Gameday Buffs Bites

The Buffs take on rival CSU tonight in what should be a pivotal game for the Buffs. Already with three losses on the year in an easy non conference schedule, CU needs to get hot and win the next six games. Bzdelik's team is coming off a two game losing streak against Stanford and TCU. The loss against TCU really sent a reality check to Buffs fans that this team has a ways to go to be respectable in the Big 12 and freshman G Nate Tomlinson is already the most important player on this team. The Rams come in with a 3 - 5 record, losing three straight to pretty solid basketball programs: San Francisco, Nevada and Boise State...all of which are better than TCU. CSU is predicted to finish eighth in the nine-team Mountain West Conference, TCU was picked to finish last.The good news: Nate Tomlinson returns from injury and should be about 80%.

This is not good news for the game tonight:

The Buffaloes will likely be without one of their few big men tonight (8 p.m., FSN). Their starting point guard is expected back, but how efficient he'll be is unclear. And then, of course, there are issues with CU's heart and effort, which, according to players and coaches, were missing the last time they took the court.

Forward Casey Crawford wore a boot on his left foot Tuesday, the same foot in which he had a stress fracture last season while he redshirted. Bzdelik said Crawford is "very questionable and extremely doubtful" for tonight.

I would be surprised if we didn't see inspired play tonight from Bzdelik's team. It seems that he was utterly embarrassed at the performance against TCU and hopefully that shows up in the players as well.

Two teams in transition is a good way to describe the situations at Colorado State and Colorado...one must wonder how long the transition will take.

Some other good news is that Jeff Bzdelik is 6-0 against the Rams in his career. Some bad news would be that "CU has not led the opponent in 80 minutes of play (last two games, at Stanford and vs. TCU)."

Here is the Daily Camera's short preview of the game. Again, tonight's game is on FSN Rocky Mountain.

Buff commits OT Jack Harris and RB/SS Parker Orms were named to the Colorado All Star Game in June. Harris and Orms were also named First Team All Conference for their respective leagues. Orms, in a stunning honor I have not seen before, was named both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year for his conference.