Posts tagged Scott
Boyle lands TOP high school prospects
Nov 13th
by B.G. Brooks CUBuffs.com contributing editor
BOULDER – Not long after Tad Boyle was named Colorado men’s basketball coach in April 2010, he began a courtship of a slight but highly skilled Denver point guard named Dominique Collier.
Boyle had to get in line.
On the national recruiting scene, the most elite high school hoops circles began and ended with Collier. Scholarship offers arrived at the Collier home from Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, Oregon, Kansas State, Iowa and other schools highlighted on basketball’s national map.
But as the recruiting process went on, the clearer Collier’s decision became to him, the Buffs and several of the schools in pursuit. “The longer it went,” said Boyle, “it became pretty clear that he was ours to lose.”
The Buffs didn’t. And after narrowing the field in early May, Collier verbally committed to Boyle and the Buffs.
On Wednesday, he completed the promise, signing CU’s binding national letter of intent on the first day that high school prospects are allowed to do so. Also signing and returning CU’s national letter of intent was power forward Tory Miller, of New Hampton (N.H.) Prep.
Collier told BuffStampede.com that he “just like the way that (Boyle) has changed the program around. I like the way he coaches, the team and the relationships I have with the staff. It’s great to be born and raised in Colorado, go to high school in Colorado and then college in Colorado. I’m a Colorado kid. To go there and have all the support you could have, to follow in Chauncey Billup’s footsteps (means a lot).”
For Boyle, landing Collier represents another in-state recruiting milestone. Boyle and his staff managed to keep the in-state Class of 2012’s highest profile members – Josh Scott of Lewis-Palmer and Wesley Gordon of Sierra – at home.
“And outside of Josh and Wes,” said Boyle, “Dominique was the marquee recruit we had to keep home. We did – and we’re thankful and happy for it. He won’t be the last, but it’s critical for the program that we continue to have the success that we’ve had with those three.
“I said three-and-a-half years ago that if players of (Collier’s) caliber can help us win the Pac-12, then it’s imperative for us to get them. That’s what kind of player he is. I appreciate that he wanted to stay home. I’m very excited about it.”
Collier, said CU assistant Rodney Billups, was targeted early by CU, a move that obviously paid off: “Coach Boyle always said, ‘He’s our guy,’ and he got our best shot.”
Collier already lists several current CU players as friends, among them Scott and Gordon. They played together two seasons ago in an all-star game when Scott and Gordon were finishing at their respective high schools. The 6-10 Scott played last season as a true freshman, while the 6-9 Gordon redshirted. The high school rivals finally are sharing court time on this year’s Buffs team, which plays Wyoming Wednesday (7 p.m.) at the Coors Events Center.
Boyle said the Collier family “became part of our family” during the recruitment process and called working with veteran Denver East coach Rudy Carey a “tremendous experience.”
Collier has often stated a desire to emulate CU legend Chauncey Billups, who went on to make a lasting mark in the NBA. Rodney, Billups’ younger brother, was key in Collier’s recruitment – “Maybe more so than I was,” Boyle said. “Rodney obviously has ties in the Denver basketball community. He really was our lead recruiter (on Collier). Dominique’s family (parents Lori and Darryl) love Rodney; he made a good connection with them.”
“I’ve had a relationship with ‘Dom’ for a long time now,” Rodney Billups said. “He started out with Billups Elite when he was a freshman, really going into his eighth grade year. I had a chance before I was even at Colorado to build a relationship with him and his family. Just talking to him and recruiting him was kind of easy for me.”
Collier, an only child, is “a great kid, shy at times, but his personality really comes out on the court,” Rodney Billups said. “There’s a good balance there for him to have a really good character. Staying home was important to him and his family, especially Lori – that’s her baby. She wants him close.”
Boyle said landing Collier and Miller fills two needs for the Buffs – a savvy ball-handler in Collier who is a “terrific talent and great defender” and a big-bodied “enforcer type” in Miller.
A capsule look at CU’s two 2014 signees:
DOMINIQUE COLLIER
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-1
Weight: 166
High school: Denver East
Vital stats/storylines: Averaged 20.1 points, 3.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game as a junior; East went 25-3, lost to Eaglecrest in the 5A state championship game at the Coors Events Center . . . . Four-star prospect, currently ranked No. 94 nationally . . . Collier was named Colorado Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year after junior season . . . . Top western schools – including Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA – took an intense in Collier during his sophomore and early in his junior seasons. But as the recruiting process lengthened it became apparent that he had targeted CU . . . Iowa and Kansas State also joined the pursuit . . . . Collier verbally committed to the Buffs on May 7.
CU scouting report: A pass-first, very unselfish type of point guard who already has international basketball experience (USA Basketball, three-on-three competition in Indonesia with FIBA’s USA team) gained through summer travels . . . . Can get wherever he wants to on the court with his tremendous first step and ball-handling skills . . . . A very good on-ball defender with great anticipation.
Boyle’s take: “He’s got a good basketball body, but he’s a little slight right now and knows he going to spend some time in the weight room. I love that he can get wherever he wants to go on the court. Plus, he’s got lots of experience – more than the typical incoming freshman. I expect him to have an impact right away. In fact, I’m counting on it.”
TORY MILLER
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 255
High school: New Hampton (N.H.) Prep
Vital stats/storylines: Averaged 12.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and shot 58.7 percent from the field last year in his junior season at New Hampton . . . . A three-star prospect whose rating could rise after his senior season . . . . Miller is from the Kansas City area and played on the same AAU team (Kansas City Run GMC) as fellow CU signee Collier . . . . Took official visits to Arizona State, Marquette and Iowa, but committed to CU over Marquette on Oct. 19 . . . . Eric Bossi, Rivals.com’s national basketball recruiting analyst, said Miller “can be a rugged rebounder and explosive finisher around the rim capable of playing through contact. (He) can also step out and make 12-to-15 foot jumpers with pretty good regularity . . . and he’s physically ready to play in the Pac-12.”
CU scouting report: Big, wide-bodied player who is physically ready to compete at the next level . . . . Roster is well-stocked with runners, jumpers and finesse-type players – and Miller also can play with finesse, but he’s best as an enforcer type . . . . Good hands, long arms make him a capable shot blocker; plays bigger than 6-8 . . . . What makes him special is his big body, his ability to use to his advantage on defense and his ability to lower his center of gravity, making him difficult to move.
Boyle’s take: “Tory gives us a wide presence that we haven’t had since I’ve been here. He’s a skilled player and very competitive. With his body type and strength, he can finish down low with contact. He doesn’t look like he would be a good jumper, but he is. Plus, he’s 19 years old now and will bring an age and maturity level to us that’s a little further along than you’d find in a typical freshman. He’s got all the physical tools necessary to be a very good Pac-12 player and he understands what it means to be successful.”
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Poor offense doomed the Buffs at Baylor
Nov 9th
By Anthony Lepine, CU Sports Information Student Assistant
DALLAS – The Colorado Buffaloes opened a highly anticipated 2013-14 basketball season with a disappointing offensive performance against No. 25 Baylor, falling 72-60 Friday night in the Buckets and Boots Showcase at the American Airlines Arena.
CU shot a dismal 33.3 percent, hitting just 22 of its 66 field goal attempts and never led in the contest. Nonetheless, with 2:23 remaining the Buffs trailed by only six after a layup by Josh Scott cut Baylor’s lead to 64-58.
“We cut it to six at that one point,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said, “but, we couldn’t get over the hump.”
The Buffs regained possession after a missed jumper by Baylor’s Cory Jefferson and a rebound by Wesley Gordon. But a bad possession ending with a forced jumper by Askia Booker left the Buffs still down six and needing a stop.
Instead, Baylor 7-footer Isaiah Austin connected on a jump hook and the Buffs again trailed by eight.
However, the Bears fouled Buffs junior guard Spencer Dinwiddie – who boasts an 82 percent career free-throw percentage – at the line with 47 seconds remaining. His pair of free throws again cut Baylor’s lead to six, but Baylor junior college transfer Kenny Chery answered with a pair of foul shots and CU was all but finished.
Dinwiddie’s three-point attempt rimmed out, the Bears corralled the rebound and finished out the game at the free-throw line, sending the Buffs back to Boulder 0-1.
“It’s disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world,” Boyle said. “We have to keep getting better, that’s all you can do . . . I just want to play hard, play smart and play together.”
The Buffaloes were missing their typical offensive production that has come to be expected from
Scott was the bright spot on offense for Colorado as the sophomore finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Scott’s frontcourt-mate, redshirt freshmen Wesley Gordon, also delivered for the Buffaloes starting in his first career game.
Gordon finished with nine points and eight rebounds, and Boyle classified Gordon’s performance as “terrific.”
“I was nervous just because it was my first time really playing for a while,” Gordon said. “I just wanted to make sure I was doing my job out there. I expected it would be a physical game.”
Boyle relied on all of his freshmen in the season opener as the first two Buffs off the bench were true freshmen Tre’Shaun Fletcher and Dustin Thomas. Classmates Jaron Hopkins and George King would also be thrust into action early on in the game.
“I thought they played aggressively,” Boyle said. “They’re going to make mistakes, and I’m not down on those guys at all. They just have to learn from it and hopefully understand at this level you can’t make those mistakes.
“But, I love our freshmen. It’s not about our freshmen (the loss), it’s about our veteran guys that we need to play like they’ve been here and play at the level that they need to play at to win these kinds of games against this kind of competition.”
The Buffs will look to pick up their first win of the season on Sunday at 4 p.m. against Tennessee-Martin in the home opener at the Coors Events Center.
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CU men fade in the first round of NCAA tournament
Mar 22nd
By B.G. Brooks, CUBuffs.com Contributing Editor
AUSTIN, Texas – Colorado caught Illinois with a furious second-half comeback here Friday, but the Buffaloes couldn’t make their inspired run – or their stay in the NCAA Tournament – last.
The seventh-seeded Illini withstood the Buffs’ rally then staged one of their own, eliminating No. 10 seed CU 57-49. Illinois (23-12) advances to play second-seed Miami, a runaway 78-49 winner over No. 15 seed Pacific earlier Friday afternoon, in Sunday’s third round.
“I told our team I’m proud of what they’ve done this year, with a young group,” said CU coach Tad Boyle. “We’ve put Colorado basketball on the map, but we’ve got a lot of work we need to do . . . I’m proud of what Colorado basketball is in the process of becoming.”
The Buffs posted their third consecutive 20-win season (21-12) and earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips for the first time in 50 years. But they left the Erwin Center believing this season ended prematurely.
CU trailed by 16 points (37-21) at halftime, but opened the second half with a 23-2 run and went up 44-39 with just under 10 minutes to play. The Buffs held the Illini without a second-half field goal until 8:33 remained in the game, but a 13-2 run gave Illinois a 52-46 lead with under a minute to play and CU couldn’t catch up again.
After finally overtaking the Illini, the Buffs got only two field goals in the last 5:40. And as CU came up with its string of empty possessions, senior guard Brandon Paul was hitting six of six free throws in the final minute to give Illinois the bare amount of offense it needed.
Boyle said his players showed “extreme heart” in coming back, but “we just didn’t have enough of what it took in key possessions of the game, some offensive and some defensive, to finish this thing off. Illinois made more plays down the stretch than we did.”
Paul led the Illini with 17 points, while D.J. Richardson had 14. Askia Booker topped CU with 14 points and was the only CU player in double figures. Josh Scott contributed a game-high 14 rebounds. Andre Roberson, the nation’s No. 2 rebounder entering the tournament, was limited to nine points and eight boards.
In catching the Illini and taking the lead in the second half, Booker said the Buffs “were getting stop after stop and pushing it down their throats. And coach made some great calls for certain plays to be run and we executed very well . . . we felt like had the momentum in our hands.
“But give credit to Illinois for finding the open man and knocking down the shots; that’s something they do very well.”
Sophomore Spencer Dinwiddie, CU’s leading scorer (15.6 ppg), saw his court time diminished by four fouls and was held to six points, with four assists and four of his team’s 15 turnovers. They cost CU 21 points, 15 of them in the first half coming from eight turnovers.
Boyle said the Illini “did a good job on Spencer. They showed hard on those ball screens and tried to get the ball out of his hands . . . Four assists, four turnovers is not a normal line for Spencer. He wasn’t at his best (Friday), but foul trouble had something to do with that.”
The Buffs became the first of five Pac-12 Conference teams in the NCAAs to lose. The league went 3-0 on Thursday, with Oregon, California and Arizona advancing. UCLA was to play Minnesota here later Friday night.
The Buffs entered the game knowing their opponent lived by the long ball, and for just over eight minutes they kept the Illini from doing their normal damage from beyond the arc.
But when the treys began to rain, CU seemed helpless to stop the deluge. Paul started it with a triple at the 11:50 mark, giving Illinois its first lead (16-15) since 2-1. Then, back-to-back three-pointers by Tyler Griffey and Richardson, followed by two free throws by Tracy Abrams capped an 11-2 run and pushed the Illini up 24-17.
The Buffs rallied briefly, getting baskets from Scott and Roberson to pull to within 24-21. But another barrage of threes was headed in the Buffs’ direction.
After Abrams and Richardson each hit two pointers, both stepped back beyond the arc – and no one in a CU uniform went with them. Richardson knocked down consecutive treys and Abrams followed with one just before the halftime buzzer, completing a 13-0 Illinois run and putting CU in a 37-21 halftime hole. It was only the Buffs’ third double-figure deficit of the season, but the second in a row (Kansas in non-conference play, Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament).
Six of Illinois’ last eight field goals were three-pointers, and that first-half total of made treys was the most since Hartford hit seven in 40 minutes on Dec. 29 in Boulder. Illinois averaged 7.8 successful threes per game this season – the most in the Big Ten Conference.
CU was out-of-synch offensively, with its 21 points the lowest first-half total since managing only 20 at Washington nearly two months ago in a 64-54 loss. And trailing at the half wasn’t a good sign for the Buffs: they were 5-7 in such games before Friday.
Boyle said his halftime message to his players was to climb back into the game “one possession at a time . . . we cannot be happy trading baskets with them. And we have to get stops; we don’t have a 16-point play in our playbook.”
If CU was going to recover, a quick second-half start was mandatory – and they got it with a 9-2 run keyed by back-to-back treys by Booker. His second three pulled the Buffs to within 39-30 with 17:52 to play and prompted a timeout from first-year Illini coach John Groce.
The short break didn’t help. After a short jumper by Scott, Booker struck again in transition from the right wing. His third trey in 2:25 brought the Buffs to within four points (39-35), and they completed their comeback on a basket by Scott that gave CU a 40-39 lead – its first since 17-16.
The Buffs went up 44-39 before the Illini got a layup by Abrams – their first second-half field goal – with 8:33 to play, cutting CU’s lead to 44-41.
One of two free throws by Griffey trimmed the margin to 44-42 at the 8:11 mark, then back-to-back treys by Richardson and Paul – the two biggest of the Illini’s eight treys – capped a 9-0 run and pushed Illinois back in front 48-44 with 6:00 remaining.
CU’s last field goal – a jumper by Dinwiddie – came with 5:40 remaining. After that, the Buffs came up empty on too many possessions to threaten again. After Dinwiddie’s basket, CU’s next field goal was a three-pointer by Xavier Johnson with 17 seconds left and that got them only to within seven points.
Time had run out on CU, and Boyle was left with time to reflect then look forward. He said Roberson, who has until April 28 to make a decision about declaring his eligibility for the NBA Draft, plans to spend some time with his family in San Antonio over spring. Boyle will then talk with the 6-7 forward about his future.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do in terms of improvement and gaining some national respect,” Boyle said. “And it’s incumbent on every person in our basketball program, whether it’s the head coach, assistant coaches, or players, to give everything they’ve got in this off-season.
“We’ll take some time, get our batteries recharged. But just because we’re going to be a year older next year doesn’t mean we’re going to be a year better. Our players need to understand that . . . we have still got plenty of room for improvement and this isn’t our last time here, I promise you that.”
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