Woelk: Early Season Takeaways As Boyle's Buffs Return Home
December 08, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes didn't come home from Kansas empty-handed after Saturday's 72-58 loss to the second-ranked Jayhawks.
There were plenty of lessons to be learned from their foray into Allen Fieldhouse, beginning with the fact that when you play elite-level teams — especially on their home floor — the margin for error is razor thin. If you aren't at your best, the outcome won't be pretty.
But the Buffs don't have time to lick their wounds. What might be the best overall non-conference schedule CU has played in Boyle's 10 years in Boulder is far from over. The Buffs play host to a talented Northern Iowa team on Tuesday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network), then engage in the annual rivalry game with Colorado State on Friday in Fort Collins (6 p.m.). Also still on the horizon are games against Dayton and Iona, with the Jan. 2 Pac-12 opener against No. 13 Oregon looming closer and closer.
So with the regular season now roughly at the one-quarter turn, what have we learned about Boyle's 7-1 Buffs?
1. Kansas provided a great example of what the Buffs want to see again. It's no secret that expectations for the Buffs are high. They have been ranked in the nation's top 25 since the second week of the season, they were picked in the preseason media poll to finish second in the Pac-12, and Boyle has called this team potentially his deepest ever.
That's the kind of team that gets past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament — and if the Buffs advance to the second weekend, they will see a team of Kansas' caliber. The Jayhawks have all the trappings of a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, and the Buffs have now seen first-hand what it takes to play at that level.
That's a lesson they won't forget.
2. Taking care of business these next three-plus weeks will be critical. While many folks have forgotten about these non-conference games by the time March rolls around, they aren't overlooked by the NCAA Selection Committee. These early games play a big role in selection and seeding.
The Buffs' remaining December schedule is a dangerous one. Northern Iowa (8-1) is a quality program from a very good basketball conference (Missouri Valley). Colorado State always presents a challenge, especially in Fort Collins. Dayton is a top-20 team that took Kansas to overtime earlier this season, and CU's Dec. 21 matchup with the Flyers on a neutral floor in Chicago will have more than a little NCAA Tournament flavor.Â
These are the kinds of games that will help — or hurt — Colorado's NCAA Tournament seeding, and they will definitely be games worth watching.
3. The Buffs have time to fix their offensive inconsistencies. Boyle has always built his teams on defense and rebounding. They are the foundational building blocks of the program, and the good news is the Buffs are doing both quite well this season. Even after Saturday's 72-58 loss, CU is still 18th in the nation in scoring defense (58.3 points per game) with a healthy plus-six rebound margin.
But the offense hasn't enjoyed the same consistency. CU is shooting just 39.8 percent from the floor this year (11th in the Pac-12), and Saturday's 7-for-34 effort from 3-point range was one CU can't afford to have again — against anyone.
Still, it's far too early to hit the panic button. The Buffs have good shooters — D'Shawn Schwartz was a 50 percent 3-point shooter in the first seven games — and there's no reason to think those shooters won't get more comfortable with more time together on the floor.
Boyle has seen his players shoot well in practice. He's seen them execute their offense with a high degree of efficiency. There have been flashes of that consistency in games this year, and those instances should become more frequent.
But until they do, it's nice to know they have defense and rebounding in their back pockets to fall back on.
4. Every opponent knows about Tyler Bey. Colorado's junior can be one of the most dominating players on the floor. He's averaging a double-double thus far (12.9 points, 11.6 rebounds), and he is a weapon on both ends of the floor.
But it's becoming apparent that opponents are willing to double-team Bey inside every time he touches the ball and force the Buffs to shoot from the outside. Bey had just three field goal tries against Kansas, and the strategy worked because CU's outside shooters were all having bad nights at the same time.
Bey's defense is outstanding. Along with leading CU in scoring and rebounding, he is also leading in steals and blocks.
His biggest obstacle on the offensive end will be overcoming what will no doubt be more and more double teams. His recourse will be to improve his offensive rebounding and get second shots. If he takes a step there, he will be difficult for any team to contain.
5. Evan Battey is growing into his role. A fan favorite since the day he first donned a CU uniform, Battey is finally shaking off the rust that gathered from two years of not playing competitively.
His effort Saturday against one of the nation's premier big men, Kansas' Udoka Azubuike, shouldn't be overlooked. Battey outscored Azubuike (14-12) and also out-rebounded him (7-6). Four of Battey's rebounds were on the offensive end, something that is invaluable when his teammates aren't shooting particularly well.
Battey also brings an emotional spark, and his energy is contagious. As he continues to grow, he will become a bigger and bigger piece of the puzzle for Colorado.
6. Boyle is anxious to see a rollicking CU Events Center. Since the day he arrived in Boulder, one of Boyle's goals has been to make CU' home court a decisive advantage. Saturday's game in his old stomping grounds in Lawrence simply reminded him of what it can mean.
"We we need the Events Center rocking and rolling on Tuesday," Boyle said after Saturday's game. "We had a group of fans here that came out for this game from Colorado. I told them I want them to see what college basketball experiences like this are all about, and I want to bring that to Boulder."
Boyle has always been appreciative of the core of CU supporters who lend their support on a regular basis. But he's also never been shy about wanting to see that group grow.Â
"We've got a great core unit of fans," Boyle said. "I love the true Buffs that are out there. We just need to expand that base. It's my job to make sure our team is prepared and it's worth coming up and watching, but Northern Iowa will be a heck of a game and I encourage everybody to come out."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
