Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes basketball team opens one of the toughest schedules in the country tonight in Dallas against Scott Drew's Baylor Bears. Although highly praised in the off-season, the Buffs enter the game unranked but just outside the Top-25. The Bears, however, scratched their way to the final spot (#25) in the preseason rankings.
The Bears enter this season with the bizarre distinction of being, perhaps, the first ranked team in NCAA basketball history that might not score as many points per game as their school's football team. That is not a putdown to the offense of the Bear hoopsters, but more an acknowledgement of the amazing amount of points being scored by the undefeated and soon to be ranked in the Top 5 Baylor football team. The gridiron Bears have churned out points at the rate of almost 65 points per game this year. If that holds up, Baylor would demolish the NCAA record for points in a season.
One reason that Boyle's Buffaloes might not be ranked as highly as some thought following last season is that they lost star forward Andre Roberson as a first round pick to the NBA over the summer. Despite that, Tad Boyle has built perhaps his best team that is well stocked with the kinds of players he likes (ones with lots of length and athleticism who can run, shoot, and defend).
The Buffaloes return All Pac-12 performer Spencer Dinwiddie, who is considered a likely first round pick in next summer's NBA draft. They also return Askia Booker and All Pac-12 Freshman big man Josh Scott, who has added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame during the off-season.
Joining center Scott and guards Dinwiddie and Booker as likely starters for the Buffs will be sophomore Xavier Johnson and redshirt freshman Wesley Gordon. Johnson and Gordon represent five freshmen and five sophomores on Boyle's young team.
Right now, Boyle and Buffs know they have a young and talented team. What they don't know is which of the youngsters will step to the fore and become featured performers for the Buffaloes. It's a long season with a difficult schedule, but it should have the Buffs battle ready for conference play when it comes around.
The 8 p.m. game will be broadcast on the radio (850 KOA) and televised by Root Sports.
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