The Buff bench displays a somber look during the final seconds of regulation. The Bulldogs defeated the Buffs 64-57 at Stegeman Coliseum to drop The Buffs’ road record to 0-2. (Nigel Amstock/CU Independent)
After the University of Colorado men’s basketball team’s loss to the University of Georgia on Sunday, questions rose about the possibility of the losses having long-term consequences. While it is still very early in the season, the increased importance of out-of-conference games has made the writers at CU Independent wonder about what the future will now hold for the Buffaloes. Andrew Haubner and Justin Guerriero discuss the losses and what they mean for CU.
Andrew Haubner: We’re seven games in and already talking about ratings percentage index (RPI) concerns. Ugh. Unfortunately, it’s this early and I have concerns about CU’s prospect to do well this season and make the NCAA tournament again. The RPI, which takes into account strength of schedule in addition to wins and losses, has Colorado at 69th as of Dec. 8. Their two losses, Georgia and the University of Wyoming, sit at 73 and 92, respectively. By rank, the losses don’t do the Buffaloes any favors, since both teams are ranked below them. What CU needs now is for both teams to succeed this year, which will boost the Bulldogs and Cowboys’ rankings, making the losses look better. But therein lies the problem: neither team will be that great this year.
Justin Guerriero: I’m not quite ready to sound the alarms yet. I’m having an easier time dealing with these two losses, Andrew, because I think the two teams Colorado lost to are underrated. Wyoming has been impressive in the Mountain West Conference and Georgia is, by no means, a bad team. Both may exceed expectations this season. However, it’s true: the Buffs should have won those games. The losses to Wyoming and Georgia were sloppy, at best. That loss to Wyoming was reminiscient of the great calamity that was CU’s loss to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March.
Haubner: You’re right, both teams have a great load of potential to be good, but I just don’t think they will be making noise this year. Both teams are last-four-in/first-four-out type teams. Colorado needs them to be lights-out, because if they do finish the non-conference season with two losses, the Buffs might struggle in Pac-12 play. Conference teams have either solid big men who play aggressively in the post or spot-up shooters who can get hot in a hurry (if you’re Arizona, you have both). Call me pessimistic, but the Pac-12 doesn’t look nearly as competitive as it was last year. So in a year where only 4 or 5 Pac-12 teams may go dancing, Colorado’s losses have to be against the top-tier and top-tier only. With the play we’ve seen against seemingly inferior competition (you can make a case that Wyoming isn’t inferior), the Buffaloes have the capability of dropping the ball. As we saw in 2010, losing to lesser opponents is the difference between the NCAA and NIT.
Guerriero: The bottom line is that this team needs to start performing on the road. The Buffs won’t even make the NIT if they don’t start winning away games. The two losses so far don’t particularly worry me because I think the recurring issues the Buffs experienced in their losses can be rectified. It’s still early. I have faith that these young men can iron out the kinks and start winning on the road and playing effective basketball. In addition, you’re right Andrew. The Pac-12 is weaker this year than it was a season ago. Hopefully some conference wins will be easier to come by.
Every loss that the Buffs rack up takes their fate in regards to the NCAA Tournament more and more out of their own hands. I don’t want Colorado to have to pray for other teams in the Pac-12 to slip up down the road in order to succeed. I’m trusting that the Buffs will clean up their act.
Haubner: I do love how you are always looking on the bright side of things, Justin. While I don’t think the sky is falling on CU basketball just yet, I think there is a reason to be concerned. Like I said, 2010 was a year where the Buffaloes had enough to talent to get into the NCAA tournament, but losses in non-conference play to teams they could’ve beaten ultimately ended up costing them a ticket to the dance. What these two early losses have done is make the rest of the non-conference schedule must-win games (and that includes a trip to the finals of the Diamond Head Classic). They have put a lot of pressure on the team to have an exceptional season in conference play, too. And with no established leader on the court, a Spencer Dinwiddie or Alec Burks type player, the pressure might be a little too much.
Guerriero: You know me Andrew- I’m always looking at the glass half full. I will say that I understand your concerns of dropping two early road games to seemingly inferior teams. Furthermore, I’d also agree about the lack of an established leader on the court. At the end of the day, I’m sticking to my belief that the Buffs will not continue to lose winnable games, clean up their play and start putting together some wins because despite the lack of one explosive player, I believe Askia Booker, Josh Scott and others are going to step up and help plug the holes in the hull of this ship and get the Buffs back on track.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Andrew Haubner at andrew.haubner@colorado.edu.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu
