RINGO: Boyle's boys might just be for real in Pac-12

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By Kyle Ringo Camera Sports Writer

The Colorado Buffaloes are contenders in the Pac-12 Conference. Coach Tad Boyle came to the Coors Events Center on Thursday evening eager to see how his team measured up against one of the most talented men's basketball programs in the conference.

Originally posted by Daily Camera
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[Goose]

If the Buffs can beat the Huskies by 18, they are capable of beating any other team in the conference on any court any day.

It's that simple.

Honestly, watching the game last night I kept having flashbacks to the Mizzou game from last season. I do NOT think that we have as good of a team as last season, but our competition is weaker. Is it out of the realm of possibility that we might be able to go on enough of a run to put us on the bubble for the big dance? I'm still not convinced myself, but I'm actually entertaining the thought now, where it wouldn't have even crossed my mind prior to last night's game.

 

[tante]

I'm not sure if we turned a corner and are now improving, or if we just proved that we can beat or lose to anybody.

 

[Buffnik]

I'm trying to manage my expectations.

What has me excited is that this team's ceiling for this season looks like it's higher than I thought it would be.

I'm still cautious, because I have witnessed first-hand in some games what the floor is for this team.

Saturday, we find out how the team reacts to hype, expectations and a short turnaround in a game it should win. We'll learn a lot. They've shown that they are able to handle adversity. Now we start to find out if they can handle success.

 

[Bone Buff]

Holy crap this conference is weak this year.

It won't help our RPI any, but the way I'm looking at is, that conference tourney at the end of the year is MILES easier than the Big XII conference tourney.

 

[CarolinaBuff]

Honestly, watching the game last night I kept having flashbacks to the Mizzou game from last season. I do NOT think that we have as good of a team as last season, but our competition is weaker. Is it out of the realm of possibility that we might be able to go on enough of a run to put us on the bubble for the big dance? I'm still not convinced myself, but I'm actually entertaining the thought now, where it wouldn't have even crossed my mind prior to last night's game.

There's no doubt that last year's team was better but you hit the nail on the head, we took a step down in competition by going to this conference. And not only is it a weaker conference, it's also having a down year. Therefore it's not at all unreasonable to think that this team can go something like 12-6 in conference, and with that record we'd at least be in the discussion for one of those last few at-large bids.

 

[Goose]

Saturday, we find out how the team reacts to hype, expectations and a short turnaround in a game it should win. We'll learn a lot. They've shown that they are able to handle adversity. Now we start to find out if they can handle success.

I have to say, reading Brown's quotes from last night is helping me a bit in this regard. He kept saying about how this was just one game and they have to take care of business on Saturday.

 

[tante]

guys it was one game we can't start talking tourney, we need to realistically think about an NIT bid and anything past that is a great bonus.

 

[Bass]

Honestly, watching the game last night I kept having flashbacks to the Mizzou game from last season. I do NOT think that we have as good of a team as last season, but our competition is weaker. Is it out of the realm of possibility that we might be able to go on enough of a run to put us on the bubble for the big dance? I'm still not convinced myself, but I'm actually entertaining the thought now, where it wouldn't have even crossed my mind prior to last night's game.

i definitely have let my mind wander about us making the dance but realistically, we currently have 10 wins with 16 to go. even if we go 10-6 that puts us at 20-10, im pretty sure that mark is not good enough to get us in from a weak conference. only way in might be able to go is 20-10 in regular season and finish top 2 or 3 in the pac tourney

 

[tante]

we are sitting at 88 before the win last night in terms of RPI. Washington is at 84 but have a SOS at 37. We can probably move into the low 80s. We realistically need to finish with at least 12 conference wins and an RPI around 50 to get into the dance. We still need to see this team play on the road. I think as of right now there is a single road win in the PAC, so we are going to have a tough time winning anywhere.

 

[Buffnik]

we are sitting at 88 before the win last night in terms of RPI. Washington is at 84 but have a SOS at 37. We can probably move into the low 80s. We realistically need to finish with at least 12 conference wins and an RPI around 50 to get into the dance. We still need to see this team play on the road. I think as of right now there is a single road win in the PAC, so we are going to have a tough time winning anywhere.

Moved up to #75.

 

[tante]

Moved up to #75.

wow that was a big jump. We just gotta keep winning and find ways to win on the road.

 

[Darth Snow]

I have to say, reading Brown's quotes from last night is helping me a bit in this regard. He kept saying about how this was just one game and they have to take care of business on Saturday.

senior leadership clap clap clap clap clap.

I dunno, this team ha **** the bed as a clear favorite on a couple occassions (Maryland, CSU, Wyoming), and I think 2 of those were on short rest. So ya, I will believe it when I see it.

Also, we gotta win away, which umm... not proven. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Last night proved how damn good a coach Tad is though, that was some intense D

 

[TZISKIN]

senior leadership clap clap clap clap clap.

I dunno, this team ha **** the bed as a clear favorite on a couple occassions (Maryland, CSU, Wyoming), and I think 2 of those were on short rest. So ya, I will believe it when I see it.

Also, we gotta win away, which umm... not proven. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Last night proved how damn good a coach Tad is though, that was some intense D

While I agree that I think people are a little TOO hyped after this win, it's nice to see them exceed my expectations thus far in the Pac 12 season. The Pac is awful, which makes it nearly impossible for us to talk tourney. FWIW, we were actually the underdog in that CSU game (like 3.5 points I think) and we were only a 5 point favorite against Wyoming at home, which means Vegas essentially thought we were an even team. Obviously they smoked us, so we played very poorly, but just wanted to point that out.

 

[Darth Snow]

While I agree that I think people are a little TOO hyped after this win, it's nice to see them exceed my expectations thus far in the Pac 12 season. The Pac is awful, which makes it nearly impossible for us to talk tourney. FWIW, we were actually the underdog in that CSU game (like 3.5 points I think) and we were only a 5 point favorite against Wyoming at home, which means Vegas essentially thought we were an even team. Obviously they smoked us, so we played very poorly, but just wanted to point that out.

That is ****ing depressing. And I don't care what vegas says, we should ALWAYS be a favorite against those schools. And getting smoked at home by Wyoming... :wtf:

 

[MrFrumpylane]

I'm starting to think that a loss to Wyo at home was the best thing to happen for the Buffs this season.

 

[Goose]

I want to clarify my original post. In no way do I think the Buffs are a bubble team. I have too many memories of the Texas Southern and Cal State Bakersfield games to think that yet. I'm just saying that after last night, I could see the team go on a decent run this season and the NIT is suddenly a realistic possibility. As for the big dance, the PAC-12 is bad, so anything is possible, but we're going to have to make some noise on the road first before I even start to get hyped up about that.

 

[jgisland]

While I agree that I think people are a little TOO hyped after this win, it's nice to see them exceed my expectations thus far in the Pac 12 season. The Pac is awful, which makes it nearly impossible for us to talk tourney. FWIW, we were actually the underdog in that CSU game (like 3.5 points I think) and we were only a 5 point favorite against Wyoming at home, which means Vegas essentially thought we were an even team. Obviously they smoked us, so we played very poorly, but just wanted to point that out.

Agree with a lot of this, that CSU spread opened at 6 and closed at 3 and the wyoming game it was a 4.5 spread. Home court advantage has been a tick above 4 pts this year so you are right vegas had each of those games as pretty even on a neutral court. (And for any of you out there who try to say vegas just tries to balance action that spreads aren't accurate projections quit living in the 80's)

Expectations do need to be tempered, is CU going to get an at large bid? Highly unlikely. But as awful as the P12 is and CU playing well at home they have a legit shot of being in the top 1/4th of the conf and if they can get on a roll in the conf tourney anything could happen.

 

[GoBuffs!!]

I dont think that there is much of a chance of us being able to get a at-large bid at all. Not because CU isnt good enough (they probably arent), but mostly because I dont think the PAC12 is strong enough to get more than their Tourney champ, and possibly one team with a history (Arizona,UCLA, Washington). CU's best chance is to win the conference tourney, which I am not putting any money on, but they do have the talent to do that if things fall into place.

But with that said, I think a good goal is a NIT berth, unlike last year when we had a bunch of seniors, this year it will really help us spring board our program.

 

[dio]

I've been saying since the season started that conference play would be when we can really start judging this team.

I think NIT is a reasonable goal. But this team with Boyle coaching could send shockwaves around the Pac in coming years with the talent that is coming in. Hope we can keep Tad

 

[Nor Cal Buff]

FWIW, we were 2 point underdogs to Maryland too.

 

[Darth Snow]

FWIW, we were 2 point underdogs to Maryland too.

Goddamn, I guess vegas is as glass half empty with this team as I am :lol:

 

[Buffnik]

My goals:

1. Get to 16 wins (post-season eligible).
2. Get to 20 wins (milestone, never done by CU in consecutive seasons).

Beyond that, everything is gravy. Once we hit those two, I'll start thinking about the bigger goals.

 

[RK]

I think you guys are forgetting theres theres a way to get into the dance automatically..

 

[slider]

I'm cautiously optimistic right now. After a W vs Wazzou and a road win I'll be fully drinking the koolaid

 

[GoBuffs!!]

My goals:

1. Get to 16 wins (post-season eligible).
2. Get to 20 wins (milestone, never done by CU in consecutive seasons).

Beyond that, everything is gravy. Once we hit those two, I'll start thinking about the bigger goals.

16 wins, I think that is very doable

20 wins, That will be tough, but I dont see that as too far out of the question (They need to take care of WSU and either Cal/Stanford for me to think it is a possibility, and that will be tough)

 

[BuffaloSoldier76]

16 wins, I think that is very doable

20 wins, That will be tough, but I dont see that as too far out of the question (They need to take care of WSU and either Cal/Stanford for me to think it is a possibility, and that will be tough)

20 wins = hold court in all games remaining at home + grab 3 on the road. That seems pretty doable to me. We should be able to take Utah, ASU and U$C on their courts. It is never easy, but it is at least a possibility.

 

[Goose]

20 wins = hold court in all games remaining at home + grab 3 on the road. That seems pretty doable to me. We should be able to take Utah, ASU and U$C on their courts. It is never easy, but it is at least a possibility.

Have to hold court at home though and with Arizona and Cal still coming here, that's not easy.

 

[buffs04]

20 wins = hold court in all games remaining at home + grab 3 on the road. That seems pretty doable to me. We should be able to take Utah, ASU and U$C on their courts. It is never easy, but it is at least a possibility.

I think it is more realistic to consider a scenario with 1 home loss and 4 road wins, personally...

 

[jgisland]

Have to hold court at home though and with Arizona and Cal still coming here, that's not easy.

not easy no, but it is nice to see that zona and cal both lost on the road last night. UCLA played at the Honda center last night and the reported attendance was [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]9,247 in 18,336 stadium. There were probably only 7k people actually there and Josh Smith didn't play (he may be more of a detriment to the team but that is another topic). What does all of this mean? Nothing other than zona couldn't win on the road in a half full arena with one of the opposing teams better players out.[/FONT]​