FanPost

CU and The Pac-12 in 2015: Some Way too Early Predictions

With the Colorado Men’s Basketball Schedule released yesterday, it seems only appropriate to make predictions that are way too early and possibly way too generous. However basketball season cannot arrive soon enough, so it must be done.

Buffs Pac-12 copy

With the Buffs coming off their easiest non-conference schedule, CU should be rested and and ready for what will be the grittiest and toughest season in the Pac-12 yet. Seven days after finish up the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, the Buffs will open the conference at home in the Keg against UCLA on January 2nd. Two days after, the Buffs will take on USC at home as well. From there, CU goes on a three game road trip in which they will face Utah, Arizona, and then ASU on January 7th, 15th, and 17th respectively. Next, Colorado returns home to play both Washington schools in three days, January 22nd and 24th. CU returns the road to face USC and UCLA to cap off the month of January. The Buffs open February with their longest home stance from February 7th to February 15th where CU will play Utah, Cal, and Stanford. Immediately after, the Buffs fly off the play Oregon and Oregon State. Then the Buffs will get five days to rest up and prepare for the game every Buff fan is waiting for: Thursday, February 26th, 2015 in the Keg, primetime on ESPN vs. Arizona. Four days after, the Buffs will face their other Arizona rival, ASU, which will be the Buffs last game at home. CU will then conclude the season at Washington and Washington State on March 5th, and 7th respectively.

Now for the part everybody has been waiting for, the predictions. As of now, the Buffs Pac-12 games can be categorized into three groups: Should Win Games, Could Win Games, and Shouldn’t Win Games.

The Should Win Games are both games against USC and Washington State, as well as Washington and Cal at home. The Buffs beat all of these teams last year at least once while their teams was in a state of turmoil. Not only has Colorado learned how to function and play without Dinwiddie, none of these teams have made any considerable improvements to convey they have improved drastically to overcome a new and improved Buffaloes. All of these games should be a W as of now.

Next are the Could Win, which include ASU home and away, Utah, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona at home, and finally away at Washington Oregon and Oregon State. CU seems to handle Washington, Oregon and Oregon State very well from year to year, but since both games are away, neither can be a for sure W. On the flip side, the Buffaloes always seem to struggle with the Sun Devils at both location for reasons that have stymied all Buff fans, which is why both games fall here. Stanford made large strides in recruiting this year and the improving Cardinal will give the Buffs a run for their money in the Keg. Unless the freshmen prove to not have as a large impact as expect, this game will remain in this category. UCLA at home will be the most difficult home opener in coach Boyle’s career thus far. Steve Alford’s solid recruiting class this year will add greatly to an already strong Bruin’s line-up. Utah, another team on the upswing will provide the Buffs will a solid challenge here. The Utes might possibly the better team, but the C-Unit is the factor that will balance out the odds. Finally, anything is possible at home against the Wildcats. We’re coming for you this year Sean Miller.

Last come the Shouldn’t win games, or the games that most Buff fans will stop watching before the final horn. Those games are: at UCLA, Utah, and Arizona. As stated above, both UCLA and Utah are on surging paths to winning traditions. Kevin Looney and the rest of the 2014 recruiting class, not to mention the very strong veterans will overwhelm CU at Pauley Pavillion. Utah brings back four of their five highest scoring players, including Delon Wright, who is being touted as one of the best players in the country. The Buffs lost to Utah away last year, and with a dramatically improved Utah team, history will most likely repeat itself. Last comes the dreaded game in Arizona. It’s painful to say, but the Wildcats are an incredible team this year and combined with the fact that the Buffs struggle on the road, this won’t be a very close game.

Record Wise, the Buffs could potentially fall anywhere from 15-3 in the Pac-12, if the stars perfectly align and CU wins all of the Should and Could Win games, to 6-12 in the Pac-12 if everything crashes and burns. However, the Buffs should fall around the 12-6 or 13-5 mark depending on how well the hype transitions on to the court.Adjustments will be made to the predicted schedule if needed as the season approaches. This will most likely be another building year for the Buffs, but that being said, the road will not be an easy one. Hopefully, Tad Boyle and Company will be able to prove to the world once again that in fact Buffaloes can dance, well at least in March.

-Trevor Simmons (@CUBuffsBBall, @TRSimmons33)

What are your thoughts on how the Buffs will fare this season in the Pac-12?

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