BasketBuffs Baby!!
 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, college "football" forum. Screw it, I'm pulling a Mock and posting it in the wrong forum intentionally. Sue me. It's a college sport, so it goes here. Until a mod gets pissed at me (in which case, Pez, I'd like it if you'd move it back here :D).

All right, just got back from the game against Regis (exhibition). Here are my notes, take them for what they're worth.

First of all, there was MAYBE 500 people there. The place was EMPTY. At one point, I was having a conversation with my buddy, and someone could hear me two sections over. Coors Event Center did get new scoreboards though and they look VERY nice. The band was in mid-season form yelling at the opposing team before the game started. Nice to see.

CU used the full court trap a few times during the game to varying success. They were able to cause some turnovers, but also gave up some easy lay-ups. They were definately more aggressive on D throughout the game. They got burned sometimes, but it was nice to see them trying this.

On offense, there was more movement than last year. My buddy pointed out that unlike last year, we actually had all five players on the offensive side of the court (I'm still waiting for Harrison to cross half court during the Kansas game). That said, I'm VERY concerned with the fact that the team can not catch & shoot at all. They all look for their shot before catching it, and end up dropping the ball. Something to keep an eye on.

Player by player:

* #1 Glean Eddy - 6 points -- Starter. Looked good out there overall. Played solid D and is basically the same player as last year, just more consistent. Had some nice hustle boards out there.
* #2 Billy Boidock - 0 points -- The chants for Boidock started up with about three minutes left. He came in, tried hard, gave up the ball, but is still a fan favorite.
* #4 Andy Osborn - 9 points -- Starter. Made a great offensive hustle board early in the game (~17:00 mark). Does a good job at creating his own shot. Has a nice shot from the perimeter. Looks hilarious out there. Bushy curly hair, headband and the knee-high black socks. Throwback type player.
* #5 Jason Obazuaye - 8 points -- Starter. Showed more offensive game than he had last year. VERY athletic, great hops. He actually blocked a dunk attempt by Regis' center.
* #10 Scott Senger - 2 points -- Looked about the same as last year. A little lost out there, but tries hard.
* #12 Martane Freeman - 7 points -- Got off to a slow start, but played well. He's pretty athletic (seems to be a common theme for the team). Not the best shooter and got caught out of position a few times, but played well. Wouldn't surprise me to see him get quality minutes with the team.
* #15 Chris Copeland - 7 points -- Very rough game until late when he finally started to get it going. Then again, he didn't get a lot of PT in the first half. I was hoping to see more of his supposed new great shot from the outside, but he kept it hidden.
* #21 Marcus Hall - 12 points -- Probably the best player on the court tonight for us. Had a nice three pointer in the first half and almost dunked a few minutes later. That just warned him up as in the second half he did dunk on a fastbreak. Great hops. Moved well on offense, solid on D. Not sure if he'll start (hard to bump Obazuaye), but he'll get solid minutes.
* #23 Richard Roby - 9 points -- Starter. If Hall wasn't the best player, Roby was. Early on drove to the hoop, got fouled and still made the lay-up. Had an opportunity at a GREAT alley oop, but Obazuaye couldn't quite get it to him (it was a hard pass). Got a lot of playing time. At the 6 minute mark of the first half, he hit an NBA three (he was possibly 25' out there). He had the defensive play of the game when Regis had a fastbreak and he came out of NOWHERE to block it from behind (think Tayshaun Prince against the Pacers last year). HE is VERY athletic, but the refs were screwing him a little on defense. After having the defensive play of the night, he had to get the offensive, so he made a BEAUTIFUL dunk in the second half over a Regis defender. Gonna be a stud for us. I say play him all 40 minutes and let him develop.
* #30 Lamont Arrington - 6 points -- One of the first subs in the game. First time I saw him, I thought "Keon Clark". He is pencil thin, and that might be an understatement. Once again, very athletic though. Great hops. That said, he was getting abused down low. I now know why the team wished they could redshirt him. In a year, he might be a monster (if he can just put some weight on). There were times where the post player for Regis (looked like Eric Cartman -- my guestimate is 6'6", 260 lbs., not a muscular 260 either) was just abusing him. He has good form though and great height. IF he can be more aggressive, he'll be a beast.
* #32 Marcus King-Stockton - 1 points -- Was hoping to see more of him. Honestly, he wasn't in much and he didn't really stand out while he was in there.
* #33 Julius Ashby - 10 points -- Starter (at center - he's 6'9", 220 lbs.). Pretty physical down low, but he will get eaten alive by larger post players. That said, he's light years ahead of Arrington. Made some nice plays on O and was solid on D. Didn't get pushed around at all.
* #34 Keith Smith - 4 points -- Once again, very athletic. Didn't do much until near the end of the game, but made some nice moves while in there, including driving and putting the ball behind his back in the process.
* #42 Antoine McGee - 5 points -- McGee is McGee. You know what he'll give you and that's about it. He was one of the first subs in. Played well, but not spectacular.
* #43 Mac Mattingly - 0 points -- Another Boidock. Tried hard, almost had a shot at a basket at the end of the game (that would have caused the crowd to go wild), but missed the lay-up. Badly. Hustle guy, fan favorite.

Point totals are not guaranteed accurate as I was also scribbling notes.

Judging by tonight, this is my guess on the starters/rotation.

Starters: Obazuaye, Roby, Freeman, Osborn, Ashby.
First reserves off of bench: Hall, Eddy, McGee, Arrington, Copeland
Some PT: Smith, Senger, King-Stockton.
GPA Boosters: Boidock, Mattingly.

Only injury tonight was to my pride as I got shot down by a CU Express Dancer. Other than that, all was successful.

No Harrison..no Morandes...no Wilson...no ballers! :D hehe...

No kidding. Still, it's gotta suck for you. I mean, come on, you're predicted to finish BEHIND us. Ouch.

IMO its put up or shut up time for our coach, Jim Wooldridge. We have a solid inside game, but no consistent outside threat (as of yet). I've only see them play once this year, but we'll see what happens. Lots of newcomers.

I feel you Saul. Flip inside and outside in your statement, and it's CU. Only difference is, it's easier to win with a solid interior than exterior.

Aren't you a KU basketball fan, Saul? Or, have you seen the light and decided to support one team... ;)

I love em both..but KSU more, of course. KSU is my #1 team, always has been, always will be. Of course, I support and root for KU anytime they aren't playing KSU. Going to AFH this sunday for an exhibition game :D

KU? Rock, CHOKE, Jayhawk.

Seemed to b****slap your buffs last year pretty well...:D

Everyone b****slapped our Buffs.

Kansas basketball is like Texas football. Talk more smack than anyone else every year, then can't get it done when it counts. Come to think of it, that's Texas basketball and baseball too.

CU over College of Charleston by 15 tonight. I got there late because my class at Mackey doesn't get out until 7 and when I got out of there apparently there was a Tears for Fears concert tonight there and we had to wade through the crowd. Got there with about 8 min left in the first. CU led the entire time and whlie they didn't put CC away, they held them at a distance at least. Once again, we're slower than hell to rotate on both offense and defense. Hopefully they can calm that down. Up next -- @ Michigan on Wed. (it might even be on ESPN).

The team really tries hard, and that's nice to see. Not to mention I got an ovation from some of the fans. Ref made a bad call, so my buddy egged me on. I waited until it was SILENT in the arena and then made a creative comment about his daughter possibly being, well, a whore. Between this and the charging of the field, I feel like I've done my part.

Buffaloes, Buffaloes, GO C-U.

Cougars are a decent team, IIRC. How was attendance?

In other news, MU held on to beat Brown (of the Ivy League) 69-60..at the new Paige Sports Arena..heh.

Go Tar Heels

Brown isn't Washburn but ya know...... MU won't be anything special but before it's all said and done KU will be proved to overated like they are nearly every year.

CC is a tourney regular. CU looked decent last night. We're still gonna get killed by teams with size though. As for attendance, it was pitiful again. Maybe 2K. But Carmelo Anthony, his girlfriend (La La from MTV) and Kenyon Martin were all there. So that's something. I'm hoping the crowds pick up for the next game when pre-season is officially over.

Nuggets...check out this MONSTER dunk from Lance Harris...KSU guard, from Columbia,MO

http://www.saulschwartz.com/lanceharrisdunk.mpg

Nice. Did he graduate? I thought he was only a senior this year unless I've got him confused with someone else on KSU's team.

He's a sophmore this year baby..:D

OK, did you edit your post then or am I just illiterate in the morning? I thought you said he graduated. My bad.

Nope..he was a freshman last year, barely got any playing time.

Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conquering heros
Hail! Hail! To Michigan
The leaders and Best ...
Hail! to the Victors valiant
Hail! to the conquering heros
Hail! Hail! To Michigan
The Champions of the west!

Go Blue!

Hell of a win by Mich. It's nice to see them with a little swagger back in their step (my old roommate was a die-hard UMich fan). I love their fight song too.

Nice to see the Buffs hang tough. When we were down 14-2, I thought we would fold. They kept fighting back and lost to a VASTLY superior team. I'm proud of 'em. Now, let's start teh season off with a win against Northwestern.

KSU plays the university of Denver tonight. I'm assuming you guys might know something about them. The only thing I know about them is they beat the team KSU opened with alot better than KSU did, which worries me. Oh, they also have Rodney Billups, the brother of that little fugger Chauncey....

I hope tonight's game was proof of DU's talent and not proof of a lack of talent on K-State. Maybe it was a combination of both, but we just got out of Bramlage Coliseum by the skin of our teeth (60-56 K-State) Yikes!