The number hits you in the face cold, like opening the door to a frigid winter blast of air.22.
As in 22-straight losses in Norman to Oklahoma.
How does a school like Colorado fall that flat for that many years against anyone?
Inferior talent?
A lack of quality defense?
Coaching?
Whatever the reason, and there are many, the Sooners again used the Buffs for a controlled scrimmage, running by them 78-54, with a team not close to previous OU caliber.
The home team forced 25 turnovers, shot 25 free throws and watched the Buffs wilt as the night went on.
Freshman Tony Crocker continued his strong play with 16 points, eight rebounds and frequent flier miles rewards for his trips to the foul line (15 attempts). Forward Nate Carter, hardly a household name, at least outside of his family's home, added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Richard Roby scored 20 and freshman forward Jeremy Williams (pictured) went for eight points and 12 rebounds, continuing to show promise for the future. A parting gift for the program to take back to Boulder.
Black and Gold Truth: CU can't win with Roby scoring 30 against Texas and 20 against Oklahoma because, in part, there is no balance on this team. No one else has proved capable of becoming that consistent no. 2 or 3 scorer. Dominique Coleman, despite his press clippings, hasn't done it, Xavier Silas hasn't done it despite getting minutes, Jermyl Jackson-Wilson may not be capable of it and point guard Kal Bay is better suited for hitting open shots off of other player's offense, of which there is little. Marcus King-Stockton? Ricardo Patton was quoted recently as saying the Colorado prep has not developed as expected, which wasn't exactly a news flash.
Coleman should be worked into the offense deeper as he brings more than just a shooter's heart to game day. Williams should sweat overtime on his game to be prepared for the responsibility that is soon to come his way on this team. Jackson-Wilson could be more consistent and Bay must hold on to his confidence no matter how wildly his minutes, or game fluctuates.
A Patton decision to tighten the rotation would build chemistry and get more shots for the more capable scorers on the team.
That OU scored 78 against the Buffs should be eye popping because I don't see Wayman Tisdale or Mookie Blaylock nor Stacy King or any other star of that magnitude on the court. While Crocker is a top-shelf freshman, the Sooners are but a servicable bunch offensively. CU just doesn't play defense and that is something the next head coach has to insist on, as in he will offer up forfeits before throwing a team out on the floor to play horse.
A Kyle Ringo article in the Daily Camera reports that Phoenix Suns' assistant Alvin Gentry, a man with CU ties, is interested in being considered as a replacement for Patton. Gentry was first mentioned in this space by former Buffs' standout big man Scott Wilke, who said he and his friends were high on Gentry. Read Ringo's article here.
BGT: Gentry, if hired, would have instant credibilty with players with his broad experience both in the college and pro game and if his personality is indeed being a "people person" as he professes, then recruiting should be good to very good.
It says here that Gentry would likely be a longshot candidate but the mere fact that he might be interested, along with the speculated interest from Jeff Bzdelik and Mike Dunlap show that CU won't have to "create" a coach out of nothing, go Gerry Faust like Notre Dame once did for its' football program years ago.
Gentry knows the game and has been around Larry Brown, been a head coach in the NBA and is working with the Suns' Mike D'Antoni and a fastbreak offense. Count the BGT as attracted to that package, at least for a discussion with the man.
Kansas again played a game of national interest and again decided to show strong, busting the Cowboys of Oklahoma State in a dominating performance, 87-57, at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks displayed all the strengths that were expected from them since the season started -- athleticism, speed, passing, scoring and defense in a game that made OSU, for a night, look like pretenders.
Coach Sean Sutton's team had no answers -- for anything -- as KU forced 25 turnovers, recorded 17 thefts, dished out 21 assists, and shot a blistering 58 percent from the floor, getting dunks and layups seemingly at will.
The Pokes' one-two, inside-outside punch of Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry, who combine for almost 40 points a game were held to a combined 20 while the Jayhawks got scoring from everywhere.
Brandon Rush stepped out, showing why so many pro scouts should be watching him, with 18 points and six rebounds. Sasha Kahn earned some future NBA money with 16 points and three blocks and reserves Sherron Collins and Darnell Jackson scored 10 each. Underrated point guard Mario Chalmers only had seven points but he did pass for six assists and defend for six steals.
BGT: KU does seem to get up for big games. Florida. OSU. Consistency and finding a pecking order for offense is what has been most ailing this team. Bill Self's bunch has talent and even though they kicked the Cowboys, one game does not a season make. The jury is still undecided.
Oklahoma State needs that third scoring option to help Boggan and Curry and it needs to determine how it could show so poorly on such a meaningful stage. Point blank, this game showed the Cowboys are not as strong as their record indicates and they have a lot of work to do.
How do they defend Texas? How do they score against Texas A & M?
Get in line for those tickets to UT and KU and even OSU and UT. Those matchups will be as good nationally as you can get.
Texas kept the offense running on high octane, whipping Missouri, 88-68, hitting a dozen 3-pointers and 32 free throws in the rout.
Some cat named Kevin Durant, maybe you know of him CU fans, lit up the Tigers too, leaving no doubts he is the most explosive talent in the Big 12 and the leading candidate for national freshman of the year, finishing with 34 points and 13 rebounds.
The guard tandem of A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin, underrated but made-men because of Durant, went for 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Missouri, well, improved under new coach Mike Anderson but it left its' defense in Columbia.
Marshall Brown led the team with 24 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
BGT: The Tigers are a competitive group but UT made them look like, um, CU. The Longhorns are fun to watch but will have to make something great happen this season because Durant is already checking flights for the "green room" in June for the NBA Draft. Still not convinced the burnt orange is going to go deep in the NCAA tournament but the BGT will be tuned in, hoping for a show.
Iowa State freshman Wesley Johnson isn't the Cyclones' top scorer but is their best player, and it's not even close. The 6-foot-7 stick recorded his ninth double-double in leading ISU past kissing cousin Nebraska, 71-62.
Johnson recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds and is now averaging 13 points and 10.7 boards over his last nine games.
Mike Taylor, the team's top scorer, gave the Cyclones 22 points from the backcourt and forward Jiri Hubalek had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Cornhuskers' big man Alexs Maric doesn't get a lot of attention but a lot of schools would like to have him in the middle, as the 6-foot-11 center showed again, finishing with 20 points and 13 caroms.
BGT: The win says something about Iowa State -- that they are worth watching if for nothing more than to see Johnson continue to establish a name for himself. This is a team that is playing without sufficient talent to compete for an upper-division placement but with more pieces, new coach Greg McDermott could take this program places. Nebraska, meanwhile, is competitive but nothing special. Marics will play in the NBA one day.
A.D. going NFL
One of the most hyped running backs, along with Reggie Bush, in recent college memory has decided he's done with school and ready for the big paydays of pro football.
Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson (nicknamed All Day) will give up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.
Peterson set an NCAA freshman record with 1,925 yards rushing and despite battling injuries in college he ran for 4,045 career yards, third on the Sooners' all-time rushing list behind the Billy Sims. He also put the ball in the end zone 41 times.
BGT: Peterson's numbers are eye catching but still disappointing. What he could have done had he stayed healthy is staggering to thing about. His size, strength, speed and competitive desire was a rare package of talent and accomplishment. The only question he faces in the NFL is can he stay healthy? The book is still out on that and the BGT thinks it is unlikely. That said, how can any team not be interested in that kind of talent.
Final note: Had an opportunity to talk to Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com's Insider about many things college football, and it is an interview BGT promises will deliver. We discussed the sport on a national scale, reeled it in closer to home (Big 12, Buffs) and spoke of recruiting as well. Will share this now -- he said some things that definitely caught my attention.
Look for it in the next couple of days.
Want a head's up? Check out his work on ESPN. Worth the read.
Apology
The BGT mistakenly identified Patrick Ridgell yesterday as a writer for the Daily Camera when, in fact, anyone who knows local sportswriters is aware he does his work for Longmont's Daily Times-Call. My personal apology to the writer and the newspapers involved.
thebgtruth@yahoo.com
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