Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes Offseason News, Links, and Stories. And the Beginning Of The End of College Football.

Pac-12 spring breakout players - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

Tony Jones, RB, Colorado: Replacing the highly productive Rodney Stewart was a spring priority and Jones, a sophomore, answered the bell. Jones is built a little like the diminutive "Speedy" -- 5-7, 175 pounds -- and he has a versatile range of skills, just like Stewart. With questions at quarterback, he will be asked to do a lot. Just like Stewart.

Pac-12 post-spring power rankings - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

12. Colorado: The most crushing injury this spring was Buffs WR Paul Richardson blowing out his knee. On the plus side, the offensive line looks solid, and Tony Jones stepped up at running back. If everyone stays -- or gets -- healthy, the linebackers will be first rate. And DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe could be a breakout player. But there are huge questions at receiver, on the defensive line and in the secondary. Colorado may play as many freshmen as any team in the country this year.

Xavier Johnson – Just ask Austin " SoCal Recruit Spot - Thanks to Phil for the link. Phil doesn't agree with the entire post. Incidentally, neither does Xavier Johnson. What do you think?

The Dunk. Tens of thousands have seen it. Xavier Johnson secures a defensive rebound and begins dribbling down court. As he approaches the key a defender swipes at the ball and Johnson cuts inside to evade. He picks up his dribble and leverages a powerful jump off his right foot. ’11 #1 Overall recruit Austin Rivers (son of Doc Rivers) has trailed the play and enters the screen. Looking to deny Johnson an easy two, Rivers times his jump to that of Johnson and explodes upwards to the rim. All the makings of a highlight worthy swat….except that’s not the way it went down. At 6’7 200lbs and carrying next level hops Johnson easily out-jumps Rivers and emphatically throws down a rim-rocking left-handed dunk. Rivers falls to the ground, Johnson roars in victory, and YouTube has its next nugget. No doubt there’s more than a single highlight to Xavier Johnson’s credit, but as far as social media was concerned, the Dunk was the one which mattered, and Johnson had arrived with authority.

As Jon posted earlier this week, the Big12/SEC Champions Bowl is the future of College football, but not for the reasons you think.

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' and Pac-12 Athletics and Offseason Football, News, Links, and Stories

Colorado Football Top 12 - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the University of Colorado's first All-American in football, Byron "Whizzer" White, KOA and CUBuffs.com are conducting a fan competition to select 12 of the best players since White to wear the Buffalo uniform. We have broken down the candidates into six groups, and fans will select two from each to "share the spotlight." Thus two players from the following areas will be voted on to come up with a dozen Buffaloes since 1937 who have excelled at their positions: offensive skill (quarterback, tailback and receiver), offensive line (tackle, guard, center and tight end), defensive line (end, tackle, nose guard), linebacker (inside/outside), defensive back and specialists.

Finally, a vote that Buffs fans can take part of that won't get spammed. Of course, now that I've said that, someone will go and vote for Craig Ochs 771 times.

The Freak List: The 10 craziest athletes in college football - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and BCS Rankings

I've been compiling the annual Freaks List for almost a decade now. It's a top 10 that spotlights the top workout warriors or players who amaze their teammates and coaches with what they can do in the weight room, on the track or in some other "wow" aspect of athleticism. Over the years, the Freaks List has featured guys ranging from Calvin Johnson to Adrian Peterson to Owen Schmitt to a bunch of guys who ended up getting drafted by the Raiders. Anyhow. With a big thank you to coaches, players and sports information directors around the country, here is the 2012 Freaks List. (I considered any players who are already on campus and will be eligible this fall.)

10b. Eric Richter, Colorado, DT: The 6-3, 315-pound Californian only got in action for seven plays last fall for the Buffs, but it's not for a lack of strength. When CU players were tested this offseason on the bench press, Richter banged out 51 reps at 225, 10 more reps than he did a year ago. "He doesn't need a cheerleader, he doesn't need a audience," says CU strength coach Malcolm Blacken, "he just needs a lot of weight on the bar to get motivated. A strength coach's dream -- a real living and breathing Frankenstein!"

Thanks to Phil for this link

CU Buffs' Embree expects heated QB competition this summer | The Field House

Embree has said that he expects incoming freshman Shane Dillon also to be a factor in the quarterback competition. But Dillon, a 6-foot-6, 195-pounder from El Cajon (Calif.) Christian in suburban San Diego, underwent surgery on Feb. 13 to repair a torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder. "Nick is fine," Embree said on the teleconference.

"And I think Shane will be doing some throwing probably mid-June. He’s ahead of schedule." An experienced quarterback could also join the competition. Confirming widespread reports, Embree called it "a possibility" that former Kansas quarterback Jordan Webb would be added to the CU roster as a graduate transfer. Webb, a two-year starter for the Jayhawks, would be able to play immediately for Colorado as a graduate with remaining eligibility. He would be a fourth-year junior this fall.

"We’ll see what happens with Jordan," Embree said.

Thanks to BuffalanceMan for this link

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' NFL Draft, and Offseason News, Links, and Stories

CU Buffs coach Tad Boyle tries to buck transfer trend - Buffzone

"It's ridiculous," CU head coach Tad Boyle said of the transfer explosion during a recent interview with the Daily Camera. "I think there's a couple of reasons why it's happening. No. 1, it's a societal thing in that everyone wants immediate gratification. Because so many freshmen that are playing are having success, you see what Kentucky's doing, and people are like, 'Why isn't it happening for me?'

"Well, those kids are different-level kids (at Kentucky). The lack of patience is part of the problem." CU was able to avoid a mass exodus two years ago when Jeff Bzdelik abruptly left for Wake Forest. Boyle met with Alec Burks and other team leaders during his first week on the job to make sure they remained on board to finish the rebuilding job.

Steelers' Depth at Wide Receiver Still Lacking After Draft - Behind the Steel Curtain

There is some excitement brewing about seventh round pick Toney Clemons, a good size-and-speed combo receiver from Colorado who came on strong at the end of last season. Even if he does pan out (statistically, odds of a seventh round pick making a pro roster are slim, to say the least), that would mean the Steelers, as it sits right now, would be giving him the 5th receiver position with no competition.

Getting to know your new Cleveland Browns: Ryan Miller | WaitingForNextYear

Who better to get the inside info on the Browns' new draft class than the bloggers that followed them in college? We asked The Ralphie Report for some insight on Colorado OL Ryan Miller. David Gerhardt was happy to assist.

Press Conference - 7th Round - Scottie Montgomery - Video: The Steelers discuss new wide receiver and former Buff Toney Clemons.

You get 4 links on the front page today. Why? Because Jon's not here to say otherwise, that's why!

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ESPN's College Gameday is conducting an online vote to determine on which college campus they'll film a commercial this summer. The results are hilarious and ridiculous.

While I was browsing a certain Colorado-Buffaloes-centric college sports website... let's say it's initials are TRR... dot net. Anyways, I was browsing along and I saw this:

partially blurry and entirely misleading advertisement offering to bring college gameday to my campus in all it's puke-orange glory. College gameday? On my campus!? All I have to do is vote now?!? Awesome!

*Click*

Turns out the vote is actually to have college gameday film a commercial on your campus during the summer...as in... when there's no football. Or students. Or anything exciting on a college campus. Have you been to a big college campus when regular classes aren't in session? It's like an empty set from Band of Brothers.

I voted anyways. Mostly because I didn't read all that fine print until afterwards. Had I though, I probably would have voted 'University of Houston' to make them film the commercial here in the swamp in the middle of the summer, but whatever. I mean, a vote to affect a real thing, amirite? No...It turns out I am not right.

Any of you even familiar with democracy or the internet already know where this is going.

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' and Pac-12 Athletics and Offseason Football, News, Links, and Stories

Van Halen Leads Buffs On First Day At Mt. SAC - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado track and field team got off to a great start on the first day of competition at the 54th Annual Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday.

Aric Van Halen turned in the best performance of the day when he clocked a lifetime best of 8 minutes, 42.79 seconds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, making him the sixth fastest performer in CU history. Van Halen finished third in the Olympic development elite section and ran the fastest time by a Buff since Billy Nelson in 2008. (Nelson, an assistant coach for the Buffs, ranks second on the CU performers list.) Van Halen's time was almost 10 seconds faster than his previous PR of 8:52.53 which he ran in 2011.

Johnson discusses Colorado, wants to face Shabazz " National Recruiting Spotlight

Why did you commit to Colorado? There are a lot of aspects about Colorado that I love. The thing I like the most is the atmosphere, everyone is very supportive and it’s a great place. They have a great coaching staff and they’re great people to be around. Are you looking forward to playing with anyone in particular? Definitely [sophomore forward] Andre [Roberson] and [freshman guards] Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker.

I told Askia and Spencer already that I’ll be ready for some lobs to get the crowd hyped so I’m really excited. Are there any specific academic programs you’re considering studying at Colorado? No major yet, but I’m definitely interested in science.

I don’t know what kind of science but I definitely want to do something in science. What are you looking to improve on before you get to Colorado? I want to put on some more weight and get a little bulkier so I can play with the big boys. I want to work on my ball-handling and become an even better three-point shooter.

Thanks to Phil Fraser for the interview link.

Senate committee says 'yes' to renaming U.S. 36 the Buffalo Highway - Colorado Hometown Weekly

A Senate committee last week gave its unanimous approval to a resolution to rename the Boulder Turnpike the Buffalo Highway. That stretch of road leads from Denver to Boulder, home of the University of Colorado.

"I think it's a nice reminder of the University of Colorado, which has the best mascot in the whole country," said Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder. "Why not take advantage of it?"

This might be the one time that 'Senate Committee' and "CU' in the same sentence is a good thing.

Thanks to Denny Majewski for watching this topic like a hawk.

After the jump. Can you guess how many $1M donations the Colorado Athletic Department has received, ever? No, you're too high...

...Still too high.

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' and Pac-12 Athletics and Offseason Football, News, Links, and Stories

Q&A: Colorado D-coordinator Greg Brown - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

GB: Too many big plays were given up. Too many points were scored. We had a laundry list of a lot of things. Too many injuries. The roster was thin. It was one of those years we'd like to see not repeated.

The Big 12 is hardly an offense-poor conference. You've coached there and the Pac-12. Were there any adjustments for your players moving from the Big 12 to Pac-12?

GB: Absolutely. Not to take anything away from the Big 12. That's a terrific league that stands on its own merits, that's for sure. But you just have some unique offensive minds in the Pac-12, different styles of attack that we had not seen in the Big 12. There's nobody in the Big 12 that plays the same style as Oregon. Nobody plays the same style as Stanford or Washington. They are all unique and were tough styles to contend with. We've got a lot of offensive-minded head coaches and very innovated offensive coordinators.

There's more! You should read it!

Spring Game Quotes - CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair - Quotes from Embree, post-spring-practices:

On Junior Day

"Junior Day went well; I would imagine we will hear from some kids here. There were a couple kids in particular. There were seven kids that came, that it was good they got here, they made a great effort to get here, so we'll see on that. We had kids coming in all last week, and really the week before because they couldn't make that particular day. We'll continue to recruit to get some guys in here and see what happens."

On Having A Young Team

"It's always important to keep the standard or set the tone, so they understand what you're trying to do. Every game counts for us, we don't have the luxury of trying to let guys ease their way into it. We have to go. It's important we get off to a fast start and it's important for the kids who play to understand they can help us get off to a fast start."

One nice thing about CUatg is that he has no problem re-printing an article in its entirety; so there's plenty more quotes and stuff.

Shocking news! College students and, by extension, college football players are smoking marijuana! Or hadn't you heard? Oregon tops the list of green-leaf-smoking-hippy-ballers...

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Athletics and Offseason Football, News, Links, and Stories

Brooks: Buffs React To Richardson's Injury, Absence - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The knee injury reduced Richardson's effectiveness for the latter part of the year, but he had rededicated himself after returning from Christmas break and had reestablished his role as a team leader. In an interview before spring practice began, he said he wanted his coaches and teammates to know he was "100 percent here, I'm all in; there are no question marks and it's going to show. I don't want to be seen in a dark light; I want to be seen in a bright light."

Embree and Malcolm Blacken, CU's director of speed, strength and conditioning, couldn't see him in any other way. Richardson blew away his competition during Coaches' Week, telling staffers, "I feel like I'm a monster; this is what I was made to do. I know how hungry I am and where I want to be in life; it all determines my work ethic. I'm doing it every day with a smile on my face."

Replacing Richardson won't be easy. Embree even indicated it was impossible: "You don't replace him. What we have to do is find out what other people can do and ask them to do those things. Then find a way to as effective as you can be and continue to move the ball. You've got to be creative. There's a lot of different things you have to do. The great thing about football it is a team game at the end of the day. So other people will have to pick up the slack. That's what we'll do."

"That's a big role to fill because 'P-Rich' is just a special, special player," sophomore receiver Tyler McCulloch said. "It doesn't necessarily create pressure but there's just a lot more urgency to have everyone step up. Everyone is going to want to step up individually, but as a unit, as a whole, we all need to step up."

Added redshirt freshman receiver Nelson Spruce: "It's going to be a collective thing. We all have different specialties and are different receivers. I think we've been coming together; as long as we continue we should be able to keep producing."

Questions now loom for Colorado receivers - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN - Ted Miller breaks down the depth chart at wide receiver after Paul Richardson's injury.

Last year's leading receiver, running back Rodney Stewart, is gone. The leading receiver who actually played receiver, Toney Clemons is gone. Richardson was third, he's gone. Tight end Ryan Deehan, gone. Wide receiver Logan Gray, gone.

Starting to get the picture? And hanging over all of this is, of course, a question mark at quarterback. Texas transfer Connor Wood is getting all of the work with the first team, though that will change when Nick Hirschman returns from a broken foot in the fall.

So with Richardson out who are these guys going to be throwing to?

Keenan Canty probably has the most speed of anyone in the group. He caught 14 balls for 161 yards last season. Tyler McCulloch has pretty good size at 6-5, 210, but he's not as fast as Canty. McCulloch had 10 catches for 96 yards and a score last season. Nelson Spruce is coming off a redshirt year and there are a handful of walk-ons that could get into the mix.

Boyle Signs Stalzer To National Letter of Intent - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

University of Colorado men's basketball head coach Tad Boyle and his staff announced Wednesday the signing 6-foot-3, 195-pound point guard Eli Stalzer to a National Letter of Intent to play basketball and continue his education at CU for the 2012-13 season. Stalzer is the sixth incoming freshman on the 2012-13 roster and joins Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) teammate Xavier Johnson, who signed with the Buffaloes last November.

"Eli is a player our staff kept coming back to in our elevation process," Boyle said. "He is the epitome of what we consider a 'complete player' to be. His ability to pass, dribble and shoot, as well as his ability to defend multiple positions will allow him to be a valuable player for the Buffs."

Stalzer and Johnson will be the first CU student-athletes hailing from the same high school as incoming freshmen since the 1980-81 season when former CU greats Jay Humphries and Vince Kelley came to CU from Inglewood High School in Los Angeles (Humphries is CU's all-time assist leader, 14th on the all-time scoring list; Kelley is 19th in scoring).

Baylor cheats big time, yes. But what other 'Green-and-Yellow' team is full of foul, nasty people? You'll only need one guess...

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Athletics and Offseason Football, News, Links, and Stories

CU Buffs receivers trying to catch on - Buffzone

When spring football practices began last month at Colorado, one of coach Jon Embree's priorities for the 15 sessions was finding out if any of the current wide receivers could fill the hole left by Toney Clemons or if coaches would have to rely on a true freshman this fall.

One wide receiver spot will obviously be manned by junior-to-be Paul Richardson, leaving a handful of players to make their case for the other side or niche roles in the offense. Nothing is settled yet, but wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy said before the team broke for spring break 10 days ago that he has liked what he has seen from his group.

The Buffs return to practice today with seven practices remaining, including the April 14 spring game at Folsom Field. "Like I always say, we're a work in progress," Kennedy said. "We've just got to maximize their ability and get the most out of them. You know, I see us as so far ahead of where we were last year at this time.

What I keep telling Jon is we're better than at almost any time last year. We miss a big play-maker in Toney Clemons, but there are some other things that we're doing that we're way, far ahead on. It's an eclectic group but a group that can be good if they keep working."

Brooks: Marshall Believes Young O-line Shaping Up - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

"I'm pretty excited about where this group can go - if we stay healthy and can keep them on the field together," he said Monday before the Buffaloes resumed practice after a week of spring break. "They're going to be a young group, but I like where we are. We're much farther along as far as the knowledge of the offense and the things that we can do well and not do well. We just have to keep growing and playing together and being able to handle the run, the pass and all the multiple things we do."

The "staying healthy" part of the Marshall plan is key. His group didn't open spring drills last month with 100 percent participation, which is always a drawback when replacing two interior starters. Fortunately for Marshall, the replacements for guards Ethan Adkins and Ryan Miller weren't among the players who were limited or did not participate at all during the eight practices prior to spring break. Currently working with Marshall's first unit at guard are sophomores Alex Lewis (left) and Daniel Munyer (right). Lewis has moved inside from left tackle (he also played some tight end last season as a true freshman), while Munyer is seeing some spot duty at center (he opened the 2011 season there).

Said Marshall: "If we played in a week, (Lewis and Munyer) would be our starting guards."

Spring Practice Notes " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

On whether bringing in Jordan Webb should be seen as an indication that he is unhappy with the play of the current quarterbacks – "No. I’m happy with what I’ve seen out of Connor (Wood). I"m excited to get Nick (Hirschman) back. When I got here, we had two quarterbacks, Tyler (Hansen) and Nick. That’s one place you can’t afford to not have depth. And we need to have someone who has played some football. Nick has had a few snaps; Connor hasn’t played; Shane (Dillon) hasn’t played. I don’t want to liken it to signing Steve DeBerg, but if it’s going to happen, it will be that sort of thing. Maybe it will be like with John Elway and Steve Young and all of those other guys he backed up. If Jordan comes in this summer, it doesn’t reflect on the guys and what they have done so far."

Who did Kansas State hire as a basketball coach? Was it Tad Boyle?!? It wasn't.

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The University of Colorado today announced the addition of 3 new varsity-level sports to the Buff's lineup, among them the long-awaited return of Men's Baseball.

"The University of Colorado and the Athletic department are very pleased and excited to announce the addition of these new Colorado intercollegiate sports teams," the video voice-over rings through the upper suites at Folsom Field. The glorious spring weather is hidden as the tinted windows are activated. The rooms goes dark and everyone quiets down.

*CRACK* a sound like lightning makes everyone jump... "Women's Ice Hockey!" the voice booms and we realize it's the sound of a puck hit off a stick. The still image of a girl in mid-shot fades. Dark again. *Pling...pling...pling... CRACK* again people jump: "Women's Gymnastics!" People nod in understanding as a video clip shows a gymnast bounding off the horse and sticking her landing perfectly.

People are ready for the sudden crack, but it doesn't come. Instead rumbling grows as the lights come back up to reveal Mike Bohn at the podium, "Men's Baseball!" he announces with a smile as the group springs up in applause and more than a few cheers.

"I'm very pleased to be able to announce the return of Men's NCAA baseball to Colorado's roster of sports teams. This is truly an exciting time to be a Buff" he smiles again as he dons a black baseball cap with the single block letter 'C' in gold on the front, an obvious nod to the traditional hat of baseball powerhouses like Cal and Texas...

Where will the baseball team play? What's inside their rally caps? Make the jump to find out!

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Football Offseason, National Champion Ski Team, and Women's Golf, News, Links, and Stories

Linda Lappe feels CU Buffs moving in right direction - Buffzone

It wasn't a perfect season, by any means, although it started out that way. The Buffs began 12-0 for just the third time in program history, and for the first time since 1992-93. They followed that, however, by winning just four of their next 16 games before finishing 5-2 in the last seven. Along the way, the Buffs lost too many at home (12-6), but learned how to win on the road (9-8). The Buffs hadn't won more than four games away from Boulder since 2003-04.

"That was an important step for us to take this season," Lappe said. CU has improved in other areas, as well, since Lappe took over. CU's average attendance (2,679) increased by 879 fans per game this year. The Buffs also signed a recruiting class that, in November, was ranked No. 20 in the country by ESPN.com's HoopGurlz.

"(Two years ago) I thought if we could increase our recruiting and increase our attendance, those were going to be two things that were going to help us down the road and we did both of those," Lappe said. Now it's time for another step. Seabrook is the only player from this year's team that graduates and with a top-20 recruiting class coming in, it stands to reason that the Buffs will be better in 2012-13.

Hartman, Ghent And Zika All Top 11 At U.S. Nationals - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The first two days of action are complete here at the 2012 U.S. National Championships and CU placed three skiers in the top 11 of the men’s and women’s slalom races.

On Wednesday, senior Katie Hartman placed eighth in the women’s slalom race in a top-run time of 1:42.81, her best performance in a national championship race, with senior Erika Ghent just two spots back in 10th in 1:43.61, her second career top 10 finish at nationals. Junior Khyla Burrows placed 42nd in 1:57.42 and freshman Shane McLean didn’t finish her first run.

Tad Boyle looking to lure next level of talent to CU Buffs - Buffzone

Eventually, Boyle would like to welcome a McDonald's All-American to CU. "You have to try to get into the door. We're going to do that. We're trying to recruit those guys," Boyle said recently. "You have to give it a shot. You might get in the top four or five this year, you might get in the top two or three next year, and then you land one."

CU's recent success, including winning the Pac-12 Tournament, has already created interest from some recruits in the conference footprint that wouldn't have considered joining Boyle's program when it was in the Big 12. "I do think we have a brand we're trying to establish with Colorado basketball on the West Coast," Boyle said. "What we did this year in the Pac-12 Tournament opened some eyes, and so that might open some doors."

What do you think of the BCS' discusion of a playoff format? Long overdue fairness? Or money-grubbing grubby-money-ness?

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Football Offseason, Women's Lacrosse, and Women's Golf, News, Links, and Stories

Women's Golf Leads At Anuenue Spring Break Challenge - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

With No. 11 University of Colorado women’s golf team is in the lead through two rounds at the 2012 Anuenue Spring Break Challenge, hosted by the University of Hawai’i here at The Bay Course at Kapalua. Colorado shot the best second round in the field, a 1-over par 289, and sit at 12-over par 588 through two rounds and lead the field by three strokes.

The top four are all within six strokes, as No. 15 California is second at 15-over par 591 with No. 13 Tennessee (16-over par 592) and No. 36 Mississippi (18-over par 594) are all bunched together atop the leader board. "It’s been a long time since we had a 36-hole day," CU head coach Anne Kelly said. "We played really well all day, but especially in the second round. There was a good, consistent, 20 to 25 mile per hour wind all day and it was dusty."

"We threw some shots away in the first round, just getting used to the wind and used to the golf course," Kelly said. "It’s a good course and has some tricky holes. The more you play and more experience you get, the better you do and that certainly showed for us this afternoon."

Colorado Daily – March " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

Jordan Webb to become a Buff Former Kansas quarterback Jordan Webb has decided to become a Colorado Buff this summer, after graduating from the University of Kansas this spring. Webb will have two years of eligibility remaining. Webb chose CU over Wisconsin (which had pretty good luck with a senior transfer quarterback last season!), North Texas, and Murray State. Last season, Webb was the quarterback for the 2-10 Jayhawks. Webb completed 179-of-281 passes for 1,884 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Webb was also sacked 31 times on the year.

THORBURN: Jon Embree's CU Buffs flying under radar - Brush News-Tribune

There is a down side to rebuilding from the ground up so close to the Mile High City. On Dec. 6, 2010, the University of Colorado introduced Jon Embree as the new football coach during a press conference at Folsom Field. And then the Denver Broncos stole the national and regional headlines by firing Josh McDaniels on the same day. A Denver sports-talk radio station postponed an interview with Tad Boyle last week.

The madness involving Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow trumped the Buffs' remarkable March run to through the Pac-12 Tournament and into the Big Dance as a topic of discussion. While the NFL and the NCAA Tournament battle for the spotlight, Embree has quietly been getting some important work done behind closed doors at the CU practice fields. The few, the proud, the healthy Buffs are getting plenty attention from the coaching staff during spring drills as the program awaits an infusion of talent when the 28-man recruiting class arrives before fall camp.

"Not at all," offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said after a recent practice when I asked him if the coaches liked flying under the radar. "Obviously, our basketball team had a great season. Welcome to town Peyton Manning. But understand that Saturday afternoon is still Colorado University football. "We still have a lot to prove. We still have a lot to achieve and a lot to strive for."

What do you think of the Jordan Webb transfer? Needed depth? Unneeded drama?

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Athletics, Women's NIT, Men's NCAA Tournament, and Football Offseason News, Links, and Stories

Women's basketball: CU Buffs set to face hot-shooting Villanova in WNIT - Buffzone

Colorado's women's basketball team has gone up against teams that like to shoot the 3-pointer. Oregon hit 7.7 3-pointers per game this season; Arizona made 6.3 per contest. What the Buffs (20-13) see Thursday night from Villanova, however, will be different.

The Wildcats (19-14) have connected on 8.2 3-pointers a game this season and they shoot 24.1 times per game from beyond the arc. "This is the best 3-point shooting team that we've faced and probably will face all season long," CU head coach Linda Lappe said. "That's what they try to get. They run a lot of things to get open 3s. If your hands aren't up and if they're open, they make them."

The game's tonight, in Boulder. If you are elsewhere then you're doing it wrong.

Sabrina's Crossing - An athlete's life on the road: No Redos, No Regrets - On the topic of CU vs. 'Nova, Sabrina Scott shares her thoughts on playing alongside Linda Lappe and Tera Bjorklund against Villanova in the Sweet 16 in '03.

I've always played basketball without regret. You play hard, you leave it all on the court, and there's nothing to regret. But there's one play in my career that I've always wanted to have back. A redo so to speak. Ever since my senior year at Colorado, I've wanted to have one play, and one play only, back. If that play resulted differently, maybe the rest of the game would have gone differently.

Brooks: Uzo-Diribe Takes Steps Toward Better Run 'D' - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

"He's looks great . . . he's shown some good versatility playing the run and the pass (and) he's been the best player on defense this spring, the hardest for our offense to contend with." That's precisely what Uzo-Diribe, a defensive end/outside linebacker from Corona, Calif., went into spring practice hoping to accomplish - but particularly in the running game.

Uzo-Diribe can be (and has been) a ferocious pass rusher, a true force on the edge. He's 6-3, has a Boeing-variety wingspan, and has added about 15 pounds since last fall while retaining his speed. Now at 250, he's comfortable in either a stand-up or a hand-on-the-ground position on the line.

"They have me standing up some plays, sometimes I have my hand on the ground," he said. "I'm everything; it just depends on what coach Brown wants to call. I think I'm a versatile kind of player; I think I can do both and it's fun. I've kept my speed, and if anything, that's improved. I've got a good jump off the ball."

Ha ha, nebraska... ...no, but seriously; Tad Boyle's not going anywhere.

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Athletics, Women's NIT, Men's NCAA Tournament, and Football Offseason News, Links, and Stories

Colorado Dominates The Paint, Glass, In WNIT Win - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

"Our rebounding was fantastic," CU head coach Linda Lappe said. "That's been a staple of ours all year, outrebounding opponents and I thought we did a nice job getting extra possessions and making (USD) play defense for sometimes 60 seconds at a time."

All five of Colorado's starters had at least five rebounds. For good measure, sophomore Rachel Hargis came off the bench to grab seven boards. Jeffery had an outstanding all-around game making 10-of-19 from the floor with three assists and three steals in addition to her eighth double-double of the season.

Brooks: Offense Has 'EB' Croaking - But In Good Way - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

"We're a year better than what we were last season," said Bieniemy, who also coaches the Buffs running backs. "We as a staff have grown tremendously, grown in the system together. There's a better understanding from each other of what we want and how to do it. And communication is so much better with our players in getting what we want out of them."

Bieniemy and his offensive staff went into spring drills with the goal of having the Buffs emerge with a "complete understanding about our offense in the second year, understanding concepts in the run game and what our goals are. And right now, it's so far, so good. Our kids are much better, but we have a long ways to go. But we're playing with more confidence, playing faster because they know what to do.

"Now we're teaching and coaching football, rather than having to worry about a lot of different aspects of taking over a program. From that standpoint it's been fun. The developmental process has been good, but we've got to keep grinding, keep working on the little things to help take this team to another level."

The Rumblings of a Deranged Buffalo: Quick Post: On CU's new reputation

I don't know if you noticed, but we're suddenly a school that travels well. At least that's the message that's been floating across the country over the past two weeks. It all culminated in Albuquerque, where enthusiasm surrounding the hoops program's first conference title in over 40 years combined with a short trip down I-25 to fill the Pit with Black & Gold.

That formula almost helped propel the Buffs into the Sweet Sixteen. The presence in New Mexico only followed on the heels of the heart of the C-Unit being shipped out to LA, where they were seemingly the only group at the Staples Center interested in making noise. As a result, TruTV/TNT constantly showed the C-Unit celebrating, announcers in both LA and ABQ couldn't help but mention it, and bloggers and journalists from across the sporting world commented on it.

The University of Colorado was suddenly a traveling force to be reckoned with.

After the jump there's a link you can't click...it's un-clickable!

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes' Women's NIT, Men's NCAA Tournament, and Football Offseason News, Links, and Stories

Linda Lappe's CU Buffs look to overcome South Dakota in WNIT road game - Buffzone

"It's a tough road trip," head coach Linda Lappe said. "At the same time, it's good for our team. We've been in situations like this before and I think it's always good to have to play on the road in the WNIT because it makes you really appreciate your home games."
"I think we've done a pretty good job of establishing ourselves on the road," Malcolm-Peck said. "That's where we've struggled in the past. I think that's a big focus for us and it makes it even more special to win on the road because it's a little harder to do."

After a rough stretch of games late in the season, CU has played very well in its last four. They are 3-1 in those games and had a good performance in the one loss, to NCAA Tournament-bound California.

After growing up this year, Tad Boyle's CU Buffs will be younger next year - Buffzone

"This win gives us confidence and that's important in college basketball," Boyle said at the time. "We're going to get mentally tougher for our upcoming games."

"Our young guys, I love. The backups need to have great offseasons. And the new guys coming in have got to strap it on because we're going to be young next year," Boyle said. "We're going to have one senior (Chen) instead of four. It's going to be a different group, just like this year's was, but I expect us to get better as the year goes on.

"I'm as optimistic about Colorado basketball today as I've ever been. It's a testament to what this team has done the last two weeks to put us in this position."

Women's Golf Wins Clover Cup, Wallace Medalist - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

With three weather delays including one because of hail, the No. 15 University of Colorado women's golf team kept its composure and put the wraps on the most dominating performance in school history Sunday here at the 2012 Clover Cup. The Buffs finished with the top three players on the leader board and shot a final round 9-over par 297 to win by 31 strokes.

"The weather was miserable," Kelly said. "It was in the 40s all day, the wind chill had to be much lower than that, and it was raining and breezy all day. We had three delays. It was just a long day. But it was definitely a good day, too." For the first time in school history, the Buffs finished 1-2-3 in the final individual standings with senior Jess Wallace edging out sophomore Alex Stewart and senior Emily Talley for medalist honors.

Pacific Takes polled people who know Pac-12 Basketball, and they named Andre Roberson Pac-12 Defensive player of the year. Or did they? Or didn't they? They did.

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Recapping your Dancing Colorado Buffaloes, Men's NCAA Tournament, Women's NIT News, Links, and Stories

Buffs Top Northern Colorado, Advance In WNIT - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado women’s basketball team opened the second half on a 18-6 run to put away instate foe Northern Colorado, taking home a 54-42 win in the first round of the 2012 Women’s NIT here Wednesday night at the Coors Events Center.

The Buffs (19-13) used a balanced offensive attack and stellar team defense to advance in the tournament for the second straight season. Four Buffaloes scored either nine or 10 points while the Buffs held the Bears (20-12) leading scorer D’Shara Strange to just two points on an 0-of-10 shooting performance.

The women travel to Vermillion (where?) to play University of South Dakota (where?) in the next round of the WNIT

CU Buffs survive, beat UNLV 68-64 in NCAA Tournament - Buffzone

And the dance continues. But not without a whole lot of drama. No. 11 Colorado gave Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott something to smile about with a stress-filled 68-64 victory over No. 6 UNLV in the NCAA Tournament South Regional on Thursday night in front of an ear-piercing crowd at the Pit. The Buffs (24-11) nearly blew a 20-point lead in the second half before holding on for dear life.

RINGO: This team is best in CU history - Buffzone

There can be no doubt about it. Has to be. The Buffs are a national feel-good story. Cinderella's slippers are black and gold this year. With apologies to Burdie Haldorson and his teammates on the 1955 team that went to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament when the NIT was still the bigger deal, this group has you beat. Sorry Alec Burks, Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson, Marcus Relphorde and Javon Coney. You showed this season's team the way last season, and these Buffs have taken your legacy and run with it.

After the jump, I travel to the future to verify Ringo's claim... (he's wrong, next year's team is even better than this year's)

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Recapping your Colorado Buffaloes are Pac-12 Champions and Play in the NCAA Tournament News, Links, and Stories

RINGO: Many had hand in Pac-12 title - Buffzone

Anyone who doesn't give them a decent chance to win a first-round game and maybe even extend this run into the Sweet 16 would be foolish. The Buffs are one of those teams you see every year in the tournament, they're peaking at the right time and playing with truckloads of confidence.

None of the other coaches in the Tournament are going to be happy to see the Buffs in their way. There are a lot of people who deserve credit for rebuilding this program and earning a spot in the 68-team field. None of them deserve more credit than the players. Fate was smiling on Boyle the day Andre Roberson's name first came to his attention in the spring two years ago.

Boyle was looking for an athletic big man at the time he found Roberson in a San Antonio High School somehow being overlooked by almost everyone else. Roberson has worked tirelessly in his two years in the program and isn't far from becoming the program's next first-round draft pick. He needs another year, but there is every reason to believe he will get there.

And also anyone who doesn't have Colorado advancing smells bad and has a stupid face.

Member of Colorado’s student section joins in net-cutting ceremony | The Dagger: College Basketball Blog - Yahoo! Sports

The first person to climb up the orange ladder and clip a piece of net after Colorado captured the Pac-12 tournament title on Saturday evening wasn't coach Tad Boyle or one of the team's senior leaders. In fact, it wasn't a member of the team at all.

Out of gratitude for the support Colorado's student section, known as the "C-Unit", gave the Buffaloes this week, athletic director Mike Bohn asked Boyle's permission to have one of the students be part of the net-cutting ceremony. Boyle was on board, so Nick Shearon, clad in a Colorado cape and suit of armor, got to climb the ladder, smile for the TV cameras and take home a unique souvenir after the Buffaloes' 53-51 win over Arizona.

I hope someone in the C-Unit is wearing that net at every Buffs game from now until it disintegrates next year when we get another.

Buffs get a stress-free Selection Sunday - College Basketball Nation Blog - ESPN

Colorado coach Tad Boyle wasn't ready to sleep at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. So less than 14 hours before playing in the Buffaloes' first conference tournament championship game since 1990, Boyle started text messaging.

"We dedicated this game to Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson, Marcus Relphorde, Trent Beckley, Javon Coney and Alec Burks." Boyle said. "I texted them all at 1:30 in the morning, the six guys who were in that room [on Selection Sunday last year] who are no longer with us today, and told them that we are winning this for them." That dedication turned into delirium for the Buffaloes at Staples Center, as Colorado won't have to worry about any slights from the NCAA tournament selection committee this season.

The Buffaloes clinched the Pac-12's automatic tournament berth with a 53-51 victory over Arizona, the first conference tournament title in program history. Colorado (23-11) emerged victorious despite only scoring three points in the final 9:10. Its only field goal during that span came on a windmill dunk by Carlon Brown with 52.6 seconds left that provided the game-winning points.

But for a program that hadn't made the tournament since 2003 -- falling on the wrong side of the bubble several times in the years since, including last season's disappointment -- holding on for dear life while milking a 50-38 lead down to the end was somewhat fitting.

Link for buying tickets to the Buffs' NCAA Tournament game...after the jump. Which section are you going to sit in?

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Highlights from the Colorado Buffaloes Pac-12 Tournament victory over Cal, and clips from Twitter on the Buffs victory.

There was a lot of activity last night after the buffs victory. For those of you who aren't on twitter, I'm clipping some of the more fun posts. For those of you who are on twitter, it's fun to read them again and relish in the victory.

We'll start with C-Unit, our official student cheering section. Mike Bohn totally paid for 50 of them to travel to L.A. for the tournament.

The twitters will break into your house and eat all the nachos...story at 5.

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The Ralphie Report sat down with the great Oregon blog, AutzenZoo.com, to discuss tonight's Pac-12 conference tournament game in LA (9:30pm MT, FSN). Thanks to Joe for the answers.

You can check out my answers to their questions here.

Devoe Joseph was named to the Pac-12 First-team, the first Duck to receive that honor. Who else in the Duck's starting 5 should Buffs fans be wary of?

If we're looking at the starting five, I think you have to watch out for Garrett Sim and E.J. Singler. Everybody knows about Kyle's younger brother, who is the leader of this team and plays his heart out defensively. He's the team's leading rebounder and is solid on offense as well. Sim was the guy who really put a dagger into Colorado's hearts in their last meeting, because his three-pointer on a deflect kick-out got the crowd going. The Buffaloes aren't exactly the best team on the road, and those kinds of shots can put a dent into a team. Sim is arguably the best shooter in the conference and is among the three most efficient players- on a per shot basis- in the Pac-12.

It seems like when the Buffs struggle, it's usually on the road. How has Oregon fared on the road and at neutral sites? Their record is good (6-3 Conf. Away games), does the team's energy seem to change when they're away from Eugene?

If we only look at Pac-12 games, the three road losses were against Cal, UW, and, of course, Colorado. The Buffaloes are a tough team to beat at home, so a one-point loss isn't exactly the worst thing in the world while on the road. Cal and UW are the two top dawgs in the conference, and the Ducks were leading against Cal for most of the game. It was just a case of Cal showing more energy at the end and finally winning a game they were supposed to win. The loss at Washington was frustrating, but the Ducks avenged that loss and are a much better team than they were on New Year's Eve.

Joe said Andre Roberson should have been Pac-12 Player of the Year. What will he say next?!?

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball Wins in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament News, Links, and Stories

Brittany Wilson sparks CU women in win over Utah - Buffzone - The CU Women won 55-41

For just the second time as a college player, Brittany Wilson got a chance to play in her hometown. She looked mighty comfortable in leading the Colorado women's basketball team to a 55-41 win over Utah in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament at the Galen Center. Wilson scored 21 points, just one shy of her career high and 13 more than her season average, in helping CU to its first conference tournament win in five years.

"I don't think it made a difference with me being home or being in Colorado," she said. "It is great to be home, I love this place, I love California, but I knew we had to come home and get this win. I was willing to do whatever it took, whether it was defense, offense or whatever my team needed me to do."

Wilson started the game with a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 18 points in the first half alone. Junior Chucky Jeffery was stellar, as well, with her seventh double-double of the season. Jeffery had 20 points and 14 rebounds.

"I thought our team did a lot of nice things tonight," head coach Linda Lappe said.

I think that's coach-speak for 'we should-a won by 100.' Their next game is tonight at 5pm PT against 2-seed Cal

Roberson leads CU Buffs in Pac-12 tourney win over Utah - Buffzone - The CU Men won 53-41

Andre Roberson was a Utah killer during the regular season. And the Buffs' super sophomore made sure the Utes were put out of their misery at the Pac-12 Tournament. Roberson scored 20 points and broke the program's 57-year-old single-season record during Colorado's 53-41 victory over Utah late Wednesday night at the Staples Center.

The Buffs (20-11), who have won 20 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in history, will play No. 3 Oregon in the quarterfinals tonight (9:40 p.m., Root Sports). "I feel everybody is beatable in this league," freshman guard Askia Booker said of a rematch with the Ducks, who avenged a last-second 72-71 loss in Boulder with a 90-81 win over CU a week ago in Eugene.

"We beat then (at CU) they beat us (at Utah). It's 1-1 right now and we'd love to settle that little tie. "But it doesn't matter who we run into. We can compete with anybody in this league."

That's good, because their next game is tonight at 8:30pm PT against 3-seed Oregon

Women's Basketball Honors Announced > Pac12 > News - Colorado's Chucky Jeffery, junior guard from Colorado Springs was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference First Team and the All-Defensive team. Way to go!

Find out if Larry Scott can alter time so the basketball games aren't on TV so late...

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Three Colorado Buffaloes players received individual honors from the Pac-12, as voted on by the Men's coaches of the conference.

All-Conference First team, All-Conference Second team, All-Freshmen team, and All-Defensive team. That's what Colorado's individual honors amount to, and it puts us in good company. Cal, Arizona, and Washington were the only other teams to post an equivalent collection of individual awards (2 players on All-Conference teams, a player on All-Freshman and All-Defense teams each).

Pac-12 Names All-Conference Teams

That's the same bye-earning company we were in not too long ago before the Buffs' road-trip-skid to Oregon this past weekend. More on that at the end.

Andre Roberson was named to both the All Pac-12 First team and the All-Defensive team. For stats, the CUBuffs.com press release says it best:

Roberson leads the Pac-12 in double-doubles (8), rebounding (10.9), blocked shots (2.3), and is 14th in steals (1.3). He is one of just two players to be ranked in the top 14 in the conference in both blocks and steals for all games. Roberson's combined blocks and steals per game rank best in the conference in both Pac-12 games and overall.

By the way, Cal's Jorge Gutierrez was named Pac-12 player of the year. Yes, the same Jorge Gutierrez that was held to zero points when Cal lost to Colorado in Boulder last week.

Autzenzoo.com thought Andre Roberson should be Pac-12 POTY

Who do you think should have been Pac-12 Player of the Year? Make the jump and Discuss!

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball, Athletics, and Football - News, Links, and Stories

Men's Tournament Seedings Announced - Pac12

The bracket for the 2012 Pacific Life Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament is set as WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, OREGON and ARIZONA earned first-round byes in the four-day Tournament. The Tournament takes place Wednesday-Saturday, March 7-10, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Wednesday, March 7 // Staples Center
Game 4 - #6 Colorado vs. #11 Utah, 8:40 p.m. PT - FSN

Women's Tournament Seedings Announced - Pac12

The ARIZONA STATE, CALIFORNIA, STANFORD and USC women’s basketball teams earned first-round byes at the 2012 Pacific Life Pac-12 Basketball Tournament. The second-ranked Cardinal claimed the top seed in the women’s bracket for the 11th year in a row. The four-day, 11-game event takes place Wednesday-Saturday, March 7-10 in Los Angeles.

Wednesday, March 7 // Galen Center
Game 3: #7 Utah vs. #10 Colorado, 5 p.m. PT - YouTube.com/Pac12Conf

In case you are wondering. In both games our opponents are the Utah Utes... these Utah Utes:

Utes suffer worst loss in program history - Block U

Really nothing much to say about this game that wasn't said in the headline. The Runnin' Utes, in a 46 point loss to the Oregon Ducks, finish the worst regular season in school history, fittingly, with the worst loss in school history. So, instead of a woe is me post - I'll just leave you with a picture that I think perfectly sums up this year's team and tonight's game.

I like our chances...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

Video: Colorado's spring priority - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

Colorado would benefit greatly this spring if it can name a starting QB by the end of spring practices. "They have to replace a 28-man Senior class. The positive spin is that this allows new recruits to..make their mark. The most important thing for Spring ball is...building confidence and building a winning attitude."

AllBuffs - Covering The University of Colorado Athletics - This Week in BasketBuffs - 2/27/12

Seriously, in the craziness that is the PAC-12 this season, is there anyone who doubts that we're going to end with a four way tie for first place? Don't think it's possible? Think again.

IF: CU sweeps the Oregon schools; AND Washington loses at USC and UCLA; AND Cal loses at Stanford; AND Arizona beats Arizona State Then CU will tie for first with Washington, Cal and Arizona.

If that happens by the way, your Colorado Golden Buffaloes will be PAC-12 champions due to the tie-breaker of head-to-head matchups (CU is 3-2, Cal & UDub are 2-2 and Arizona is 2-3).

Seriously, it's the only logical ending to this season.

Video: CU Hoops Success Brings Out The Fanatics " CBS Denver - "CU's average home crowd this year is 7,800." That's awesome. "50 members of the C-Unit are having their ticket punched to the Pac-12 Conference Tournament." Double awesome.

A&M and Mizzou re-enact this scene from 'The Jerk' as they finally leave the Big-12. ..."and that's all I need!"

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

The Rumblings of a Deranged Buffalo: Monday Grab Bag: Pride restored

Sending the Golden Bears back into hibernation - With the myth of #YouCantWinAtAltitude a little bruised post-Stanford, I was very worried about how the team would respond against Pac-12 Co-Leaders Cal. In fact, the Buffs got back to basics Sunday afternoon, playing a crushing level of defense combined with a solid and efficient offense.

The result totaled to a brisk 70-57 win which keeps CU in contention for a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Buffs came out hot, stayed in a nice groove, and I never felt they were that threatened by the league leading Golden Bears. CU out-shot (44%-38%), out-rebounded (39-30), and out-hustled Cal; all while only coughing up five turnovers. It was probably the best all-around Colorado performance of the season, especially considering the caliber of the opponent.

Skiers Finish Second In RMISA/NCAA West Regional - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The defending national champion University of Colorado ski team finished second here Saturday in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships, but more importantly, qualified a full 12-skier squad for next month's NCAA Championships thanks to one of the greatest individual CU efforts in recent memory.

Utah, ranked No. 1 in the nation, won the title with 932 points, followed by the Buffaloes with 862.5. New Mexico pulled ahead of host Montana State by winning the men's slalom and finished with 768.5 points, while MSU was fourth with 750; Denver rounded out the top five with 716. The competition also doubled as the NCAA West Regional.

RINGO: Next step for CU? Win tough road games - Buffzone

When they show up focused and ready to play, the Colorado Buffaloes can hang with just about any opponent in the nation on their home court. They have proven it numerous times against ranked teams and conference title contenders over the past two seasons under coach Tad Boyle.

Now it's time for the Buffs and Boyle to take the next step and perform more consistently on the road, particularly when they're visiting tough opponents in difficult venues. "The next step for our program, and I've said it, is we have to beat a quality program on the road, and we have an opportunity to do that Thursday in Eugene," Boyle said.

The NCAA has moved both the kickoff yardline and your cheese. Which are you more incensed over?

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

Skiers Have Solid Day In RMISA Qualifier No. 3 - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado - Check out the ski-team's black helmet...why doesn't the ski team get pro-combat uniform alternates?

In the final tune-up ahead of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) Championships, the Buffaloes racked up a win and six total top 10 finishes in the giant slalom here Thursday in the RMISA Alpine Qualifier No. 3. Though securing just one podium (top three) finish, CU's six top 10 efforts were the most in the field, with Alaska and Utah netting four each, Montana State and New Mexico two apiece, and Denver and Westminster one.

RINGO: CU Buffs' loss belongs on Tad Boyle's shoulders - Buffzone

It's this simple. Tad Boyle didn't have his team ready to play. This one is on the coach. It would be too much to say Boyle was out-coached in the 74-50 loss by Stanford's Johnny Dawkins. After all, it wasn't Boyle getting beat down the court. It wasn't him shooting layups into the bottom of the rim, missing free throws or being completely out-muscled and out-hustled for rebounds to the tune of 50-26.

"I felt like maybe we were a little winded tonight," Boyle said. "Maybe I've been a little too soft on these guys in practices. I know we practiced the things we needed to practice to try to beat Stanford. I do know that.

"We didn't execute our game plan defensively at all or offensively for that matter. That's disappointing, especially at this time of year in a game that has this magnitude in the conference standings. We had a lot more to play for in the standings. We sure didn't act like it and play like it. I didn't see this coming. I'm surprised." Those are surprising words coming from a coach who rarely experiences games like Thursday. In fact, it's a first for Boyle in his time at CU.

Spring Practice Primer " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

Quarterback competition may be more heated than expected This spring, Colorado will be auditioning for the role of starting quaterback. For the first time in six seasons, the Buffs will open the fall campaign with a starter not named Hawkins or Hansen. Even though there are five quarterbacks on the roster – senior Brent Burnette, sophomore Nick Hirschman, sophomore Connor Wood, redshirt-freshman Stevie Dorman and red-shirt freshman John Schrock – many in the Buff Nation are ready to hand over the keys to the Buff offense to Connor Wood even before he has taken his first snap with the first team offense.

This sentiment was only enhanced when it was announced that Hirschman, Wood’s perceived chief competition (at least until Shane Dillon enrolls this summer), would be out for some if not all of the spring practices off-season foot surgery. Now, it appears, at least to Hirschman, that the competition to earn the starting role will be "on" from the first day of spring practices, March 10th.

A reported tweet of Hirschman, "So close to 100 percent rehab does the body good", lends credence to the report that the sophomore, who has one career start under his belt (a less than auspicious effort against Arizona State), will be a "full go" for most of the spring.

The Pac-12 is now officially the speediest conference around...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

AllBuffs - Covering The University of Colorado Athletics - This Week in BasketBuffs - 2/20/12 - Go for the offensive efficiency numbers, stay long enough to find the photoshopped Ralphie stampeding the Stanford thing...

Do we really need to say anything about this week? Stanford is sliding, and Cal is going to be a brutal bar fight. This is where we find out what the team is made of.

Offensive Efficiency Defensive Efficiency Pace Colorado 102.8 93.2 67.2 D1 Average 100.8 100.8 66.4

RPI SOS Men 72 87 Women 112 140

C-Unit Stampeding to Staples; MBB Finale SOLD OUT - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado men's basketball team in pursuit of its first conference title since the 1968-69 season will take on the Stanford Cardinal this Thursday (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net) and California this coming Sunday (3:30 p.m., FSN) in the last two home games of the 2011-12 season at the Coors Events Center.

CU's quartet of seniors: Carlon Brown, Austin Default, Trey Eckloff, and Nate Tomlinson will be playing in their last home games in Boulder this week. Three of the seniors (Dufault, Eckloff, Tomlinson), who have played here all four years and are 52-15 (.776), while the last two years are equally impressive with a 31-3 record (.912), thanks in part to great home advantage at the Coors Events Center.

Sunday's game against Cal is SOLD OUT! The men's basketball team is asking all fans in attendance to wear white in an effort to WHITEOUT the Coors Events Center.

For those who missed a chance to see the Buffs in their home finale are encouraged to get their tickets for this Thursday's game against Stanford. Less than 500 tickets remain for the 8:30 p.m. national broadcast on Fox Sports Net.

If you are within a hundred miles of Boulder, you have no excuse no to be there.

CU Buffs' quarterback Connor Wood ready for challenge ahead - Buffzone

"From my experience at UT, it made us become leaders through our actions and verbally," Wood said. "It challenged us as quarterbacks to really compete against each other. I believe it made Garrett (Gilbert), Case (McCoy), David (Ash) and I better quarterbacks through that competition in the spring and the summer. We were working our tails off trying to beat each other out, and I believe it made the team better.

"So I believe having this open quarterback competition will force all the quarterbacks on this roster to maybe get out of their comfort zone a little bit and to really step up."

"I definitely feel some expectations coming from a place like that," Wood said.

"To be honest with you, I really love having that expectation, having people look to me as a guy who can do some great things. Obviously I have to earn everything I get in the weight room. Nothing is going to be handed to me at all. But I do like to be a guy who people will look to with expectations to lead a program and I like kind of that pressure that comes with the job. That's a quarterback. That's the title of it."

When you have a position that can best be described as "Lion tamer under constant scrutiny," you want a thrill-seeker in there. Jus' sayin'.

Did the valiant Buffs women's tennis squad prevail over the evil lobos? Make the jump to find out!

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Football News, Links, and Stories

CU running back signees ranked No. 1 in Pac-12 | The Field House

Football recruiting analyst Adam Gorney, the West Coast-based evaluator for Rivals.com, has released his annual position-by-position rankings for the Pac-12′s recently signed classes. Colorado fared well in many categories, especially at running back where the Buffs’ four-player haul was ranked by Gorney as best in the Pac-12. Wrote Gorney:

"After a 3-10 season in 2011, Colorado needs players that can make things happen all over the field, and the Buffaloes did a quality job of loading up at running back by signing four players. Three-star Davien Payne (5-11, 225, Perris, Calif., Citrus Hill) and Terrence Crowder (5-10, 210, Galen Park HS, Texas) are big, punishing backs, and Donta Abron (5-9, 190, Upland HS, Calif.) could be the sleeper in this class. Clay Norgard (6-1, 240, Highlands Ranch Mountain Vista) is expected to play fullback and he’s a tough, hard-nosed player."

Colorado’s conference ranking at other positions...

Roberson closing in on CU Buffs' rebounding record - Buffzone

The legendary Colorado basketball star was informed that he will be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor during the conference tournament next month at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"I'll have to admit, when I first received the contact I thought, 'What the heck is this? I didn't play in the Pac-12,'" Haldorson said during an interview with the Camera. Haldorson, know affectionately as "Birdie" by longtime Buffs fans, led CU to its first undisputed Big Seven championship and only Final Four appearance in 1954-55.

During that magical season, CU's first-team All-American averaged 21.0 points and 13.8 rebounds.

Haldorson's 346 rebounds still stand as the program's single-season record. At least for another couple of weeks.

Linda Lappe expects 2013 NCAA Tournament to benefit CU Buffs - Buffzone

CU announced earlier this week that the Coors Events Center would be one of the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds of the 2013 NCAA Women's Tournament.

"Our administration did a great job in putting out a bid for that," Lappe said. "I really thank them for that. It shows a true commitment to women's basketball. It's an exciting event and I know the people of Boulder are going to come out and support it really, really well, and I hope we can be a part of it." CU last hosted Tournament games several times, most recently in 2006.

Hosting the event could serve as motivation for the Buffs, who have not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2004. "You have to have smaller goals within that," Lappe said. "Yes, we want to be a part of the NCAA Tournament as fast as we possibly can. At the same time there are a lot of steps between now and then to be in position to have a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament and then, obviously, playing on our home floor.

Will the men be motivated to play tourney games next year in Anchorage? Let's find out!

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Athletics News, Links, and Stories

Buffs Tennis Rolls Past CSU, 6-1 - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

There was a large crowd on hand Saturday evening at the Meadows Club, where the University of Colorado women's tennis team put on an impressive show, beating the visitors from Fort Collins, 6-1. The Buffaloes continued a winning streak against Colorado State University that has lasted throughout the entire series (CU leads all-time 26-0). CU improves to 15-0 against the Rams when playing in Boulder.

CU SKIING: Buffs Finish In Third In UAA Seawolf - CUBuffs.com - Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado

The cancellation of Thursday's men's giant slalom meant that the team points in the slalom would be doubled here Saturday in the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolf Invitational, normally a good thing for a defending national champion University of Colorado ski team traditionally strong in that event. The Buffaloes trailed Utah by 13 points entering the day, the margin increasing to 33 despite five CU women skiers finishing in the top 12. However, the men's slalom proved to be a total disaster and Colorado would finish third, only the school's second result outside the top two in its last 14 meets dating back to 2010.

Pac-12 Network breaks ground - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

The Pac-12 will break ground on its new network studio in San Francisco on Monday. I know this because I got an invitation. That means, as I'm sure you already know, I run with the cool crowd... WHY: The Pac-12 Studios will be home to the Pac-12 Network and the Pac-12 Digital Network. The Pac-12 Network will showcase 850 live Pac-12 sporting events each year as well as original studio programming. It is scheduled to launch in August, 2012. WHEN: Monday, February 13 at 11:00 a.m. WHERE: 370 Third Street, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94107

If you're in SF and can take an early lunch, you should go and represent TRR!

The Elusive fourth link! Who misses the Big12? I don't. (It's an Iowa State fan holding a sign that lampoons Aggies. I would never trick you with a blind link).

Go Buffs

Colorado's football recruiting class has now been officially complete for a week, though effectively for longer than that. You've had the chance to digest things, and now you're wondering, "what about that conference we're in? How did they do?"

Pac-12 Recruiting Recap: A Comparative Grid

If the college football offseason is like settlers journeying along the Oregon Trail, then recruiting is the food and water supply you've brought with you. You hope it will carry through the trip, and you're about to eat the last of the beef jerky.

In the spirit of examining Pac-12 Recruiting, we'll now take a closer look at how our state-mandated rivals fared on National Letter of Intent Day, and also Utah. One of them did well, and the other did... not so well.

If you were wondering what our conference-mandated rival Utah fans think of their class, look no further than Block U:

Block U: Utes Land Best Class In Program History

Make the jump to see Utah and CSU's recruits listed individually, and to see the rest of the hardtack disappear...

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Recapping Colorado Buffaloes Basketball & Athletics News, Links, and Stories

AllBuffs - Covering The University of Colorado Athletics - This Week In BasketBuffs - 2/6/12

Huge week ahead for both teams. Sound familiar? I'm starting to think I can just copy & paste the opening paragraph every week. I know there's been casual talk about making the tournament for the men's team this year, but if there's ANY chance of it happening, we have to win at Arizona on Thursday.

Steal a win there and suddenly dreams of dancing can enter the equation. Arizona is starting to look like the team that made them a popular pick to win the PAC-12 in the pre-season... ...Statistically, there aren't many weaknesses on the Arizona team.

As for Arizona State, they suck. There is zero excuse for us to lose to them in Tempe on Saturday, and that's what terrifies me. They're 221st in the KenPom rankings. The USC team that we took behind the woodshed in LA a few weeks ago is 202nd. So ASU is bad. Here's hoping the Buffs don't have a let down after the Arizona game.

Buffs sitting in right position - Buffzone

On the road to (March) madness? Colorado has put itself in position to win the Pac-12 regular-season title with a 7-0 record against its new conference foes at the Coors Events Center. This is the first time the program has been in contention this late in a season since 1996-97 when Chauncey Billups was a sophomore at CU.

The surprising 2012 championship chase began with a laugher against Utah (73-33) and continued with a dramatic last-second win over Oregon (72-71) on Saturday night in front of 11,052 believers. The Buffs (16-7, 8-3) have now played everyone in the Pac-12 and are currently tied with Cal for second place, one game behind a Washington team they buried 87-69 in Boulder.

"I don't think there is any team we can't beat," second-year CU head coach Tad Boyle said after improving his remarkable home record to 31-3. "But I don't think there is any team we can take for granted either. I think the whole key for us is you take the next task at hand and we have to beat a quality opponent on the road." CU will have a chance to do just that on national television against Arizona on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN).

Spring Forward " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair

The lack of running backs is matched by the lack of fullbacks on the roster. Red-shirt freshman Nick Plimpton, an invited walk-on, is the only fullback who returns from last season. Enter true freshman Clay Norgard, a member of the recruiting Class of 2012, who enrolled early and will be available for spring practices. Come August, the running back corps will not be so depleted, with three freshmen running backs added to the roster, to go with another fullback.

Donta Abron, Davien Payne, and Terrence Crowder will join the team as tailbacks, with Christian Powell joining Norgard at fullback. (Injury Update: Crowder was injured five plays into his senior season, and underwent surgery last September. His rehabilitation is going so well that he expects to run track this spring, and be 100% ready for drills this August).

Pressing Questions -

1) Will Tony Jones be able to build upon his strong finish to his freshman campaign, staking out a claim for the No. 1 tailback position come September?;

2) Will Clay Norgard be able to adjust from high school football to the college game quickly enough for Colorado to have confidence to install the pro-style offense head coach Jon Embree and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wish to run?

Follow the jump for irrefutable proof that the world will end in 2012...

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College Football recruiting is comparative by its very nature, and why not? "This class is better than that class," it helps us through the winter months. I just think the way recruiting classes are ranked is wrong, wrong, wrong. So last year I used maths to make my own way to assess recruiting classes that has since been co-opted by other online writers, but don't despair: you're reading the genuine article!

For anyone unfamiliar, the chart reads like-a-so: the total number of 2012 recruits is beneath each school's name, and each subsequent number is the percentage share of their class that a particular group comprises. For instance how 3.7% of Colorado's class is a Quarterback, or how Stanford's and Utah's classes are over 55% Linemen.

School	UA	ASU	Cal	CU	UO	OSU	Stan.	UCLA	SC	Utah	U-Dub	Wazzu
Total	24	23	18	27	21	23	22	26	15	28	25	26
QB	8.3	0.0	5.6	3.7	9.5	4.3	0.0	3.8	0.0	3.6	8.0	3.8
RB	4.2	8.7	11.1	14.8	4.8	4.3	4.5	3.8	6.7	3.6	8.0	11.5
WR	16.7	13.0	22.2	11.1	14.3	8.7	18.2	19.2	13.3	7.1	4.0	11.5
TE	4.2	8.7	0.0	11.1	9.5	8.7	0.0	3.8	6.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
OL	16.7	17.4	22.2	7.4	4.8	30.4	31.8	19.2	20.0	28.6	20.0	26.9
Off%	50.0	47.8	61.1	48.1	42.9	56.5	54.5	50.0	46.7	42.9	40.0	53.8
DL	12.5	17.4	5.6	29.6	28.6	4.3	22.7	15.4	20.0	28.6	20.0	19.2
LB	12.5	17.4	11.1	0.0	4.8	17.4	9.1	3.8	13.3	10.7	4.0	11.5
DB	16.7	13.0	5.6	14.8	14.3	17.4	13.6	15.4	20.0	10.7	16.0	11.5
Def%	41.7	47.8	22.2	44.4	47.6	39.1	45.5	34.6	53.3	50.0	40.0	42.3
ATH/ST	8.3	4.3	16.7	7.4	9.5	4.3	0.0	15.4	0.0	7.1	20.0	3.8
3	70.8	65.2	55.6	74.1	42.9	69.6	40.9	57.7	13.3	67.9	56.0	53.8
4	8.3	13.0	38.9	7.4	47.6	8.7	45.5	30.8	66.7	17.9	20.0	7.7
5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	13.6	3.8	20.0	0.0	4.0	0.0

Interesting numbers are bolded, notes and comments are after the jump...

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