In a file photo, freshman guard Alec Burks attempts a shot at the basket during CU's game against Kansas State on Jan. 16 at the Coors Events Center. (CU Independent file/Charlie Sievers)
If there’s one consistency in pre-game rituals among athletes, it’s the music pumping through their veins. Eyes fixed on pieces of the world at a time, they’re visualizing, focusing, listening.
Maybe it’s the music that has helped breathe life back into the men’s basketball program at the University of Colorado. Though the Buffs are currently ranked second-to-last in Big 12 conference play, that doesn’t mean things aren’t turning around.
This year, transforming the Buffs into the next Big 12 basketball force required 15 inspired individuals, all playing inspired basketball.
One of those players is freshman guard Alec Burks.
Burks, from Grandview, Mo., stands 6-foot-6, with a red Monster audio cord stretching from his white headphones (Beats by Dr. Dre) to his iPod. There’s music pulsing through that cord and into Alec’s ears, but that’s a secret between Burks and his iPod.
Until now.
So what does the star true freshman listen to before he takes the court?
The ‘No Ceiling’ mixtape – Lil Wayne
“A.M. To P.M.” – Cassidy
“All The Way Turnt Up” – Roscoe Dash featuring Soulja Boy
“Can I Live” – J Cole
“Violence” – Juelz Santana featuring Bezel
“Congratulations” – Drake
“Murda Murda” – Juelz Santana featuring Cam’Ron
“Murda Murda” is the last song Burks listens to before he takes the court.
“It puts you in a good mood to just go out and kill everybody on the court,” Burks said.
And kill them he does. Burks is ranked first on the team in rebounds and second points averaging 16.8 points per game. Only junior guard Cory Higgins has more.
Half of February is over and March Madness is approaching fast, but there’s a lot of basketball between now and the opening round of the tournament on March 16th.
It’s still about the little things, the baby steps. The big dance can wait for now for the Buffs.
Oklahoma is next for the men’s basketball team on Wednesday, and that is all that’s on Alec’s mind. That, and Juelz Santana.
Contact CU Independent social media editor Zack Shapiro at Zashapiro@colorado.edu
