Weekend Package: Rams, Buffs collide

Colorado gets another chance to beat Colorado State this year as the Rams come to Boulder Saturday.

A victory on the court might just be the thing to dull the pain over the Buffs loss in football to CSU back in September. That medicine could last until the schools again meet on the field in 2007.

With the way the season has started for Ricardo Patton's team this game appears to be a large task. CU is off to a rickety beginning, losing five of its' first eight games, playing leaky defense and losing to opponents previously not in the Buffs' class.

Patton believes a significant lack of leadership, maybe traceable to a group that has not played together much, is a major reason for the early stumbles.

To preview the game, the Black and Gold Breakdown went out and grabbed some courtside time with Kelly Lyell of The Coloradoan.

BGB: What's good about CSU basketball this season, what's working right now for the Rams?

Lyell: They have more scoring than they've had, more shooters, guys like (guards) Tyler Smith and Tim Denson, Corey Lewis. (Center) Stuart Creason is asserting himself a little more and of course, you still have (forward) Jason Smith (17.8 points per season, 9.5 rebounds). They have more options offensively.

BGB: Ricardo Patton has felt the heat and is on the way out at CU. How solid a footing is (CSU coach) Dale Layer on?

Lyell: He's in the next to last year of his contract and he has a losing record (93-95) going into this game and they've struggled in the Mountain West Conference. I think that's where people are really down on him the most. They haven't finished better than sixth place in the last six years.

BGB: Are the Rams a team with postseason capabilities?

Lyell: They've shown glimpses, shown signs that if they can put it all together and get on the same page at the same time they can be pretty good. I think they are in the top 3 individually in talent in the Mountain West Conference. Traditionally, however, they've always looked for excuses.

BGB: What are the obstacles holding the CSU program back?

Lyell: Probably the number one thing is finances. They have the lowest budget in the Mountain West Conference. They spend about $ 850,000 a year on men's basketball. Most schools spent that much just on their coach's salary.

One of the other big things CSU battles is there is one gym -- shared by the volleyball team, the women's basketball team and the men's basketball team.

BGB: So what should the realistic expectations for this program be?

Lyell: Probably middle of the pack in Mountain West.

BGB: Is that going to satisfy people?

Lyell: No.

It won't. So far people have never accepted the reality that (CSU is going) to have to come up with more money to do things.

BGB: How much will CSU be able to exploit its' length in the frontcourt against the Buffs?

Lyell: They've gotten better at doing that this year. I think that is something they've never done as well as they should have because this is 5 to 6 years running now where they have had three 7-footers on the rosters.

As long as (Smith and Creason) stay in the game together, I think they can exploit their height. That's what they did against Kansas State and they have enough outside scoring to keep that an honest thing. K-State tried (to pack the middle) and Corey Lewis hit for 30 points.

TruthUpdate...Scheduling issues, amigos, prevented me from posting the Jeff Goodman interview about potential coaching replacements for Patton. Will find a way to get it to you this weekend. Check back. Some good stuff.