Colorado University Athletics
Deleon Brown drives past a Colorado School of Mines defender in the Buffaloes' exhibition win on Oct. 30
Photo by: Tony Harman
Under The Radar Sophomores Strive To Take The Next Step
November 03, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Siewert, Brown Look To Build On Freshman Campaign
Colorado has a King, as in George, arguably its top returning player and one most opponents will focus on during early season scouting reports.
Then the Buffaloes have the newcomers, all nine of them, which has made up much of the buzz around the Coors Events Center during fall practice.
Flying quietly under the radar though is one of the most intriguing, and potentially important, pieces for the Buffaloes this year – sophomores Lucas Siewert and Deleon Brown.
Siewert and Brown are embarking on the step that every program has, that leap from freshman rookie to sophomore veteran. Their development into this next phase will go a long way in Colorado's success this season.
"They both have shown signs," head coach Tad Boyle said. "But again, it's what's going to happen when the lights come on that's going to determine (their impact). But I've been pleased with both of them. They're not the most consistent day-to-day, but they're very capable and have shown flashes."
What Boyle and his coaching staff is looking for from both is the expanding of their basketball abilities. Brown is a quick, slashing guard that can get to the rim and shoot the 3-pointer, but the Buffaloes want him to become a stout defender.
Siewert, a 6-10 forward with a nice outside shot, will be tasked to play more in the post, and specifically rebound.
"We lost a lot of rebounds from last year, around 22 per game," Siewert said. "So that's something that's on my mind all the time. That's a goal that I have for myself for the season is to rebound the ball well."
Siewert stepped up well toward the end of last season. His season totals were 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, but those numbers jumped to 5.1 and 3.0 over the final 11 games of the regular season. He had over half of his rebound total during the Pac-12 Conference season and was one of Colorado's top rebounders during the summer tour of Italy.
"Lucas is a guy that's very capable and we've challenged him to rebound the ball and to be more physical inside for us," Boyle said. "Obviously he's a guy that can shoot from the perimeter and he's been shooting the ball well, but his next step is to develop into that complete player, the inside-outside guy."
Brown broke out with a 15-point game against Fort Hays State and totaled three double-digit scoring games last year, including a 10-point effort in the home win over Stanford. A concussion slightly slowed him late in his freshman year, but this offseason and fall, the game has started to slow down for Brown.
"We've got a lot of younger guys coming in they're fresh and ready to play and getting after it in practice and that's going to make us better in the long run," Brown said. "I think we've got a good group and I'm excited to see what we look like."
Siewert and Brown will be among the veteran voices of the team despite their sophomore standing.
"It's kind of funny to think that being a sophomore now and I'm one of the older guys," Brown said. "I try to pass the knowledge on to them as much as I can, teach them little things whenever I see a mistake, try to correct it for them."
Then the Buffaloes have the newcomers, all nine of them, which has made up much of the buzz around the Coors Events Center during fall practice.
Flying quietly under the radar though is one of the most intriguing, and potentially important, pieces for the Buffaloes this year – sophomores Lucas Siewert and Deleon Brown.
Siewert and Brown are embarking on the step that every program has, that leap from freshman rookie to sophomore veteran. Their development into this next phase will go a long way in Colorado's success this season.
"They both have shown signs," head coach Tad Boyle said. "But again, it's what's going to happen when the lights come on that's going to determine (their impact). But I've been pleased with both of them. They're not the most consistent day-to-day, but they're very capable and have shown flashes."
What Boyle and his coaching staff is looking for from both is the expanding of their basketball abilities. Brown is a quick, slashing guard that can get to the rim and shoot the 3-pointer, but the Buffaloes want him to become a stout defender.
Siewert, a 6-10 forward with a nice outside shot, will be tasked to play more in the post, and specifically rebound.
"We lost a lot of rebounds from last year, around 22 per game," Siewert said. "So that's something that's on my mind all the time. That's a goal that I have for myself for the season is to rebound the ball well."
Siewert stepped up well toward the end of last season. His season totals were 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, but those numbers jumped to 5.1 and 3.0 over the final 11 games of the regular season. He had over half of his rebound total during the Pac-12 Conference season and was one of Colorado's top rebounders during the summer tour of Italy.
"Lucas is a guy that's very capable and we've challenged him to rebound the ball and to be more physical inside for us," Boyle said. "Obviously he's a guy that can shoot from the perimeter and he's been shooting the ball well, but his next step is to develop into that complete player, the inside-outside guy."
Brown broke out with a 15-point game against Fort Hays State and totaled three double-digit scoring games last year, including a 10-point effort in the home win over Stanford. A concussion slightly slowed him late in his freshman year, but this offseason and fall, the game has started to slow down for Brown.
"We've got a lot of younger guys coming in they're fresh and ready to play and getting after it in practice and that's going to make us better in the long run," Brown said. "I think we've got a good group and I'm excited to see what we look like."
Siewert and Brown will be among the veteran voices of the team despite their sophomore standing.
"It's kind of funny to think that being a sophomore now and I'm one of the older guys," Brown said. "I try to pass the knowledge on to them as much as I can, teach them little things whenever I see a mistake, try to correct it for them."
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