RECAP: Colorado Displays Depth, Sting Hornets 90-53
BOULDER-- The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team opened their 2016-2017 season in blowout fashion. They defeated Sacramento State 90-53.
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The team came out swinging when the highly anticipated Derrick White drained a three-pointer to start the game. This got not only the fans excited but his teammates and coaches also.
"It was a cool feeling playing with my teammates, I was looking forward to this game for a while so to score the first points it was awesome," White on his first career points as a Buff. "I was trying to get my teammates involved just do whatever it takes to help them.
The Buffs came out swinging from the three-point line in the first half they were 7-of-11 from three, they finished the game 13-of-21. The guy who lead the charge, Dominique Collier who was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Collier did not start the game but came off the bench and played with a high level of intensity.
"He (Boyle) just told me just to come off and be aggressive and then just to be aggressive on defense and offensive end," Collier said after the game.
"Wheather Dom starts or comes off the bench really doesn't matter, I thought he showed great focus when he came in tonight and was ready to play and it showed," Boyle on Collier. "I don't worry about who starts or who comes off the bench."
This year this team has depth like no other, 10 out of the 12 guys that saw action tonight scored. Collier lead the team with 12 points, Josh Fortune racked up 11 and George King had 10.
Not only did the returning guys come in and perform but freshmen Deleon Brown and Lucas Siewert showed sparks of greatness. Brown and Siewert each had nine points and played 15 (Brown) and 17 (Siewert) minutes.
"I thought Lucas was terrific, shot the ball well, we know he can do that, continue to ask him to rebound, post, be that inside-out presence. Deleon I thought was terrific defensively, played with great energy, Deleon is going to be a great player. I thought he was terrific in his first collegiate game so I couldn't be more proud of those guys," Boyle on the two freshmen that played tonight.
"Lucas can shoot the ball, Del can shoot the ball, they are both awesome players, we know what they can do as a player, we're going to put a lot on their backs hopefully they can come in the game and give us great minutes not offensively but defensively," Xavier Johnson on the freshmen.
Boyle has been preaching since day one he wants to see defense out of his team, he was a little worried about how their defense would be this season. The first half the defense was playing aggressive but started to lose it towards the end of the game.
"I thought it was better, it was better tonight and I think we lost it a tiny bit there in the second half, you have to really be disciplined in a game like that to keep it for 40 minutes but overall I thought our effort, our intensity on defense was pretty good," Boyle after the game. "I think when you look at our field goal percentage defensively it was certainly very good."
The team had 47 total rebounds tonight, 10 coming offensively. Wesley Gordon tallied 12 total rebounds with Johnson hauling in seven.
"Obviously our rebounding on the defensive end has to get better, 17 offensive rebounds is way too many so that was disappointing," Boyle on rebounds. "Here's the deal with rebounding, defensively all five guys, they all are expected to box out and go get it. Offensively are three-four-five men are suppose to rebound every time offensively."
Making his return tonight was Johnson who got a standing ovation and the loudest cheers from the crowd. Johnson ended the night with six points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
"It was awesome, I'm blessed to be back on the court, can't take anything for granted so it feels awesome," Johnson on his standing ovation.
Tonight was a special night for the team as three player's parents were honored at the half for their service along with King's mom being awarded her military promotion from Fortune's mom. The players stayed on the court for the first part of halftime to honor them and show their appreciation.
"I think it meant a lot to him (King) and obviously to his mom, you know I saw a tear in her eye out there and I thought it was great that Angela Fortune was able to present her and nice to have Eddie Gordon out there, Wesley's dad. Veteran's day is a special day for our country and it was really special I think tonight, I could even tell the crowd was dialed in on what was going on as well. So to have that tie with three family members of our current players was pretty special on a day like today," Boyle said.
The team still has some work to do before they enter PAC 12 play but this team is something special this season.
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