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And now, for something completely different...
One month after playing through an error-prone home loss to the UCLA Bruins, CU decided to come out with a different tack in Westwood. *They went against convention, playing run-and-gun basketball, trading shot-for-shot with the effusive home team. *At least for 30 minutes it worked, and it was glorious. *The Buffs were playing beautiful, offensive basketball, and held a lead over the heavily favored Bruins on the road. Unfortunately, as is often the case when you try to out-shoot a shooter, Colorado tired out, and the Bruins just kept right on making shot after shot. *It was only a matter of time, and CU succumbed down the stretch, falling under the tide of a 56-point second half. *The*92-74 final*was not indicative of the run of play, but that matters little. *A loss is a loss.
Overall, UCLA shot 57% for the game, and scored 1.3 points per possession. Even without another team guarding them, Colorado is going to be hard pressed to maintain that kind of pace. That doesn't mean they didn't try. *Behind a transformative performance from Askia Booker (who finished with 16 points and 12 assists), CU scored 40 first half points on only 16 shots. *It was probably the best the offense has looked all season. We'll always have that first half Paris.
The second frame was less-positive. *With 13 minutes to play, Colorado clung to a 53-52 lead. *UCLA proceeded to make seven of their next eight shots, including three of Bryce Alford's four made three-pointers, to take a 10-point lead that all but ended the game with 10 minutes to play. *It didn't help that, over this same stretch, Colorado began to panic and try to make up the gap with hasty three-pointers. *For the second half, CU would finish 3-15 from beyond the arc, forsaking the interior completely, and becoming very easy to guard.
With their three best defenders on the bench due to injuries, guarding the Bruins was always going to be an issue. *Coach Boyle admitted as much in the opening minutes, when he had the team come out in a loose and ineffective 2-3 zone. *Because they don't know how to play a zone properly, that idea had to go, and CU played man-to-man the rest of the way. *But that only accentuated the matchup issue, and players like Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear took advantage of playing against smaller defenders. *Anderson was especially magnificent, going for 22/11/7 without Wes Gordon to guard him.
I will cop to becoming seduced by the offensive fireworks. *Twice I tweeted about how much fun I was having watching the game, which, while true, covered over my knowledge that the pace and style of play was not sustainable for 40 minutes. *It may have been fun and entertaining, but that kind of basketball is not winning basketball for Colorado against the better teams in this league. *They have to play defense, they have to stick to their principles. *The simple fact is that CU isn't going to win many games played in the mid-160s, especially on the road.
The result against UCLA, on its own, is not devastating, it's not even really all that painful. *A winless trip to SoCal, however, would probably put the Tournament out of reach. *CU has a solid opportunity to salvage the necessary split tomorrow night against the Trojans. *The game is not only winnable, it's probably the only date the rest of the way that the Buffs will be favored in. *They need to take advantage.
--
Tip-off from the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles is set for 6pm tomorrow evening. *The run of coverage on the ESPN family of networks continues, as the game can be seen on ESPNU. *Mark Johnson and the radio call will on 850 KOA, per usual.
For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Click below for the preview...
Read more »
And now, for something completely different...
One month after playing through an error-prone home loss to the UCLA Bruins, CU decided to come out with a different tack in Westwood. *They went against convention, playing run-and-gun basketball, trading shot-for-shot with the effusive home team. *At least for 30 minutes it worked, and it was glorious. *The Buffs were playing beautiful, offensive basketball, and held a lead over the heavily favored Bruins on the road. Unfortunately, as is often the case when you try to out-shoot a shooter, Colorado tired out, and the Bruins just kept right on making shot after shot. *It was only a matter of time, and CU succumbed down the stretch, falling under the tide of a 56-point second half. *The*92-74 final*was not indicative of the run of play, but that matters little. *A loss is a loss.
Overall, UCLA shot 57% for the game, and scored 1.3 points per possession. Even without another team guarding them, Colorado is going to be hard pressed to maintain that kind of pace. That doesn't mean they didn't try. *Behind a transformative performance from Askia Booker (who finished with 16 points and 12 assists), CU scored 40 first half points on only 16 shots. *It was probably the best the offense has looked all season. We'll always have that first half Paris.
The second frame was less-positive. *With 13 minutes to play, Colorado clung to a 53-52 lead. *UCLA proceeded to make seven of their next eight shots, including three of Bryce Alford's four made three-pointers, to take a 10-point lead that all but ended the game with 10 minutes to play. *It didn't help that, over this same stretch, Colorado began to panic and try to make up the gap with hasty three-pointers. *For the second half, CU would finish 3-15 from beyond the arc, forsaking the interior completely, and becoming very easy to guard.
With their three best defenders on the bench due to injuries, guarding the Bruins was always going to be an issue. *Coach Boyle admitted as much in the opening minutes, when he had the team come out in a loose and ineffective 2-3 zone. *Because they don't know how to play a zone properly, that idea had to go, and CU played man-to-man the rest of the way. *But that only accentuated the matchup issue, and players like Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear took advantage of playing against smaller defenders. *Anderson was especially magnificent, going for 22/11/7 without Wes Gordon to guard him.
I will cop to becoming seduced by the offensive fireworks. *Twice I tweeted about how much fun I was having watching the game, which, while true, covered over my knowledge that the pace and style of play was not sustainable for 40 minutes. *It may have been fun and entertaining, but that kind of basketball is not winning basketball for Colorado against the better teams in this league. *They have to play defense, they have to stick to their principles. *The simple fact is that CU isn't going to win many games played in the mid-160s, especially on the road.
The result against UCLA, on its own, is not devastating, it's not even really all that painful. *A winless trip to SoCal, however, would probably put the Tournament out of reach. *CU has a solid opportunity to salvage the necessary split tomorrow night against the Trojans. *The game is not only winnable, it's probably the only date the rest of the way that the Buffs will be favored in. *They need to take advantage.
--
Tip-off from the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles is set for 6pm tomorrow evening. *The run of coverage on the ESPN family of networks continues, as the game can be seen on ESPNU. *Mark Johnson and the radio call will on 850 KOA, per usual.
For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Click below for the preview...
Read more »
Originally posted by The Rumblings of a Deranged Buffalo
Click here to view the article.
One month after playing through an error-prone home loss to the UCLA Bruins, CU decided to come out with a different tack in Westwood. *They went against convention, playing run-and-gun basketball, trading shot-for-shot with the effusive home team. *At least for 30 minutes it worked, and it was glorious. *The Buffs were playing beautiful, offensive basketball, and held a lead over the heavily favored Bruins on the road. Unfortunately, as is often the case when you try to out-shoot a shooter, Colorado tired out, and the Bruins just kept right on making shot after shot. *It was only a matter of time, and CU succumbed down the stretch, falling under the tide of a 56-point second half. *The*92-74 final*was not indicative of the run of play, but that matters little. *A loss is a loss.
Overall, UCLA shot 57% for the game, and scored 1.3 points per possession. Even without another team guarding them, Colorado is going to be hard pressed to maintain that kind of pace. That doesn't mean they didn't try. *Behind a transformative performance from Askia Booker (who finished with 16 points and 12 assists), CU scored 40 first half points on only 16 shots. *It was probably the best the offense has looked all season. We'll always have that first half Paris.
 |
| Ski had a beautiful game in defeat. |
With their three best defenders on the bench due to injuries, guarding the Bruins was always going to be an issue. *Coach Boyle admitted as much in the opening minutes, when he had the team come out in a loose and ineffective 2-3 zone. *Because they don't know how to play a zone properly, that idea had to go, and CU played man-to-man the rest of the way. *But that only accentuated the matchup issue, and players like Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear took advantage of playing against smaller defenders. *Anderson was especially magnificent, going for 22/11/7 without Wes Gordon to guard him.
 |
| Coach Boyle could only watch as Kyle Anderson gashed his defense. |
The result against UCLA, on its own, is not devastating, it's not even really all that painful. *A winless trip to SoCal, however, would probably put the Tournament out of reach. *CU has a solid opportunity to salvage the necessary split tomorrow night against the Trojans. *The game is not only winnable, it's probably the only date the rest of the way that the Buffs will be favored in. *They need to take advantage.
--
Tip-off from the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles is set for 6pm tomorrow evening. *The run of coverage on the ESPN family of networks continues, as the game can be seen on ESPNU. *Mark Johnson and the radio call will on 850 KOA, per usual.
For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Click below for the preview...
Read more »
And now, for something completely different...
One month after playing through an error-prone home loss to the UCLA Bruins, CU decided to come out with a different tack in Westwood. *They went against convention, playing run-and-gun basketball, trading shot-for-shot with the effusive home team. *At least for 30 minutes it worked, and it was glorious. *The Buffs were playing beautiful, offensive basketball, and held a lead over the heavily favored Bruins on the road. Unfortunately, as is often the case when you try to out-shoot a shooter, Colorado tired out, and the Bruins just kept right on making shot after shot. *It was only a matter of time, and CU succumbed down the stretch, falling under the tide of a 56-point second half. *The*92-74 final*was not indicative of the run of play, but that matters little. *A loss is a loss.
Overall, UCLA shot 57% for the game, and scored 1.3 points per possession. Even without another team guarding them, Colorado is going to be hard pressed to maintain that kind of pace. That doesn't mean they didn't try. *Behind a transformative performance from Askia Booker (who finished with 16 points and 12 assists), CU scored 40 first half points on only 16 shots. *It was probably the best the offense has looked all season. We'll always have that first half Paris.
|
| Ski had a beautiful game in defeat. |
With their three best defenders on the bench due to injuries, guarding the Bruins was always going to be an issue. *Coach Boyle admitted as much in the opening minutes, when he had the team come out in a loose and ineffective 2-3 zone. *Because they don't know how to play a zone properly, that idea had to go, and CU played man-to-man the rest of the way. *But that only accentuated the matchup issue, and players like Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear took advantage of playing against smaller defenders. *Anderson was especially magnificent, going for 22/11/7 without Wes Gordon to guard him.
|
| Coach Boyle could only watch as Kyle Anderson gashed his defense. |
The result against UCLA, on its own, is not devastating, it's not even really all that painful. *A winless trip to SoCal, however, would probably put the Tournament out of reach. *CU has a solid opportunity to salvage the necessary split tomorrow night against the Trojans. *The game is not only winnable, it's probably the only date the rest of the way that the Buffs will be favored in. *They need to take advantage.
--
Tip-off from the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles is set for 6pm tomorrow evening. *The run of coverage on the ESPN family of networks continues, as the game can be seen on ESPNU. *Mark Johnson and the radio call will on 850 KOA, per usual.
For reference, my preview from the first game can be found here.
Click below for the preview...
Read more »
Originally posted by The Rumblings of a Deranged Buffalo
Click here to view the article.