The Colorado Buffaloes (CU) are(11-6, 3-3), after sweeping the Oregon schools, winning 7 of their last 8 games. CU wins: Nebraska, UCR, Tenn, Texas A&M, Yale, Colo. St., N. Alabama, Northern Colorado, Oregon, Oregon St. Losses: Grambling, UMass, Boise St, ASU, UW, Cal. Yes they beat ranked Tenn and Texas A&M and lost to 3-14 Cal.
SC (11-5, 3-2) is coming off losses to WSU and ucla.
CU is coached by Enfield hater Tad Boyle, who told the media that SC is Colorado’s biggest conference rival – only in the mind of Tad! Boyle in his 13th season has a 254-155 (.621) record. He’s had 7 NBA draft picks. SC won last season’s meeting in Boulder 61- 58, breaking a 7-game losing streak to CU, but trail in the all-time series 8-16.
CU averages 74.8 ppg, 45.6% FGs, 32.6% 3FGs, 65.9% FTs. Led by PG KJ Simpson at 17.9 ppg (No. 2 in Pac to Tubelis 20.6 ppg). Tristan da Silva 15.1 ppg is the only other Buff in double figures.
The Trojans average 71.4 ppg, 45.9% FGs, 31.2% 3FGs, 71.1% FTs. Boogie Ellis’ 15.7 ppg leads SC, followed by Drew (13.7), RDW (9.9), Tre (9.2) and Josh (8.3 ppg).
The Buffs grab 38.7 rebs/g (+5.3), led by J’Vonne Hadley’s 6.3 rpg.
SC is not a strong rebounding team, averaging 35.9 rpg (-1.0). Improvement needed! Drew leads SC with 6.8 rebpg (No. 10 in Pac), Josh and Tre at 5.3 rpg.
Drew also leads in assists at 5.1 apg, 3rd in the Pac behind Kriisa (5.7) and Richardson (5.4). KJ Simpson leads CU with 3.9 apg.
Josh is leading the Pac-12 with 43 blks (2.69 bpg), No. 8 in the nation.
Kobe is No. 2 in the Pac with 35 steals (Jaylen Clark has 39), Boogie fifth with 25.
The elephant in the Founder’s room is whether Vince is going to play, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a July 1st practice. The Athletic quoted sources saying Vince may play as soon as this weekend.
Guest speaker Jay Morris rehashes the disappointments of the last two games against WSU and ucla. SC was 3-15 on 3’s vs WSU (Cougs made 14) and 3-16 vs ucla (bruins made 9). SC lost by 2 pts to ucla after fighting back from 18 down and taking the lead in the last minute. If we just grab one rebound on Jaylen Clark’s 3-pt attempt, we win the game, but Clark gets another shot and converts the game winner.
Morris is sticking to the narrative we’re a good shooting team that will start making shots. Enfield wants more 3s attempted and made. Morris says if you can’t play for Enfield, who gives his players the freedom to shoot when open, you can’t play for anyone. Keys to this game are making more 3s and keeping CU from making them, rebounding and aggressive defense, since CU is last in Pac-12 turnovers (15/g).
First question to coach is will Vince play. Morris is hesitant to say he will, but concedes that he has been practicing and is suited up. The coaches hope his 7-1 height and athleticism can help our rebounding, inside scoring and rim protection. Jay tells the room the comp for Vince is Chimezi Metu, who is in his fifth NBA season (49th pick in the 2018 draft).
Saturday, Galen Center hosted the Chosen-1s Invitational featuring the nation’s top female recruit Juju Watkins (Sierra Canyon) and top male recruit Isaiah Collier (Wheeler). I attended this event to view these players, and our other signee Arrinten Page, in action.
Juju is the real deal and the best player the WOT have had in years, with potential to join all-time greats Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Cynthia Cooper, the McGee twins, etc. Make plans to attend women’s games, tickets are inexpensive and seating is general admission, so you get a good seat.
Isaiah Collier has great court vision and plays full speed up and down the court. He gets to the rim at will and with more consistent outside shooting will be unstoppable. He is our best PG since JMac, with more size and athleticism. He has a great future at SC, but don’t be surprised if he is one and done. Arrinten Page is more fluid and athletic than our current bigs and should immediately compete for playing time with them.
Morris was very impressed with Collier and Page and said they have high basketball IQs, play with purpose and play well together. He felt the Wheeler team was fatigued from the trip to LA to play Sierra Canyon, led by Bronny James, in basically a home game for them. He said Collier can do it all, score at all 3-levels, rebound, play lock-down defense and deliver the ball to open teammates with the best of them. Coaches can set up plays and tell players what to do in certain situations, but it’s up to players to recognize and execute. Collier is a master at this, a real coach on the floor, the consummate PG.
Entering the arena, I note a decent crowd by SC standards. The basketball band is on hand, with Dance Force, Song Girls, Spirit Squad and DJ Malski, fresh off of working the CFP National Championship Game. There are many CU fans scattered in the crowd. Super fan Crash is here with signature yellow caution tape head band and is joined by a sidekick in an orange safety vest. Burn, is that you?–haha. The men’s volleyball team sits next to the band, some women’s bball players are also here.
No NBA scouts are here, but there is a good showing of local media. An older couple in front of me says they’re waiting for their daughter and that their grandson is up in the top row of the media tables ‘calling the game.’ I say you mean Carlo (Jimenez)? They were shocked I knew who he was. I said he does a lot of SC sports on live stream including women’s bball and I’ve listened as he tries to establish himself and come up with his signature phrases. He’s experimenting with calls for made 3 pointers like “You bet!” “Bingo!” “Yahtzeel” “String music!,” Keep working it Carlo, you will make it big someday young man! Above the team bench in Section 116, I spy the Hornery’s and hope that Harry gets in the game.
After the national anthem is a moment of silence for Trojan great and 1979 Heisman Trophy winning tailback Charles White, who died at 64. Cancer sucks! He’s still the career rushing leader (6,245 yds) in USC history, with Marcus Allen second. White held 21 USC, Pac-10 and Rose Bowl records.
The game tips off and SC gets out quickly to a 15-3 lead, their largest of the game. The Buffs pull back to within two at the half 34-32. SC was fortunate to lead the entire first half, but with another 0.1 secs of clock, they’d be down by 1, as an answered prayer from beyond half court was waved off after officials replay – phew!
The most noteworthy moment in the first half was the appearance at the 5 minute mark of 5-star freshman Vincent Iwuchukwu, in jersey No. 3. His family from Houston was in the crowd to watch this triumphant moment. He had kept a positive attitude, been a great teammate and followed the doctors’ and trainers’ guidance to get to this point. The crowd gave him an emotional standing ovation to salute his fight on spirit.
Andy substituted liberally, all 12 scholarship players played. The 2nd half was a tight affair with CU taking its biggest lead 40-36 at 16:39. SC would retake it 41- 40 at 14:40 and hold the lead the rest of the way. CU closed to within one 60-59 at 2:01, but 4 FTs by Kobe and 2 by Drew ended the scoring with the Trojans winning 68-61.
The Trojans continued to struggle from the 3-pt line, making only 4 of 16 attempts (25%) Boogie had 2, Drew 1, Reese 1. CU was just as bad 5-17 3FGs (29.4%), with Javon Ruffin in batman mask making 3 of the 5.
The Trojans were badly outrebounded 44-29, with big man Lawson Lovering getting his career high with 14 rebs and 13 pts. How did the Trojans overcome this? By forcing 22 TOs on 12 steals and 9 blocks. They outscored the Buffs 20-7 on pts off TOs. That was the ball game in a nutshell.
Leading scorers for CU were KJ Simpson (17 pts), da Silva and Lovering (13 pts) and Clifford (12 pts).
Drew led the Trojans with 15 pts, 3 rebs, 3 assists, 4 steals, but 3 TOs. Boogie had 14 pts, 4 rebs, 1 steal and a season high 6 assists with NO turnovers. Josh had a solid game bouncing back from the subpar outing at Pauley to finish with 12 pts, 4 rebs, 4 blocks and 3 steals. Kobe had a nice game with 8 pts (6-6 FTs), 7 rebs, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block but 3 bad TOs that led to CU points. Reese was aggressively looking for his shots and finished with 9 points and Tre added 8 pts. Malik was the only other scorer (2 pts). Harry (4 min), Oziyah (3 min), Iaroslav (3 min) and Kijani (2 min) did not score. As for Vince, it was his night as he played 5 inspirational minutes and came off the court smiling. When asked how it felt to be out there playing, he replied “I wish I’d scored.” Don’t worry Vince, you have another shot against Utah next, where big man and leading scorer Branden Carlson did not play against the bruins and his status for SC is unknown.
With the 68-61 win tonight, USC is 12-5 (4-2) and CU is 11-7 (3-4). USC improved to 8-1 at home, losing only to (now 13-5) FGCU. The Trojans move to 62 in the KenPom rankings and have ample opportunities to improve that ranking and their 75 NET ranking. Utah (12-6, 5-2) currently has a 53 NET ranking and a 55 KenPom rank.
The Trojans need to continue to win at home and at least split on the road. They really need to pull an upset on one of the next two Thursdays in Tucson 1/19 or ucla at Galen on 1/26. Currently in 4th place in the Pac-12, ½ game back of Utah. They play the Utes on Saturday at 7:30 pm at Galen.
SC (11-5, 3-2) is coming off losses to WSU and ucla.
CU is coached by Enfield hater Tad Boyle, who told the media that SC is Colorado’s biggest conference rival – only in the mind of Tad! Boyle in his 13th season has a 254-155 (.621) record. He’s had 7 NBA draft picks. SC won last season’s meeting in Boulder 61- 58, breaking a 7-game losing streak to CU, but trail in the all-time series 8-16.
CU averages 74.8 ppg, 45.6% FGs, 32.6% 3FGs, 65.9% FTs. Led by PG KJ Simpson at 17.9 ppg (No. 2 in Pac to Tubelis 20.6 ppg). Tristan da Silva 15.1 ppg is the only other Buff in double figures.
The Trojans average 71.4 ppg, 45.9% FGs, 31.2% 3FGs, 71.1% FTs. Boogie Ellis’ 15.7 ppg leads SC, followed by Drew (13.7), RDW (9.9), Tre (9.2) and Josh (8.3 ppg).
The Buffs grab 38.7 rebs/g (+5.3), led by J’Vonne Hadley’s 6.3 rpg.
SC is not a strong rebounding team, averaging 35.9 rpg (-1.0). Improvement needed! Drew leads SC with 6.8 rebpg (No. 10 in Pac), Josh and Tre at 5.3 rpg.
Drew also leads in assists at 5.1 apg, 3rd in the Pac behind Kriisa (5.7) and Richardson (5.4). KJ Simpson leads CU with 3.9 apg.
Josh is leading the Pac-12 with 43 blks (2.69 bpg), No. 8 in the nation.
Kobe is No. 2 in the Pac with 35 steals (Jaylen Clark has 39), Boogie fifth with 25.
The elephant in the Founder’s room is whether Vince is going to play, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a July 1st practice. The Athletic quoted sources saying Vince may play as soon as this weekend.
Guest speaker Jay Morris rehashes the disappointments of the last two games against WSU and ucla. SC was 3-15 on 3’s vs WSU (Cougs made 14) and 3-16 vs ucla (bruins made 9). SC lost by 2 pts to ucla after fighting back from 18 down and taking the lead in the last minute. If we just grab one rebound on Jaylen Clark’s 3-pt attempt, we win the game, but Clark gets another shot and converts the game winner.
Morris is sticking to the narrative we’re a good shooting team that will start making shots. Enfield wants more 3s attempted and made. Morris says if you can’t play for Enfield, who gives his players the freedom to shoot when open, you can’t play for anyone. Keys to this game are making more 3s and keeping CU from making them, rebounding and aggressive defense, since CU is last in Pac-12 turnovers (15/g).
First question to coach is will Vince play. Morris is hesitant to say he will, but concedes that he has been practicing and is suited up. The coaches hope his 7-1 height and athleticism can help our rebounding, inside scoring and rim protection. Jay tells the room the comp for Vince is Chimezi Metu, who is in his fifth NBA season (49th pick in the 2018 draft).
Saturday, Galen Center hosted the Chosen-1s Invitational featuring the nation’s top female recruit Juju Watkins (Sierra Canyon) and top male recruit Isaiah Collier (Wheeler). I attended this event to view these players, and our other signee Arrinten Page, in action.
Juju is the real deal and the best player the WOT have had in years, with potential to join all-time greats Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Cynthia Cooper, the McGee twins, etc. Make plans to attend women’s games, tickets are inexpensive and seating is general admission, so you get a good seat.
Isaiah Collier has great court vision and plays full speed up and down the court. He gets to the rim at will and with more consistent outside shooting will be unstoppable. He is our best PG since JMac, with more size and athleticism. He has a great future at SC, but don’t be surprised if he is one and done. Arrinten Page is more fluid and athletic than our current bigs and should immediately compete for playing time with them.
Morris was very impressed with Collier and Page and said they have high basketball IQs, play with purpose and play well together. He felt the Wheeler team was fatigued from the trip to LA to play Sierra Canyon, led by Bronny James, in basically a home game for them. He said Collier can do it all, score at all 3-levels, rebound, play lock-down defense and deliver the ball to open teammates with the best of them. Coaches can set up plays and tell players what to do in certain situations, but it’s up to players to recognize and execute. Collier is a master at this, a real coach on the floor, the consummate PG.
Entering the arena, I note a decent crowd by SC standards. The basketball band is on hand, with Dance Force, Song Girls, Spirit Squad and DJ Malski, fresh off of working the CFP National Championship Game. There are many CU fans scattered in the crowd. Super fan Crash is here with signature yellow caution tape head band and is joined by a sidekick in an orange safety vest. Burn, is that you?–haha. The men’s volleyball team sits next to the band, some women’s bball players are also here.
No NBA scouts are here, but there is a good showing of local media. An older couple in front of me says they’re waiting for their daughter and that their grandson is up in the top row of the media tables ‘calling the game.’ I say you mean Carlo (Jimenez)? They were shocked I knew who he was. I said he does a lot of SC sports on live stream including women’s bball and I’ve listened as he tries to establish himself and come up with his signature phrases. He’s experimenting with calls for made 3 pointers like “You bet!” “Bingo!” “Yahtzeel” “String music!,” Keep working it Carlo, you will make it big someday young man! Above the team bench in Section 116, I spy the Hornery’s and hope that Harry gets in the game.
After the national anthem is a moment of silence for Trojan great and 1979 Heisman Trophy winning tailback Charles White, who died at 64. Cancer sucks! He’s still the career rushing leader (6,245 yds) in USC history, with Marcus Allen second. White held 21 USC, Pac-10 and Rose Bowl records.
The game tips off and SC gets out quickly to a 15-3 lead, their largest of the game. The Buffs pull back to within two at the half 34-32. SC was fortunate to lead the entire first half, but with another 0.1 secs of clock, they’d be down by 1, as an answered prayer from beyond half court was waved off after officials replay – phew!
The most noteworthy moment in the first half was the appearance at the 5 minute mark of 5-star freshman Vincent Iwuchukwu, in jersey No. 3. His family from Houston was in the crowd to watch this triumphant moment. He had kept a positive attitude, been a great teammate and followed the doctors’ and trainers’ guidance to get to this point. The crowd gave him an emotional standing ovation to salute his fight on spirit.
Andy substituted liberally, all 12 scholarship players played. The 2nd half was a tight affair with CU taking its biggest lead 40-36 at 16:39. SC would retake it 41- 40 at 14:40 and hold the lead the rest of the way. CU closed to within one 60-59 at 2:01, but 4 FTs by Kobe and 2 by Drew ended the scoring with the Trojans winning 68-61.
The Trojans continued to struggle from the 3-pt line, making only 4 of 16 attempts (25%) Boogie had 2, Drew 1, Reese 1. CU was just as bad 5-17 3FGs (29.4%), with Javon Ruffin in batman mask making 3 of the 5.
The Trojans were badly outrebounded 44-29, with big man Lawson Lovering getting his career high with 14 rebs and 13 pts. How did the Trojans overcome this? By forcing 22 TOs on 12 steals and 9 blocks. They outscored the Buffs 20-7 on pts off TOs. That was the ball game in a nutshell.
Leading scorers for CU were KJ Simpson (17 pts), da Silva and Lovering (13 pts) and Clifford (12 pts).
Drew led the Trojans with 15 pts, 3 rebs, 3 assists, 4 steals, but 3 TOs. Boogie had 14 pts, 4 rebs, 1 steal and a season high 6 assists with NO turnovers. Josh had a solid game bouncing back from the subpar outing at Pauley to finish with 12 pts, 4 rebs, 4 blocks and 3 steals. Kobe had a nice game with 8 pts (6-6 FTs), 7 rebs, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block but 3 bad TOs that led to CU points. Reese was aggressively looking for his shots and finished with 9 points and Tre added 8 pts. Malik was the only other scorer (2 pts). Harry (4 min), Oziyah (3 min), Iaroslav (3 min) and Kijani (2 min) did not score. As for Vince, it was his night as he played 5 inspirational minutes and came off the court smiling. When asked how it felt to be out there playing, he replied “I wish I’d scored.” Don’t worry Vince, you have another shot against Utah next, where big man and leading scorer Branden Carlson did not play against the bruins and his status for SC is unknown.
With the 68-61 win tonight, USC is 12-5 (4-2) and CU is 11-7 (3-4). USC improved to 8-1 at home, losing only to (now 13-5) FGCU. The Trojans move to 62 in the KenPom rankings and have ample opportunities to improve that ranking and their 75 NET ranking. Utah (12-6, 5-2) currently has a 53 NET ranking and a 55 KenPom rank.
The Trojans need to continue to win at home and at least split on the road. They really need to pull an upset on one of the next two Thursdays in Tucson 1/19 or ucla at Galen on 1/26. Currently in 4th place in the Pac-12, ½ game back of Utah. They play the Utes on Saturday at 7:30 pm at Galen.
