 impactful BIGS, this team will improve tremendously. I'm not talking 7 footers. I'm talking about a couple of 6'8" to 6'10" guys that are athletic, can throw down, and can rebound and be strong in the paint.

I know that we all like Dufault but that is not his primary type of play, Crawford and Ralphorde either. And as for Eckloff? Great kid, fantastci grades/student, has size, can play a little but, I'm not sure he's comfortable (may never be) playing at this level.
 
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coereg said:
Not a bad offensive/defensive performance against one of the elite, on the road mind you.

However, CU will not improve to the next level (which is the level where things can really get fun) until they can find someone that can be ANY KIND OF force on the boards.

If/when Bzdelik finds 1 or 2 impactful BIGS, this team will improve tremendously. I'm not talking 7 footers. I'm talking about a couple of 6'8" to 6'10" guys that are athletic, can throw down, and can rebound and be strong in the paint.

I know that we all like Dufault but that is not his primary type of play, Crawford and Ralphorde either. And as for Eckloff? Great kid, fantastci grades/student, has size, can play a little but, I'm not sure he's comfortable (may never be) playing at this level.
Click to expand...


The question about Bz and his style of play going back to the day he was hired. Will he bring in the big bangers you need to compete in the Big XII, but don't generally depend on in the Princeton system he was running at Air Force?? He's modified the system, which makes me hopeful he's going to go after those kind of guys. But let's face it, athletic big men are the hardest thing to get and the best ones are being pursued by all the biggest programs. We may need some luck with some late developing guys here, or Bz recruiting like his ass is on fire....

Thinking about how hard it is to get guys like that just makes it that much harder to look back on the blown opportunity we had when Patton got David Harrison to come here. (And yes, plenty of blame to go around for that one....)
 
This team is frustrating because they really get your hopes up, come close a lot, but just do not win the big games. They seem to be right on the precipice but just can't get over the top. Really frustrating. I can't figure out if I'm encouraged or depressed, :lol:.
 
And it's not like their not getting fingers and hands on these rebounded balls. CU simply cannot find anyone of these guys that can ownership over that ball.

Bzdeliks #1 priority with this seasons recruiting is/should be to scour the world and find the next Jamahl Mosley, Stephane Pelle, or Julius Ashby. 6'8" to 6'9" guys, preferably JC with some experience, weighing 230 to 250ibs. that can play and make a difference. You've already got your 7 footer in Harris-Tunks, and he looks like he might make some improvements and be a decent/nice inside player.

This will reduce Dufault's INSIDE responsibility (becoming a big factor on the boards, which he's not) just enough to allow him, as well as Crawford, to play a more natural position, which is 6 feet and out, offensive, dragging the other teams bigs out to the perimeter more often, with some minimal clips of rebounding and inside post defense. Minimal at best.
 
DBT said:
This team is frustrating because they really get your hopes up, come close a lot, but just do not win the big games. They seem to be right on the precipice but just can't get over the top. Really frustrating. I can't figure out if I'm encouraged or depressed, :lol:.
Click to expand...

Sounds like they are "close" and "ready to pop"...
 
Junction said:
But let's face it, athletic big men are the hardest thing to get and the best ones are being pursued by all the biggest programs. We may need some luck with some late developing guys here, or Bz recruiting like his ass is on fire....

Thinking about how hard it is to get guys like that just makes it that much harder to look back on the blown opportunity we had when Patton got David Harrison to come here. (And yes, plenty of blame to go around for that one....)
Click to expand...

Good points, it is nearly impossible to get the top post players, the top 25 to 50, like a David Harrison, those players that you see on Texas's team. But that's not necessarily what I'm talking about, he must AT LEAST upgrade the position.

Look at CU's past 15 years of basketball for example ....

Although it may be difficult to get a Martice Moore to transfer here, or to get another D. Harrison, it ins't difficult to recruit/find the Ted Allens, Jamahl Mosleys, Stephane Pelle's, Lamar Harris's, & Julius Ashby's that are littered throughout the nation. You just have to look.

And then you look at this team right now. You look at the guard/wing play, the good shooting, Higgins and Burks, and an exciting player like Sharpe sitting out w/injury. You then add any ONE or TWO of these aforementioned players, guys that bring that tenacity with posting and rebounding, and you have the potential for a special team. That's what I mean and that's what Bzdelik needs to set his sights on. If Patton could do it then I expect Bzdelik to do it better.
 
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DBT said:
Well, they lost by 17, so, I guess you could say we were only 9 plays away, right? Or, hell, even as few as 6.
Click to expand...

Well they could have easily lost, like so many other teams, by 30+ pts. (especially having ONLY 18 rebs.), but kept it to within 11 to 15 for most of the game. Considering where both teams are at right now, and Texas playing at home, that's not bad but CU had to rely on their offense to get them through.

DBT, I agree with you. It's frustrating to watch players like Burks, Higgins, & Ralphorde, and the play that they bring, but yet not win like you want to.

Again, Bzdelik NOW needs to set his sights on finding a couple JUCO guys, Prep School guys, maybe even a transfer, that are tough in the paint. Someone, again, like a Julius Ashby, Stephane Pelle, or Jamahl Mosley.

Look, this team might win 5 or 6 conf. games. Most will be at home but I also believe they'll get that elusive road win, maybe at Nebraska or Iowa State. They'll total 14 to 15 wins which shows improvement. Not what we all want to see but it's improvement none the less.

Now you set your sights to next season for this program to turn things around, but you've got to find a couple of impact BIGS with the two schollies that you have ..... and you must keep Higgins in here for his Sr. season.

Again, you do that, and you've got a chance to make some real noise in the conference and maybe have a tournament team.
 
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Well, no sense in my "game analysis" watching it live, y'all hit the major points. Even Mrs. NB96 knew what the issue was when I came back from the head and she said, "Gee, they just showed the halftime stats and we were pretty even with them except rebounding."

Painful to watch the 'Horns big guys take the ball from the outside and just pound it down inside "butt-checking" their way to an easy lay-up. It's going to be extremely hard for us to compete in the B12 until we get a viable/legit big man (whic has been said mant times before.)

As far as the flag, I think we may have been to high up for y'all to see us. One time, the boys had it up and as I returned from the concessions, I looked up and they had the logo backwards - great plan, poor execution!

The good thing is, even my youngest had a good time, so it looks there is a good chance of an all NavyBuff Boys outing to the A&M game in a couple weeks giving the missus a few hours alone with no testosterone in the house.

GO BUFFS!
 
Navy,

Glad you all had a good time. Way to represent for CU.

I still have some hope that we can get enough wins to at least appear in the postseason CBI tourney, which would be a solid improvement for the program. But I'm already looking toward '10-'11. No way the rest of the Big 12 is this good again. And with all the pieces we have returning, if we can pull in a couple bigs (i.e., the New Zealand center and a JUCO PF banger) while getting Sharpe healthy, we're going to be a very good team that will be a tough out for anyone.
 
coereg said:
Good points, it is nearly impossible to get the top post players, the top 25 to 50, like a David Harrison, those players that you see on Texas's team. But that's not necessarily what I'm talking about, he must AT LEAST upgrade the position.

Look at CU's past 15 years of basketball for example ....

Although it may be difficult to get a Martice Moore to transfer here, or to get another D. Harrison, it ins't difficult to recruit/find the Ted Allens, Jamahl Mosleys, Stephane Pelle's, Lamar Harris's, & Julius Ashby's that are littered throughout the nation. You just have to look.

And then you look at this team right now. You look at the guard/wing play, the good shooting, Higgins and Burks, and an exciting player like Sharpe sitting out w/injury. You then add any ONE or TWO of these aforementioned players, guys that bring that tenacity with posting and rebounding, and you have the potential for a special team. That's what I mean and that's what Bzdelik needs to set his sights on. If Patton could do it then I expect Bzdelik to do it better.
Click to expand...

And that's a great post. Just those role player types inside could be HUGE in concert with those guys we already have in place. What I wouldn't give to see Stephane Pelle back on this team. That guy was just amazing - one of my all-time favorite buffs bball players...
 
I view this season as a disappointment if the streak of Big 12 road losses is not broken. If that is still hanging over this team heading into next season, I am going to be discouraged.
 
Boulder Buff said:
I view this season as a disappointment if the streak of Big 12 road losses is not broken. If that is still hanging over this team heading into next season, I am going to be discouraged.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

The goals I would lay out for this season:

1. Winning record at home.
2. Get road losing streak monkey off our backs.
3. Play in a postseason tournament.
4. Win a game in the Big 12 tournament.
5. Overall record of .500 or better.
 
Buffnik said:
Agreed.

The goals I would lay out for this season:

1. Winning record at home.
2. Get road losing streak monkey off our backs.
3. Play in a postseason tournament.
4. Win a game in the Big 12 tournament.
5. Overall record of .500 or better.
Click to expand...

1.) IMO, CU gets BIG home wins against Baylor & Mizzou, while also beating Nebr., Iowa St., & Tex. Tech.
2.) As for the road? I think CU will finally break the streak @ Nebraska on Mar. 2nd.
3.) Unlikely for a P-S tourney. CU would likely have to win at least 7 to 8 conf. games to be considered. There's so much competition these days.
4.) There's potential as long as they don't face their NEMESIS, KU, in the 1st Round.
5.) CU will finish 6-10 in conference, 15-15 overall. We'll see what they do in the Big 12 Tourney.
 
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FYI:

Oregon State went to the CBI with a record of 13-17 last year (and ended up winning the thing to get over .500).

For the Big 12 Tournament, the top 4 seeds get byes. Therefore, we definitely miss Texas and Kansas in the 1st round. So we would have a decent chance at pulling an upset win.
 
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