Tied to the whipping post, Patton gifts

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark

Shakespeare's Hamlet

It's not Greeley, it's CU men's basketball. No amount of explaining it as youth washes when one also takes into account that programs led by long-tenured coaches just don't allow a season to set up with so many freshman, no matter how talented.

Besides, any small sample will show this freak show is more than a band of freshman, it's a lack of fundamentals and cohesiveness.

Tuesday, another piece of evidence for the prosecution. No legal expert is needed to see the defense has no case and is on the brink of conviction. Regardless of what Ricardo Patton accomplished at CU, and he did make some positive things happen, he will be remembered for the flaming fireball that is this season and that's quite a stain.

Baylor's 97-83 victory was not close.

The Buffs are getting wiped out in every game. How difficult is it to play defense, to hit free throws? How difficult is it to have expectations and standards of Basketball 101, junior-high school? To be "fair" is to be dishonest.

Kansas shot 55 percent. Baylor, hardly on the Jayhawks' level, shot 59 percent. Nebraska jumped on CU early, Missouri's offense flowed well, too.

Want some medicine to put on the wound?

Xavier Silas (pictured) scored a career-high 23 points and Jeremy Williams also went for a personal best, recording 18. The old man, Richard Roby, tallied 18.

Williams added eight rebounds while Silas had six boards and three steals.

Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells led five Bears in double figures with 19 points each as their team did whatever, whenever, wherever against their guests for the night.

BGT: How much more damage could be done to the players on this team, to the paying public back home? Next season is a long ways away and right now, the motivation to attend a Colorado game has to be difficult even for the most ardent supporters. Add to that the finger pointing (no, not from here) from the coaching staff, absolving itself of all responsibility, and its' no surprise that the program stinks in Boulder. Teflon -- nothing sticks. Locally, no one's buying it.

To Patton's credit, he will leave the foundation for a competitive team next season with Roby likely to return. If Williams and Silas do the same, that is a trio that has potential under the right tutelage, to bust out.

Longwood

Longwood?

Oklahoma is playing someplace named Longwood?

Why not a local high school or a charity team from the sheriff's department?

It's been a long while since Jerome Kersey went pro from that place and it showed as the Sooners hooted and hollered their way to an 81-40 romp.

Longar Longar and David Goldbold scored 16 points each to lead five OU players in double figures.

BGT: Oklahoma won the game and needed a victory but it does nothing for its' strength of schedule, to impress the NCAA selection committee nor make itself better for its' next conference game. But feeling good for a night is not such a bad thing. Have a cigarette?

Letters

Richard wants to know about the mass exodus of the grunts in the trenches.

I am curious on your take about the number of players that just announced they were leaving CU. I expected a few players to transfer with the new staff in place, but the number of lineman quitting has me concerned. What is the cause? We crucified Dave Borberly - rightfully so - for running off so many lineman on his watch.

BTW, what is your opinion of Nebraska's new OC?

Go Buffs!

Richard, the volume of players leaving has to, at the very least, grab most people's attention. Then you compound that fact most of those were along the line and it makes you wonder about their positional coach. It was also obvious to all that offensive line, as well as receivers, of which Steve Fendry (tight end) was a part of, was a disappointing area on the team last fall. So it's difficult to feel good about it all. However, it is part of the normal weeding-out process whenever there is a coaching transition, as there was a season ago.

As for the Huskers, regardless of how CU followers see Shawn Watson, he must be well-regarded in Lincoln as Nebraska's offense showed real life in 2006 and with much better talent in uniform the word here is Watson is going to look pretty smart in coming seasons. He has coordinator experience and coach Bill Callahan is obviously high on him.