Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Athletics News, Links, and Stories

AllBuffs - Covering The University of Colorado Athletics - This Week In BasketBuffs - 2/6/12

Huge week ahead for both teams. Sound familiar? I'm starting to think I can just copy & paste the opening paragraph every week. I know there's been casual talk about making the tournament for the men's team this year, but if there's ANY chance of it happening, we have to win at Arizona on Thursday.

Steal a win there and suddenly dreams of dancing can enter the equation. Arizona is starting to look like the team that made them a popular pick to win the PAC-12 in the pre-season... ...Statistically, there aren't many weaknesses on the Arizona team.

As for Arizona State, they suck. There is zero excuse for us to lose to them in Tempe on Saturday, and that's what terrifies me. They're 221st in the KenPom rankings. The USC team that we took behind the woodshed in LA a few weeks ago is 202nd. So ASU is bad. Here's hoping the Buffs don't have a let down after the Arizona game.

Buffs sitting in right position - Buffzone

On the road to (March) madness? Colorado has put itself in position to win the Pac-12 regular-season title with a 7-0 record against its new conference foes at the Coors Events Center. This is the first time the program has been in contention this late in a season since 1996-97 when Chauncey Billups was a sophomore at CU.

The surprising 2012 championship chase began with a laugher against Utah (73-33) and continued with a dramatic last-second win over Oregon (72-71) on Saturday night in front of 11,052 believers. The Buffs (16-7, 8-3) have now played everyone in the Pac-12 and are currently tied with Cal for second place, one game behind a Washington team they buried 87-69 in Boulder.

"I don't think there is any team we can't beat," second-year CU head coach Tad Boyle said after improving his remarkable home record to 31-3. "But I don't think there is any team we can take for granted either. I think the whole key for us is you take the next task at hand and we have to beat a quality opponent on the road." CU will have a chance to do just that on national television against Arizona on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN).

Spring Forward " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

The lack of running backs is matched by the lack of fullbacks on the roster. Red-shirt freshman Nick Plimpton, an invited walk-on, is the only fullback who returns from last season. Enter true freshman Clay Norgard, a member of the recruiting Class of 2012, who enrolled early and will be available for spring practices. Come August, the running back corps will not be so depleted, with three freshmen running backs added to the roster, to go with another fullback.

Donta Abron, Davien Payne, and Terrence Crowder will join the team as tailbacks, with Christian Powell joining Norgard at fullback. (Injury Update: Crowder was injured five plays into his senior season, and underwent surgery last September. His rehabilitation is going so well that he expects to run track this spring, and be 100% ready for drills this August).

Pressing Questions -

1) Will Tony Jones be able to build upon his strong finish to his freshman campaign, staking out a claim for the No. 1 tailback position come September?;

2) Will Clay Norgard be able to adjust from high school football to the college game quickly enough for Colorado to have confidence to install the pro-style offense head coach Jon Embree and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wish to run?

Follow the jump for irrefutable proof that the world will end in 2012...

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Recapping the day's Buffs and college football news.

Were Pac-12 recruiting needs met? - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN - Every team had needs going into 2012 national signing day. Last week, Ted Miller looked at the needs of each team in the North Division and South Division. Here’s a look at whether those needs were met.

Colorado: If Yuri Wright can keep his thumbs in check, he’s a huge addition. He and Kenny Crawley boost a secondary sorely in need of playmakers.

BuffStampede.com - Signing Day Blitz: Ranking the Pac-12

Headliner: For all the scuttlebutt about Yuri Wright and Twitter, at the end of the day the four-star cornerback is a phenomenal player who could be a big-time steal for the Buffaloes. The U.S. Army All-American had offers from across the country and is a ball hawk and an athletic, tough corner. Wright and fellow four-star cornerback Kenneth Crawley could be a formidable duo.
Sleeper: Running back Donta Abron is a sneaky, tough, little prospect who put up big numbers against tough competition in Southern California. The Upland, Calif., recruit finished with 1,754 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his senior season and averaged almost seven yards per carry.
Overview: Coach Jon Embree and his staff are trying to turn things around at Colorado, and this recruiting class has some pieces that could be part of that revival. Wright and Crawley are great cornerbacks, defensive ends Kisima Jagne and Samson Kafovalu, defensive tackle Justin Solis and athlete Christian Powell are all talented players. This class isn't phenomenal but it is solid.

Stanford tops Pac-12 recruiting rankings - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN - Here's how ESPN Recruiting ranks and grades the Pac-12 -- the number to the left is national ranking. 12. Stanford: B+ 13. USC: B+ 18. Oregon: B 19. UCLA: B- 22. California: B- 23. Washington: B- Colorado: B- Arizona State: C+ Oregon State: C+ Utah: C+ Washington State: C Arizona: C

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Athletics and Pac-12 News, Links, and Stories

Recruiting: CU Buffs stocking up on QBs - Buffzone

"I think it sends a message because the quarterback is your leader most of the time," Embree said speaking in general about recruiting top quarterbacks and not about any specific player. "It sends a message to other great players out there, Hey, you know what? If I'm a receiver or a tight end or even a running back, you want to go be around that because it makes it easier to run the ball because they're going to play some form of two safeties. If you're a receiver, you know you've got a guy who can get you the ball. A trigger man. And then up front, to have a chance to play and protect, if you have a very good quarterback, he's going to be evaluated by NFL scouts and that's giving you more opportunities to be evaluated, too.

"I think it's a snowball effect."

I know this was already linked in a fan post, but I wanted to highlight Embree's quote about recruiting quarterbacks. If we're thinking recruiting-wise of a QB being the lynch-pin of a class, then it really simplifies how you recruit other skill players. If it's true, then it really kind-of solves the chicken/egg question of rebuilding via recruiting.

Do y'all agree/disagree?

Three players from D.C. high school committed to CU Buffs - Buffzone

A year ago after cobbling together a recruiting class in just a few weeks, Colorado coach Jon Embree said he planned to get away from sending assistant coaches to the four corners of America to recruit, as was done by his predecessor, and re-focus the program's efforts in traditional strongholds of Colorado, California and Texas.

Yet, here we are on the verge of another signing day and the argument can be made that some of the most talented players in Embree's first full-cycle recruiting class hail from the East Coast. In fact, Embree seems to have established a pipeline to a talent-rich high school in the nation's capitol where he had been working as tight ends coach of the Washington Redskins before taking over at his alma mater.

Colorado signed cornerback Sherrard Harrington from Woodson High School in Washington D.C., last year and is set to sign three more players from the school on national signing day Wednesday. This is the first time since 1985 the Colorado program has recruited three players from the same high school in the same class.

Which CU sports teams won over the weekend? Click to actually find out!

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Athletics and Pac-12 News, Links, and Stories

MBB Hosts Arizona State Thursday - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

QUICKLY:

• Colorado and Arizona are tied for fifth place in the Pac-12 with identical 3-2 records
• CU has lost two-straight, matching a two-game skid in Puerto Rico with losses to Wichita State & Maryland
• CU has won six of eight games
• CU is 1-3 this season when scoring under 59 points (2-3 over the last two years)
• The Buffs are 9-1 at home this season and 27-3 at home (.900) under head coach Tad Boyle.

Which is why this article is important:

CU Buffs looking to regain home-court edge with students' help - Buffzone

Guess who's finally back in Boulder? University of Colorado students. After final exams ended a month ago, CU was able to rattle off six consecutive home wins and surged to the front of the Pac-12 without most of the program's rowdiest fans. But while their peers were wrapping up the extended holiday break, the Buffs suffered consecutive road defeats last weekend in the Bay Area. CU hopes to start the spring semester with a healthy serving of Coors Events Center cooking Thursday night against Arizona State (6:30 p.m., Root Sports).

And why this article sucks:

Damiene Cain will not play for CU Buffs this spring - Buffzone

Colorado freshman Damiene Cain will not be a part of the Tad Boyle's program during the spring semester. Boyle told the Camera after Wednesday's practice that Cain, a physically gifted 6-7 forward, will not play for the Buffs the rest of the season due to personal reasons. CU's second-year head coach isn't sure whether or not Cain will rejoin the program in the future or if he will remain enrolled at the university. Cain appeared in seven games for the Buffs this season, averaging 1.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 7.4 minutes. The highly touted recruit from North Hollywood, Calif., missed three games in December after suffering a concussion in practice.

Find out who from The Ralphie Report will sub-in for Cain...after the jump.

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Athletics and Pac-12 News, Links, and Stories

Analysis: CU Buffs should add women's lacrosse - Buffzone

Women's lacrosse is the most likely sport to be added to the Colorado athletic department later this spring based on startup costs, annual costs of funding the program, a growing local recruiting base and the ability to compete regionally and with other Pac-12 Conference opponents.

Athletic director Mike Bohn told the Camera over the weekend the school plans to announce the addition of a women's sport this spring, but he would not say which sport it will be. Bohn acknowledged Monday that girls lacrosse is the fastest growing sport at the high school level in Colorado and much of the rest of the nation and that it would make sense for many reasons for CU to add women's lacrosse.

"Anytime we have the opportunity to bolster our commitment to women's sports opportunities, it helps our reputation across the country," Bohn said. "With lacrosse's popularity growing nationally and in Colorado, it's an extremely viable option for us to consider."

Based on comments from the new sport post, I can only assume that Kyle Ringo is none other than Ralphie Report Regular Phil Fraser

Alabama Crimson Tide 21 vs. LSU Tigers 0 - Recap - January 09, 2012 - ESPN

The Alabama defense took no chances in the rematch. With a smothering display of old-school football, the No. 2 Crimson Tide blew out the top-ranked Tigers 21-0 in the Allstate BCS Championship Game Monday night.

Well, now that the crummy bowl games are out of the way, bring on the real Bowl Game!

Brad Childress and Bobby Ross Named East-West Shrine Game Coaches

Venerable coaches Brad Childress and Bobby Ross selected as head coaches of the 87th annual East-West Shrine "This is a great opportunity to give back and provide joy to the children at Shriners Hospital for Children," said Childress.

"Helping our next generation both on and off the field is a cause that is very dear to me." "Words cannot describe the feeling you get from bringing so much joy into these children’s lives," said Ross, who also coached the game in 2008 and is proud to support Shriners Hospitals for Children for a second time. "I’m so proud to be back coaching the East-West Shrine Game and helping raise money for a special cause." Kick-off is at 4:00 p.m., on January 21, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Consider this your official place to hate on the field-goal-clothes-line-WWE-matchup that masqueraded as a National Championship game. See? We can use french words even when a bowl game isn't being played in New Orleans...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Athletics and Pac-12 News, Links, and Stories

This Week In BasketBuffs - 1/3/12

Well, that was fun. The Buffs went in to last week as the #156 team in the nation according to KenPom.com's rankings. Thanks to the healing power of a warm-up game against New Orleans (who, like YungCoach said, would probably lose to Ft. Lewis by double digits) and the PAC-12's basketball punching bag, the team is feeling better, the fans are feeling better and we are now ranked 127th in the nation.

The second thing I'm thrilled about from the past week? The atmosphere. The crowd was amazing - especially the student section. As for the women, they continue to impress as they went on a 14-0 run to close the game out at Utah and improve their record to 12-0. The next two weeks should tell us everything we need to know about both the men's & women's teams.

RINGO: Coors becoming the place to be for hoops - Buffzone

Askia Booker hit Nate Tomlinson with a perfect bounce pass that Tomlinson quickly turned into a layup Saturday afternoon and the Colorado Buffaloes were leading Washington State by 17 early in the second half. A good sized crowd -- considering the students are still on break -- rose to its feet and roared. Washington State coach Ken Bone called timeout and shook his head. In that moment and others like it in recent games, the thought came to mind: When and how did the Coors Events Center become such a tough place to play?

It never used to be like this.

When is easy. The Buffs are 27-3 at home since coach Tad Boyle was hired in the spring of 2010.

...Boyle can take credit for wisely playing an up-tempo style of basketball that wreaks havoc on opponents who come here from places with much more oxygen. Bzdelik preferred a slow, methodical style that he managed from the sideline. Former CU coach Ricardo Patton's teams played up-tempo just like Boyle, but the major difference is that Boyle also has the Buffs playing defense, which happened much too infrequently under Patton.

"I think you've got to give a lot of credit just to our fans," senior Austin Dufault said. "They're coming out and really supporting us. Just having a lot of people in the stands, a loud crowd and a lot of energy, that energizes us on the floor and really gets us excited to play at home.

Having attended the Men's Utah and Washington games I can attest to the much improved atmosphere at Coors that the above two links discuss. The excitement that was once reserved for the one men's Kansas home game seems to now be the norm. Way to go Buff Fans!

With the National Championship game in New Orleans, everyone seems to be co-opting any french-sounding words they can. Allstate BCS National Championship Game -- LSU, Alabama sport impressive résumés

The Allstate BCS National Championship Game is finally upon us. The rematch between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama will finally be decided. Who will win? ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel and Gene Wojciechowski state their cases: For LSU: 15. Home sweet Dome...For 'Bama: 15. The law of averages

As an actual Cajun whose family eats actual crawfish étoufée on Thanksgiving, I am of course: mortally offended. Résumé? Les Bon Temps? Lagniappe? Here's one...

How 'bout: Blasé? As in: I could not give two buffalo chips about the National Championship game...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Athletics and Pac-12 News, Links, and Stories

Brooks: Buffs Conclude Home Stand In Unbeaten Style - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The road beckons, and the Buffs will hit it hard. But on Saturday afternoon, they finished off a six-game home stand with a 77-59 wrecking of Weber State, running their record to 9-0 for only the third time in program history. Momentum generated at home should serve the Buffs well, said coach Linda Lappe: "We always want to make sure we play solid at home.

(Saturday) was our last time for about a month (the next home game is Jan. 12 vs. California) . . . we want to end out the non-conference portion of our season on a strong note." The Buffs did as Lappe wished Saturday, playing what she called their most well-executed first half of the season and leading by 20 (44-24) at intermission. The Wildcats closed to within 12 in the last half's first 10 minutes, but CU refocused, rebuilt its lead to 22 (68-46) and cruised to its ninth consecutive victory.

The 1992-93 Buffs opened that season with 15 consecutive wins. CU senior Julie Seabrook recorded her third career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) and received scoring assistance from three teammates in double figures. Chuck Jeffery led all scorers with 17 points, while Brittany and Ashley Wilson contributed 13 each. Ashley Wilson's total was a career high.

Verbal Commitments – 2012 " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair - Is Eight Enough? Perhaps ... as Colorado picks up defensive line recruit No. 8 in Kory Rasmussen ...

Football As Films: Bowl Season's Opening Weekend Reviewed - SBNation.com

Since they don't really count but you watch them anyway, let's look at the games of bowl season they way they should be viewed: as long, unscripted movies of varying quality. Today we review the three films from Saturday.

The New Mexico Bowl: Temple 37, Wyoming 15. Rated R for violence, language.

The story of nature crushing man's vanity is an old trope, and has been done better elsewhere. Films like Grizzly Man linked the cold, carnivorous indifference of nature and her red teeth and claws to man's search for meaning, and did it better than this uneventful snuff film masquerading as art.

After the jump, how much money did CSU spend to find Jim McElwain? The answer may surprise you...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Athletics, Pac-12 and College Football News, Links, and Stories

CU Buffs use break to regroup - Buffzone

Tad Boyle gave his team last weekend off to rest their bodies and focus their minds on academics. Most of the Buffs gathered together on the hardwood at the Coors Events Center anyway. Colorado is trying to regroup after last Friday's loss to Wyoming dropped the transitioning team to 5-4 on the season.

"It was a team thing. We just got back on the court to settle some things," freshman guard Askia Booker said. "We talked things over for a while. We don't want to have any upsets like that again or make the mistakes that we made late in the game. We're trying to get back on track."

"We feel like there's some recurring things that we need to fix by taking a look at ourselves and what we're doing in the film room," senior guard Carlon Brown said. "We just need to change it as fast as we can because before we know it conference is going to be here...

New Pac-12 hires make Greg Brown's job tougher at CU - Buffzone

In the three weeks since the Colorado Buffaloes' football season ended, something happened that defensive coordinator Greg Brown wasn't sure was possible. His job became even more difficult. Four new head coaches have been hired in the Pac-12 and at least three of them will make an already punishing offensive league even more grueling for the conference's defensive coordinators. Brown will face them all in 2012.

Bowl season provides its own rewards - ESPN

The original purposes of the bowls remain valid. They promote tourism in their cities. They promote the teams that performed well enough to be invited. They promote the sale of junk food, beer and firewood from sea to shining sea. And they promote agita in their critics, who see a boondoggle for the bowls, schools and the networks at the expense of the student-athletes who play in them.

The idea of promoting tourism dates to the Pasadena Valley Hunt Club, which in 1890 modeled its civic celebration on the "Battle of the Flowers" in Nice, France. Members settled instead on the name Tournament of Roses. In 1902, they staged their first football game. Michigan led Stanford 49-0 in the third quarter when the losers decided they had had enough.

The Tournament of Roses abandoned football for chariot races. Football didn't return to Pasadena for 14 years. Once the Rose Bowl took root, the decision to pair a Western team with an Eastern team made the game important to college football fans across the nation.

After the jump; is Craig James actually running for Senate?

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