Defensive-minded Texas A & M made its' point clear.The Aggies sent the message to Baylor and the rest of the Big 12 that soft, sweet-shooting teams are going to have a difficult time beating them.
The Bears were the latest to learn that lesson. Off to a 10-4 start primarily because of offensive efficiency, Baylor went home a loser Tuesday, 61-51, even though Texas A & M (14-2, 2-0 Big 12) struggled to put the ball in the basket, hitting just 36 percent of its' shots. The problematic thing was that the Bears connected on but a frustrating 31 percent, while sending the home team to the foul line 33 times, where the Aggies had no trouble hitting shots (28 makes).
Senior guard Acie Law, one of the better back court flashes in the conference, continued his strong play of late, scoring a game-high 22 points. Law is now averaging 18.5 points over his last six contests.
Burly big man Joseph Jones was the only other home boy in double figures with 12.
Forward Kevin Rogers scored 19 in the loss.
Black and Gold Truth: Baylor is going to give teams problems this year. They are well coached and have a nice collection of talent. Texas A & M, off to its' best start in 47 years, will win games it doesn't look that they should because of the simple fact they play defense. The truth is they simply aren't overwhelming offensively but together, as grinders, they will come out on top often. The Aggies are simply an in-your-face team. CU would be well served to find a coach to believes defense is a core credit, a prerequisite for getting somewhere in this conference. And that class should be pass-fail. Now that I think of it, it is pass-fail.
A Must Read
No matter what you think of the man, this is an intriguing read all the way through.
Love basketball? You owe it to yourself to check it out.
Buffs back on court
Colorado plays at Oklahoma on Wednesday and if this was last year's Buffs' team, they'd stand a great chance at earning a rare win in Norman. But it's not last year.
That said, a rare effort out of CU could keep them in the game late and give it a chance for the upset.
Now for the challenges.
Who checks 6-foot-11 Sudanese center Longar Longar (12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds per game)?
He doesn't block shots but he's still a tree to shoot over, still an offensive presence in the paint and will likely look like a pro against the Buffs' big men. He is also one of the most improved players in the country, having only averaged 2.1 points per game a season ago.
Freshman guard Tony Crocker isn't a star but he might become one some day soon. He can shoot the ball (51 percent), score it a little (10.8) and rebound (4.1). If he ever learns to take it to the basket or post up, he might just bust out. CU has to stay close to him.
Guard David Godbold and forward Tyler Griffin (wants to be a doctor) are both workhorses on the glass and have had shining moments against good teams, with Godbold hitting Purdue for 16 points and Griffin showing well against Memphis (16 points, 10 rebounds) and also Texas Tech (7 points, 10 rebounds).
An up-and-down player that is dangerous that the black and gold boys from Boulder are familiar with, and another to watch, is guard Michael Neal, a long-range bomber who lit up CU in Boulder last season with 26 points. And the man has to be tough, as he went through brain surgery in 2002. That earns him an honoray medal of courage from the Black and Gold Truth.
For CU, an inspired effort on defense, and forcing the ball up and down the court is the best plan of attack. Get Richard Roby good shots early, don't settle for long perimeter jumpers, do some boxing out and play with both high energy and attitude. Fill Roby's head with positive thoughts, tell him to go to work, lead and get his teammates involved.
Dominique Coleman (pictured) has shown he can contribute. The question with DC is consistency. What he did to Texas (12 points, seven rebounds, six assists), despite their smallish guards, is something he should be able to do more.
Coach Ricardo Patton's mission, at least part of it, is to develop talent, as young as it is -- Jeremy Williams, Xavier Silas, Kal Bay -- and challenge Jermyl Jackson-Wilson to get rough and tough down low with those brutes in the other uniforms. That's how Patton gets accolades once he leaves, by bringing in this final recruiting class and prepping them for better things. The wins this season?
A longshot.
One thing that the Buffs can expect down South tonight is to have to get dirty.
"Oklahoma is young and rebuilding under new coach Jeff Capel, but it has held six of its past nine opponents to a shooting percentage below 40 percent," writes Patrick Ridgell of the Daily Times-Call.
“When you look at a team that can’t score as well we’d like to, we have to do something well,” Capel said.
The "Others"
In other Big-12 play, ninth-ranked Oklahoma State is at no. 6 Kansas. The Jayhawks are always a handful, especially in Allen Fieldhouse but this Cowboys team could be up to the task if Mario Boggan can deal with the tall timber of KU down low and if guard JamesOn Curry and one other player can "get off" offensively, maybe guard Terrel Harris.
Other games will have Missouri traveling to Texas in a big test for Mike Anderson's Tigers, and Nebraska going to Iowa State in what should be a tightly contested game.
Picking up Steam
The man's name is getting some attention, no doubt; picking up steam as it were, for what all the love is worth.
As written before, Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com mentioned it. So did the Sporting News Mike DeCourcy. And the Boulder Daily Camera's Neill Woelk.
Now Chip Brown and the Dallas Morning News has thrown his name out there, too.
"A possible candidate to replace Patton, who has taken CU to two NCAA Tournaments and four NITs, is Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap."
Final WordHittin' the streets for some good stuff to bring your way.
Later this week, The Black and Gold Truth will present what is shared with me, time spent with Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com as well as Neill Woelk of the Daily Camera.
Two smart minds, unique content always, excellent writers.
Check for it.
thebgtruth@yahoo.com
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