With football season winding down (for the Buffs at least) it is time to look ahead to basketball season. For once, it is the basketball team that has the high expectations amongst the CU alums and fans.
And for good reason.
Tad Boyle led the Buffs to a school record 24 wins last season and got CU into the postseason for the first time since the 2005-2006 season when the Buffs earned an NIT berth. Last year their weak non-conference schedule prevented them from receiving an NCAA Tournament bid but Boyle and the team made the best of their situation and made a run to Madison Square Garden and an NIT semi-finals appearance.
Although they lost over 75% of their scoring from last year (Burks, Higgins, Knutson, Relphorde) they return a future NBA player in Andre Roberson, Austin Dufault and Carlon brown are two senior leaders that will provide scoring and solid defense and two freshmen that will contribute right away in Askia Booker and Spencer Dinwiddie. With other role players added in the mix, Boyle still has a potential NCAA team on his hands.
The Buffs’ first big challenge on their schedule is the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic this weekend. In their first game, on Thursday night, they take on last year’s NIT champs the Wichita State Shockers. The Shockers are led by a strong senior class, most notably their senior center Garret Stutz. If they can establish him inside early it opens up the rest of their offense which relies on the post men to kick it out to shooters on the perimeter. Look for Shane Harris-Tunks to play more minutes than he did against Fort Lewis to try and shut down Stutz. I think that CU can take advantage of the otherwise inexperienced players that the Shockers have and squeak out a close game over a very talented team.
The winner of the Buffs-Shockers game plays the winner of the Maryland-Alabama game, which I’m betting will be Alabama. In a rematch of the NIT semi-final game from last season I think that the Tide will roll again without Burks to keep us in the game. With their 1-2 punch of JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell, together they averaged 30 points and 14 boards last year it will be hard for CU to contain and answer that duo. It won’t be a blow-out but I think Bama will win comfortably.
I think that the Buffs go on to win their third game of the tournament to finish 2-1. Depending on who they play, my prediction could change but I don’t think that CU does not want to travel all the way to PR to win just one game. They will do all they can to win at least two.
A slew of bad non-conference losses doomed the Buffs last year and Boyle has continued to let his team know that all offseason. He has emphasized getting off to a quick start and what better way to do that then win a few games down in Puerto Rico.
CU tips off against Wichita State Thursday night starting at 7:30 pm (ET) on ESPNU.
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