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Buffs Show-Me

Posted March 14, 2008

Last month a snow storm had me stranded in Kansas City. Now it's the Buffs.

Confession: I watched 29 of CU's first 30 games this season in person. Talked to the coaches and players after each game. Talked to coaches, players and media from around the league about the Buffs. And based on everything I witnessed and learned about this team, I booked my flight home from the Big 12 Tournament on Friday.

In other words, the Buffs stunned everyone at the Sprint Center with their double-overtime victory over Baylor. Especially Bears head coach Scott Drew, who obviously didn't have an early return flight to Waco scheduled.

"All year long we haven't had a bad loss, but in the Big 12 tournament, a five (seed) shouldn't lose to a 12," Drew said after getting his X's and O's handed to him by Jeff Bzdelik and Steve McClain.

CU fans should be excited, not just because the team pulled an upset in March, but because the first half against Baylor is how Bzdelik pictures his offense working most nights when all of the players on the floor are guys he recruited.

I knew Marcus Hall, Richard Roby and everyone else would play hard. But I didn't think they would play well enough to lift a No. 12 seed to a win over a No. 5 seed.

It's going to be very difficult for the Buffs to pull off another stunner today against Oklahoma, especially when you look in the paint and see Blake Griffin and Longar Longar on one side and Marcus King-Stockton and Jermyl Jackson-Wilson on the other.

But for the second consecutive game CU will have a coaching advantage. You know Bzdelik wants to have Jeff Capel seeing red again after the OU coach's comments in Boulder.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I have to file my Missouri state taxes after establishing a residence here this season.