BTO’s Colorado Postgame Report

[bleedingTNorange]

1. Great win on the road, will almost certainly count as a Q1 win come selection time and those pay off big time with seeding. Wasn’t sure how this team which hasn’t played a ton together would do on the road, and first few minutes definitely seemed a bit shaky, but found their footing and then played a really good game. Kudos to Colorado fans, that was a pretty loud and raucous crowd, students were really into it, was a tough road environment for sure.

2. I typically have just tipped my cap to Chandler in these because he’s so good I don’t want to repeat it every time, but this one deserves its own mention, what a freaking game from that young man. He has absolutely elite speed and uses change of pace so well, and his ability to make tough finishes is among the best I’ve seen. As he continues to improve that outside shot and midrange pull-up he will become even tougher to guard as you have to pick your poison, what a talent.

3. Welcome back JJJ, just 3 FGA, but 26m 5pts 9rbds 4blk 2stl 1ast 0to…at this point we probably need to accept who and what he is, and that is ok. He isn’t going to score a bunch, and people are probably going to still wonder why he was a 5 star, but he’s an elite defender, can guard multiple positions which gives us versatility, rebounds well, blocks shots, can handle the ball and run the offense if needed, he’s a great piece to have…if he can knock down those mid range shots 2-3 times a game, and be a 35% 3pt shooter to at least be a threat he will be a huge part of this team.

4. Our outside shots weren’t falling, early on it worried me we’d see Nova 2.0 but the defense played really well to keep it close and then we started driving and getting the ball inside…the 3 ball never really started falling consistently but we hit a few at key times that seemed to kill momentum or be a dagger to any sort of comeback Colorado would try and mount. The shots were good shots and you’d take them again, you don’t assume Ziegler, Chandler and Powell will combine to go 2-12 from deep.

5. With JJJ back he almost exclusive played the 4, this meant fewer minutes for ON and also few minutes for BHH…unfortunately we are probably at our best with JJJ at the 4 so I’m glad it seems like Barnes is adopting that, but it also means BHH is probably going to struggle to see many minutes unless he really gets it going. He will still be needed so I’m hopeful that he stays locked in and continues to work, we will definitely need him at some point.

6. We’ve played our 2 best defensive games of the year back to back, we went from 12th nationally in KenPom before yesterday’s game to now #3 nationally on defense…obviously having JJJ back helped, also seeing guys like Powell continue to get better on that end which led to him seeing 28 minutes, Chandler also continues to get better and better and understand how to use his speed rather than just kinda cheating using it like he could in HS.

7. I said prior to this 2 game road trip 1-1 would be adequate and probably the expectation, well that’s locked in now as the floor so got a little house money heading to MSG to take on Texas Tech. Should be a really good game on a big stage on a national stage, ESPN prime time game and best game of that evening, should draw a nice audience. Find a way to win that one and we move to 7-1, crack the Top 10 and come home to play 2 cupcakes and be sitting at 9-1 heading into 2 more big matchups against Memphis and Arizona who is looking really good.


GBO!!!

 

[Dr H Lecter]

Excellent summary. I keep seeing a very deep team, both in the front court and back court. Barnes has a lot of weapons and the leadership is apparent,both from the coach and player level. I really think this team’s defense will be exceptional.

 

[CAVPUT]

ON just continues to frustrate me. One night it looks like he's figured things out and will be a factor down low. Then there are games where he's just...well....lost. I know it's still early, but I've just about come to the conclusion that we're just not going to get anything from our front court other than Fulky and JJJ. Small ball it is I guess. Hey, you get hot at the right time and you never know. Pearl and AU are a perfect example of that. Gonna savor every game we have with Chandler. Special, special talent.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Memphis right now and you know they will find their game unless Penny screws it up, should not be put in the sentence with good.
JJJ 3 pointer with about 5 minutes to go was the dagger. Glad he took it and hit it. Leadership and Confidence.
The SEC is going to be a grind this year and I think we have the depth to win it.

 

[vols 30]

Check out Texas tech schedule so far. Probably the easiest in the country up to this point. The one decent team they played beat them

 

[TheMookieMonster]

It was an encouraging day for sure. We need to find a bit more consistency with our post game and perimeter shooting these next few games before conference play begins. It’s clear Alabama is going to shoot the lights out yet again this year, so our guard play is going to be let against them at the end of this month.

I like what I’m seeing from Chandler and Vescovi so far. Just need one more reliable offensive threat to appear and we’ll be in business. Overall, great win. Hope we can keep up the momentum Tuesday.

 

[golfballs]

I wasn’t able to watch yesterday. I hope to find a replay. But did I see the stat line for Bailey correctly? 14 min and the only stat recorded was a foul?

 

[iKrager]

Plavic getting basic minutes but being better than he was in years past. When he got in, he got a huge offensive board that helped us go on a run.

 

[i2amavol]

I wasn’t able to watch yesterday. I hope to find a replay. But did I see the stat line for Bailey correctly? 14 min and the only stat recorded was a foul?

Same here. I hope he wins a game or two for us this year (with his shooting), but that is pathetic for someone with his experience.

 

[volroadwarrior]

I wasn’t able to watch yesterday. I hope to find a replay. But did I see the stat line for Bailey correctly? 14 min and the only stat recorded was a foul?

Someone will probably post it on You Tube in the next couple of days. Usually highlights at first and then the full game later.

 

[kiddiedoc]

I can sum up yesterday's game in two words:

He gone.

 

[Kosmalski]

Replays on YouTube already

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Unlike teams from year's past, we have so much quality depth at so many positions it makes us really hard to beat especially in terms of guys who can have an off night shooting but still step up and hit a dagger when you need it. Building a lead going into the half despite Vecsovi's foul trouble was very positive. and JJJ's presence today was huge and a big factor in our win - he doesn't get enough love from VN for what he brings IMO.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

It was an encouraging day for sure. We need to find a bit more consistency with our post game and perimeter shooting these next few games before conference play begins. It’s clear Alabama is going to shoot the lights out yet again this year, so our guard play is going to be let against them at the end of this month.

I like what I’m seeing from Chandler and Vescovi so far. Just need one more reliable offensive threat to appear and we’ll be in business. Overall, great win. Hope we can keep up the momentum Tuesday.

So Tennessee needs to find more consistency from their perimeter shooting but Bama is once again shooting the lights out???

Bama: 34.7% from 3 as a team, 3 games 38% or better, 5 games 32% or worse.

Tennessee: 36.2% from 3 as a team, 4 games 42% or better, 3 games 26% or worse.

 

[Fullfillmer]

1. Great win on the road, will almost certainly count as a Q1 win come selection time and those pay off big time with seeding. Wasn’t sure how this team which hasn’t played a ton together would do on the road, and first few minutes definitely seemed a bit shaky, but found their footing and then played a really good game. Kudos to Colorado fans, that was a pretty loud and raucous crowd, students were really into it, was a tough road environment for sure.

2. I typically have just tipped my cap to Chandler in these because he’s so good I don’t want to repeat it every time, but this one deserves its own mention, what a freaking game from that young man. He has absolutely elite speed and uses change of pace so well, and his ability to make tough finishes is among the best I’ve seen. As he continues to improve that outside shot and midrange pull-up he will become even tougher to guard as you have to pick your poison, what a talent.

3. Welcome back JJJ, just 3 FGA, but 26m 5pts 9rbds 4blk 2stl 1ast 0to…at this point we probably need to accept who and what he is, and that is ok. He isn’t going to score a bunch, and people are probably going to still wonder why he was a 5 star, but he’s an elite defender, can guard multiple positions which gives us versatility, rebounds well, blocks shots, can handle the ball and run the offense if needed, he’s a great piece to have…if he can knock down those mid range shots 2-3 times a game, and be a 35% 3pt shooter to at least be a threat he will be a huge part of this team.

4. Our outside shots weren’t falling, early on it worried me we’d see Nova 2.0 but the defense played really well to keep it close and then we started driving and getting the ball inside…the 3 ball never really started falling consistently but we hit a few at key times that seemed to kill momentum or be a dagger to any sort of comeback Colorado would try and mount. The shots were good shots and you’d take them again, you don’t assume Ziegler, Chandler and Powell will combine to go 2-12 from deep.

5. With JJJ back he almost exclusive played the 4, this meant fewer minutes for ON and also few minutes for BHH…unfortunately we are probably at our best with JJJ at the 4 so I’m glad it seems like Barnes is adopting that, but it also means BHH is probably going to struggle to see many minutes unless he really gets it going. He will still be needed so I’m hopeful that he stays locked in and continues to work, we will definitely need him at some point.

6. We’ve played our 2 best defensive games of the year back to back, we went from 12th nationally in KenPom before yesterday’s game to now #3 nationally on defense…obviously having JJJ back helped, also seeing guys like Powell continue to get better on that end which led to him seeing 28 minutes, Chandler also continues to get better and better and understand how to use his speed rather than just kinda cheating using it like he could in HS.

7. I said prior to this 2 game road trip 1-1 would be adequate and probably the expectation, well that’s locked in now as the floor so got a little house money heading to MSG to take on Texas Tech. Should be a really good game on a big stage on a national stage, ESPN prime time game and best game of that evening, should draw a nice audience. Find a way to win that one and we move to 7-1, crack the Top 10 and come home to play 2 cupcakes and be sitting at 9-1 heading into 2 more big matchups against Memphis and Arizona who is looking really good.


GBO!!!

I think that was a unique game for several reasons - JJJ just coming back and Vescovi in foul trouble - Colorado without having a true point guard just being a few.

2. It looked like we decided at some point to just spread the floor and let Chandler go one on two or three until he cleared his man and maneuvered for a driving layup. Somewhat boring for me and the other 4 on the floor, but Colorado didn't seem to be interested in slowing it down.

3. JJJ played really well, we were not intent on distributing the ball which factored in the few shots for JJJ- but if he played 32 minutes then we are looking at 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 steals - which is a great stat line. He can play the 3 or the 4 so I am sure there will be games where he will play the three most of the time or some of each. Our guard depth and talent is a little deeper than that of the interior players so that will likely factor into the equation as well.

4. Unfortunate that Vescovi was in foul trouble because his outside shot was falling. Looked way more comfortable and wasn't staring down the basket. He plays 32 minutes and he finishes with 18 points or so. He really has a nice mix of inside and outside to his game right now.

6. JJJ played great defensively and he and Vescovi and now Chandler play great help defense. It helps when teams like Colorado don't have point guards but that first half of defense was outstanding. Conversely, our offense was just awful.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

So Tennessee needs to find more consistency from their perimeter shooting but Bama is once again shooting the lights out???

Bama: 34.7% from 3 as a team, 3 games 38% or better, 5 games 32% or worse.

Tennessee: 36.2% from 3 as a team, 4 games 42% or better, 3 games 26% or worse.

Excuse me for having more confidence in the team that has a larger overall sample of being an elite 3-point shooting team under Oats than what we have under Barnes. I feel like you get personally offended if any one on this board has a different opinion than you.

We’ve had one game against a P5 opponent so far this year where we’ve shot well from 3. All I’m asking is to see us do it against real competition more frequently. I have no doubt Oats teams are always going to be elite from 3 and last night was inarguably a reason why I have more confidence in their ability to play that style than ours. Gonzaga is a great defensive team.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

The final margin was a bit surprising to me due to two factors I came away with after rewatching the game....

1) We got more really bazar calls than they did. The blocking call on Uros was mind boggling bad. He already had position and turned his back to the defender for rebounding position and that is all. No elbows, not hip check, nothing. One of those calls on Fulky under the goal on a double block attempt was bad after watching the play and replay. The no calls on contact to KC on a couple of his drives was very inconsistent with calls on the other end.

2) We missed several point blank at the rim, one each by a lot of our guys....left about 10 points on the floor.

Proud of any win... especially road wins, but feel we were both lucky and good with the number of turnovers CO had... active on defense for sure... so far we have won the battles with our small lineups on the floor. Our quickness has out produced the postups by taller players by a bunch so far. Love seeing ZZZ and KC causing chaos out front and having JJJ back out quicking bigs helps us disrupt all the passing lanes with Fulky and ON's length too... Never seen as much movement on both ends of the floor in Orange. I will be interested to see if that continues and we continue to play a lot of guys, not cutting down the rotations, in order to maintain that. I AM GUESSING that Uros is getting minutes to make sure we can have continuity when we face teams with road graders down the road, but he does cost us some intensity when he is out there. The number of different lineups he has put out there during real game situations is mind boggling.

 

[Vols8086]

So Tennessee needs to find more consistency from their perimeter shooting but Bama is once again shooting the lights out???

Bama: 34.7% from 3 as a team, 3 games 38% or better, 5 games 32% or worse.

Tennessee: 36.2% from 3 as a team, 4 games 42% or better, 3 games 26% or worse.

I get what you're saying, but whats the point at using different figures for each team? Either make the line for a good shooting performance 38 or 42, or bad either 32 or 26. The only usable fact you have is team shooting percentage for each team.

Otherwise you are making the point that we seem to either be really off or really on. 42+% vs 26-% is quite a wide range which would show inconsistency right? Which is the point you're trying to refute I think.

 

[ndubvols]

ON just continues to frustrate me. One night it looks like he's figured things out and will be a factor down low. Then there are games where he's just...well....lost. I know it's still early, but I've just about come to the conclusion that we're just not going to get anything from our front court other than Fulky and JJJ. Small ball it is I guess. Hey, you get hot at the right time and you never know. Pearl and AU are a perfect example of that. Gonna savor every game we have with Chandler. Special, special talent.

I think the games a little quick for him still against the better teams. Hopefully he can settle in with a few more games under his belt.

If not, the small ball lineup with KC, Santi, Powell, JJJ and Fulk was really effective and probably our best lineup right now. Also have some really good rebounders for their position in vescovi, JJJ and to a lesser extent Powell so think we could hold our own on the glass.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Excuse me for having more confidence in the team that has a larger overall sample of being an elite 3-point shooting team under Oats than what we have under Barnes. I feel like you get personally offended if any one on this board has a different opinion than you.

We’ve had one game against a P5 opponent so far this year where we’ve shot well from 3. All I’m asking is to see us do it against real competition more frequently. I have no doubt Oats teams are always going to be elite from 3 and last night was inarguably a reason why I have more confidence in their ability to play that style than ours. Gonzaga is a great defensive team.

So you’re basing that opinion simply on last seasons, and thus past players, and not the facts that are there so far this year? We didn’t have Powell, Chandler, Zeigler…thus pointing to past years seems odd, same for Bama on guys they no longer have this year.

I wasn’t offended at all, just didn’t understand the take…it seemed like an opinion based simply off assumptions and optics of what people think Bama is or a preconceived notion based off previous years rather than looking at this year.

 

[cardvolfan]

I wasn’t able to watch yesterday. I hope to find a replay. But did I see the stat line for Bailey correctly? 14 min and the only stat recorded was a foul?

Correct. He started, never took a shot, and rode the pine most of the rest of the way. Similar pattern to last game. It’s kind of baffling in some ways.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Plavic getting basic minutes but being better than he was in years past. When he got in, he got a huge offensive board that helped us go on a run.

Had a great steal too, knocking a pass down in the lane.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I said that I thought yesterday was a great win. And, I defended and highlighted for the “naysayers” that winning in Boulder is NOT easy and just because we didn’t win by 30 doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good win.

I really like this team, the only thing I am trying to point out as a “need to see more” is just our perimeter game. I don’t care how we shot it against the Little Sisters of the Poor. North Carolina (a team lambasted for playing no defense) is the only P5 team we shot well against in a small sample.

I just want to see fact or fiction if we can shoot well against teams that play real defense. Our schedule the next two weeks will easily answer that narrative, and I look forward to seeing more.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I get what you're saying, but whats the point at using different figures for each team? Either make the line for a good shooting performance 38 or 42, or bad either 32 or 26. The only usable fact you have is team shooting percentage for each team.

Otherwise you are making the point that we seem to either be really off or really on. 42+% vs 26-% is quite a wide range which would show inconsistency right? Which is the point you're trying to refute I think.

I just used the games above average and below average, both teams have a wide range from their average to their bad games…but if you’d rather me post it this way, and no, my point was that Bama isn’t some wildly consistent 3pt shooting team either like for some reason people think they are.

Bama: 34.7% from 3 as a team, 3 games 38% or better, 5 games 32% or worse.

Tennessee: 36.2% from 3 as a team, 4 games 38% or better, 3 games 32%or worse.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I said that I thought yesterday was a great win. And, I defended and highlighted for the “naysayers” that winning in Boulder is NOT easy and just because we didn’t win by 30 doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good win.

I really like this team, the only thing I am trying to point out as a “need to see more” is just our perimeter game. I don’t care how we shot it against the Little Sisters of the Poor. North Carolina (a team lambasted for playing no defense) is the only P5 team we shot well against in a small sample.

I just want to see fact or fiction if we can shoot well against teams that play real defense. Our schedule the next two weeks will easily answer that narrative, and I look forward to seeing more.

And that’s totally fine and fair, my point was it didn’t seem accurate to mention Bama like they’re a consistent flame thrower from 3 and then mention we are inconsistent when the numbers say we are more consistent than them.