LARAMIE, Wyo. - After
a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes at the Ritchie
Center, the Pioneers piled into a bus and took the 2-3 hour trip to
Laramie, Wyo., this morning.
Normally, the team
arrives a day early and settles in, but the coaches decided to mix
things up a little on this trip, and nobody in the travel party
complained too much about sleeping in their own beds instead of a hotel
room in Wyoming.
Of course, it did seem a
little strange when we checked into the hotel a few blocks from the
arena, knowing we were going to check out right before heading back over
for the game.
Senior Rob Lewis walked
into Arena-Auditorium a few minutes ago, looked up at the banners in
the rafters and said, "National champions? Who knew?"
Yes, the Cowboys won the
NCAA title in 1943, when they were led by a 5-foot-10 guard named Kenny
Sailors. Not a lot of people would recognize the name, which is too
bad. In addition to being the College Basketball Player of the Year
twice, an All-American three times and the NCAA Tournament Most
Outstanding Player, Sailors changed the course of basketball.
Sailors is credited with inventing the jump shot.
It seems that while
growing up, Bud Sailors towered about seven inches taller than younger
brother Kenny, so Kenny had to figure out a way to score during games of
one-on-one in the driveway. To Bud's surprise, Kenny leaped and sent a
jump shot flying through the air.
As the Pioneers fire up shots during shoot around, they have Kenny Sailors to thank for making it considerably easier.
About Wyoming: In
addition to Sailors, who played five seasons in the NBA, the basketball
world probably recognizes a few other names in Wyoming history.
NBA All-Star Theo
Ratliff is in his 16th professional season, currently playing for the
Lakers, which by the way is owned by Wyoming grad Jerry Buss.
Denver baseball fans
might remember Art Howe, who served as the Rockies first base and
hitting coach in 1995 when Colorado won the Wild Card, is a former
Cowboy. Another Wyoming alum
Hall of Fame baseball
writer Tracy Ringolsby, who received an honorary doctorate from Wyoming
and is an avid supporter of the Cowboys, was covering the Rockies that
year (and every other since their inception). Most recently, Ringolsby
has been working with our friends at FSN Rocky Mountain, including Jeff
Huson. Guess where he went to college.
Finally, the late
legendary sportscaster Curt Gowdy not only graduated from Wyoming, but
he was a three-year letterwinner in both basketball and tennis.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 6
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 5,166
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 15,409
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 568
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,213
Total Number of Hotels - 4
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Nights Spent in Wyoming - 0
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Portland - 12/11/10
DENVER - Wednesday night's game was a challenge, and St. Mary's proved why the Gaels were a Sweet 16 team in last year's NCAA Tournament.
The team was dragging a little early on Thursday morning until Santa Claus himself made an appearance.
The players and coaches were waiting for their plane at the Oakland Airport. Near the gate, Santa sat posing for photos with travelers of all ages, and a few of the players made jokes about going up and posing with him.
About 15 minutes later, as everyone was still waiting for the flight, Santa approached and insisted that the team join him for a picture. It took a little prodding from some of the guys, but not a whole lot. Even head coach Joe Scott got a smile on his face when Santa asked where the coach was. Scott shrugged and took his place on a stool in front.
Leave it to Santa to make everyone's day just a little brighter.
About Portland: The Pioneers take on another West Coast Conference team on Saturday, when the Portland Pilots come to town. The team is led by Preseason All-WCC selection Jared Stohl, who has 14.7 points per game. The Pilots also are getting a double-double out of Luke Sikma, who father Jack was a seven-time NBA All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks.
UP is ranked No. 13 on the Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, and the Pilots are 7-3 with losses to Kentucky, Washington State and Washington, two of which are ranked and the other is getting votes in the polls.
Portland has produced a fair number of professional soccer players, notably Kasey Keller and Conor Casey, who was named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player after scoring the game-tying goal for the Colorado Rapids in the championship game.
Other alumni of UP include former Major League journeyman catcher Tom Lampkin, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Nunal Nayyar from "The Big Bang Theory."
The team was dragging a little early on Thursday morning until Santa Claus himself made an appearance.
The players and coaches were waiting for their plane at the Oakland Airport. Near the gate, Santa sat posing for photos with travelers of all ages, and a few of the players made jokes about going up and posing with him.
About 15 minutes later, as everyone was still waiting for the flight, Santa approached and insisted that the team join him for a picture. It took a little prodding from some of the guys, but not a whole lot. Even head coach Joe Scott got a smile on his face when Santa asked where the coach was. Scott shrugged and took his place on a stool in front.
Leave it to Santa to make everyone's day just a little brighter.
About Portland: The Pioneers take on another West Coast Conference team on Saturday, when the Portland Pilots come to town. The team is led by Preseason All-WCC selection Jared Stohl, who has 14.7 points per game. The Pilots also are getting a double-double out of Luke Sikma, who father Jack was a seven-time NBA All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks.
UP is ranked No. 13 on the Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, and the Pilots are 7-3 with losses to Kentucky, Washington State and Washington, two of which are ranked and the other is getting votes in the polls.
Portland has produced a fair number of professional soccer players, notably Kasey Keller and Conor Casey, who was named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player after scoring the game-tying goal for the Colorado Rapids in the championship game.
Other alumni of UP include former Major League journeyman catcher Tom Lampkin, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Nunal Nayyar from "The Big Bang Theory."
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 6
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 5,166
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 15,409
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 413
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,163
Total Number of Hotels - 3
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Team Pictures with Santa - 1
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
St. Mary's - 12/8/10
MORAGA, Calif. - As
we were driving through the drizzling rain in the hills of Northern
California on our way to McKeon Pavilion, the bus ride brought back a
few memories of Spain. Fortunately, despite the winding roads around the
St. Mary's campus, they were all two lanes and the bus could drive
through (non-hairpin) turns without blasting a warning honk.
Even so, Mitch Hyder commented that he was happy to work at Denver and not a place that might cause motion sickness every time he drove to campus, like this one.
St. Mary's is about 30 minutes north and a little bit west of Oakland, and the team bus drove through some of the legendary California freeway traffic on the way to the hotel in Walnut Creek. If that town sounds familiar to Pioneer fans, it's because it's part of junior guard Brian Stafford's introduction.
Stafford grew up on Walnut Creek and still calls it home. During a break last summer, Stafford returned home and played pickup games with St. Mary's players and some other players who live in the surrounding area. Head coach Joe Scott and the rest of the Pioneers are hoping Stafford's familiarity with the court and the rims will translate into success during tonight's game.
It's probably safe to say the 50 or so friends of family that are coming to watch Stafford are hoping the same thing. Junior guard Alex Pickert, who grew up in Carmel, Calif., a great town a couple hours down the coast in the shadows of Pebble Beach Golf Course, rounded up a few tickets for his family and friends, too. Rounding out the Denver connection to the area, assistant coach A.J. Kuhle is from just up the road in Concord, Calif.
Rumor has it that an impressive number of Denver alumni are planning to attend the game, as well, and based on the size of this gym - which lists a capacity of 3,500 but appears much smaller - the percentage of DU fans to Gaels fans might be significant.
For those unable to attend the game in Northern California, the live video stream will be available onPioneer Vision, although it will use St. Mary's commentators.
About St. Mary's: College basketball fans are sure to recognize St. Mary's, which has had some great seasons in recent years, including a run to the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament.
Names like Patrick Mills and Omar Samhan became popular, as the Gaels became a major contender of Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference played deep into March. (Side note: The first 2,000 fans tonight will receive an Omar Samhan bobblehead.)
But St. Mary's had some pretty good teams in the past. There's a banner hanging in McKeon Pavilion for the 1958-59 team, which went all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. They lost one game shy of the Final Four to eventual national champion California, who had a player named Dave Stafford on its roster. Yes, that's Brian's grandfather.
Our good friend Brendan Loy, who started a blog about the Denver basketball team called Pioneer Pulse, pointed us Mid-Majority's "State of the Other 25," which ranks the top Mid-Major basketball teams in the nation.
As of yesterday, they had St. Mary's ranked No. 1, pointing to strong wins against St. John's and Texas Tech. They also pointed out that the Gaels are shooting better than 50 percent and is getting 1.23 points for every shot they take.
What's a Gael?: As shoot around was starting, senior forward Rob Lewis leaned over and asked, "What the heck is a Gael anyway?" A few of us kind of laughed and then realized that we weren't totally sure either. We were pretty sure it was some sort of Irish warrior. So we went to www.smcgaels.com to find out:
"The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group which spread from Ireland to Scotland and the Isle of Man. Their language is of the Gaelic (Goidelic) family, a division of Insular Celtic languages. The word in English was adopted in 1810 from Scottish Gaelic Gaidheal (compare Irish Gaedhealg and Old Irish Goídeleg) to designate a Highlander (OED). Gael or Goídeleg was first used as a collective term to describe people from Ireland; it is thought to have come from Welsh Gwyddel (Old Welsh Goídel), originally "raider", now "Irish person". Many people who do not speak Gaelic consider themselves to be 'Gaels' in a broader sense because of their ancestry and heritage."
Where There's Smoke: This morning's shoot around was going great until a shrill fire alarm blasted throughout the gym. Despite the faint smell of smoke, it was a false alarm, and the players and coaches did their best to ignore it. Maybe it will work as a drill to drown out the hostile crowd this evening.
Travel Partners?: As the Pioneers were heading to baggage claim yesterday, the men's basketball team from San Diego State exited their flight a few gates away. The Aztecs will take on Cal tonight in Berkeley.
Happy Birthday: Redshirt freshman forward Blake Foeman is celebrating his 20th birthday today.
Back in the Bay: Denver radio voice Mitch Hyder and I landed at the Oakland airport for the third time in as many Pioneer road trips this season. Although we normally travel with the team, extenuating circumstances forced us to fly through San Francisco coming back from Eugene, Ore., and on our way to Boise, Idaho.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 5
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 4,209
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 14,452
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 351
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,101
Total Number of Hotels - 3
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Fire Alarms Ignored During Practice - 1
Even so, Mitch Hyder commented that he was happy to work at Denver and not a place that might cause motion sickness every time he drove to campus, like this one.
St. Mary's is about 30 minutes north and a little bit west of Oakland, and the team bus drove through some of the legendary California freeway traffic on the way to the hotel in Walnut Creek. If that town sounds familiar to Pioneer fans, it's because it's part of junior guard Brian Stafford's introduction.
Stafford grew up on Walnut Creek and still calls it home. During a break last summer, Stafford returned home and played pickup games with St. Mary's players and some other players who live in the surrounding area. Head coach Joe Scott and the rest of the Pioneers are hoping Stafford's familiarity with the court and the rims will translate into success during tonight's game.
It's probably safe to say the 50 or so friends of family that are coming to watch Stafford are hoping the same thing. Junior guard Alex Pickert, who grew up in Carmel, Calif., a great town a couple hours down the coast in the shadows of Pebble Beach Golf Course, rounded up a few tickets for his family and friends, too. Rounding out the Denver connection to the area, assistant coach A.J. Kuhle is from just up the road in Concord, Calif.
Rumor has it that an impressive number of Denver alumni are planning to attend the game, as well, and based on the size of this gym - which lists a capacity of 3,500 but appears much smaller - the percentage of DU fans to Gaels fans might be significant.
For those unable to attend the game in Northern California, the live video stream will be available onPioneer Vision, although it will use St. Mary's commentators.
About St. Mary's: College basketball fans are sure to recognize St. Mary's, which has had some great seasons in recent years, including a run to the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament.
Names like Patrick Mills and Omar Samhan became popular, as the Gaels became a major contender of Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference played deep into March. (Side note: The first 2,000 fans tonight will receive an Omar Samhan bobblehead.)
But St. Mary's had some pretty good teams in the past. There's a banner hanging in McKeon Pavilion for the 1958-59 team, which went all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. They lost one game shy of the Final Four to eventual national champion California, who had a player named Dave Stafford on its roster. Yes, that's Brian's grandfather.
Our good friend Brendan Loy, who started a blog about the Denver basketball team called Pioneer Pulse, pointed us Mid-Majority's "State of the Other 25," which ranks the top Mid-Major basketball teams in the nation.
As of yesterday, they had St. Mary's ranked No. 1, pointing to strong wins against St. John's and Texas Tech. They also pointed out that the Gaels are shooting better than 50 percent and is getting 1.23 points for every shot they take.
What's a Gael?: As shoot around was starting, senior forward Rob Lewis leaned over and asked, "What the heck is a Gael anyway?" A few of us kind of laughed and then realized that we weren't totally sure either. We were pretty sure it was some sort of Irish warrior. So we went to www.smcgaels.com to find out:
"The Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group which spread from Ireland to Scotland and the Isle of Man. Their language is of the Gaelic (Goidelic) family, a division of Insular Celtic languages. The word in English was adopted in 1810 from Scottish Gaelic Gaidheal (compare Irish Gaedhealg and Old Irish Goídeleg) to designate a Highlander (OED). Gael or Goídeleg was first used as a collective term to describe people from Ireland; it is thought to have come from Welsh Gwyddel (Old Welsh Goídel), originally "raider", now "Irish person". Many people who do not speak Gaelic consider themselves to be 'Gaels' in a broader sense because of their ancestry and heritage."
Where There's Smoke: This morning's shoot around was going great until a shrill fire alarm blasted throughout the gym. Despite the faint smell of smoke, it was a false alarm, and the players and coaches did their best to ignore it. Maybe it will work as a drill to drown out the hostile crowd this evening.
Travel Partners?: As the Pioneers were heading to baggage claim yesterday, the men's basketball team from San Diego State exited their flight a few gates away. The Aztecs will take on Cal tonight in Berkeley.
Happy Birthday: Redshirt freshman forward Blake Foeman is celebrating his 20th birthday today.
Back in the Bay: Denver radio voice Mitch Hyder and I landed at the Oakland airport for the third time in as many Pioneer road trips this season. Although we normally travel with the team, extenuating circumstances forced us to fly through San Francisco coming back from Eugene, Ore., and on our way to Boise, Idaho.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 5
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 4,209
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 14,452
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 351
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,101
Total Number of Hotels - 3
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Fire Alarms Ignored During Practice - 1
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Boise State - 11/27/10
BOISE, Idaho - It's a snowy day in Idaho, which of course is no real surprise to anyone.
Of course, the cloud cover seems appropriate, based on this town's disappointment at the Boise State football team's loss at Nevada last night.
The Pioneers are hoping to extend the Broncos fans' disappointment to the hardwood tonight at Taco Bell Arena.
Like many schools, Boise State built most of their athletic venues in a close proximity to one another. Unlike most schools, though, the Broncos put their complex near the corner of University and Denver streets. Hopefully, that's a good omen on Saturday night.
While Boise State may be better known for the blue turf in its football stadium, Taco Bell Arena has some of its own lore.
Taco Bell Arena has hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament seven times. You might remember a few of those games, although if you're a Big 12 fan you may not want to:
A Sort of Homecoming: DU trainer extraordinaire Pat Hoxsey has returned to his roots this weekend. Hoxsey grew up in nearby Payette, Idaho, and graduated from Boise State in 1991.
Hoxsey, who has helped keep the Pioneers healthy for the past 15 years, enjoyed leftovers from Thanksgiving with his parents, sister and niece.
For a guy who has spent the past 15 Thanksgiving weekends with his basketball family, Hoxsey was thankful that fortuitous scheduling meant he could spend some time this weekend with his family.
Granted, the football score might have made the night a little less festive.
Famous Broncos: In addition to Hoxsey, Boise State is the alma mater to a few more people you may have heard of, including Coby Karl, who is both third on the Broncos' all-time scoring list and the son of Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl; Earl Boen, who has been in everything from Spiderman to Terminator to the World of Warcraft video game; and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Wilcox, who also happened to be roommates with Gary Hoxsey, Pat's father.
Since We're in Boise, Seems Like We Should Mention Football: Yes, the Boise State football team is once again flirting with the top of the polls, and the blue turf of the football field is just steps from Taco Bell Arena.
But we're Denver. And for 50 years, we've been doing just fine without football. In fact, Wednesday was the 50th anniversary of DU's final football game. On Nov. 24, 1960, the Pioneers beat Colorado State 21-12 at Hilltop Stadium in front of a crowd of 6,927. DU announced a few months later that they would be dropping football.
Thanks to our friend (and season ticket holder) Steve Fisher in the Penrose Library for that tidbit.
Exactly how well has Denver done without football? For the past three years, Denver has won the NCAA Division I-AAA (schools that don't have football) Director's Cup, which is awarded to the top athletic department based on the success of its teams in all NCAA sports.
Happy Birthday: We would like to send a very happy birthday out to redshirt sophomore Trevor Noonan, who turns 21 years old today.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 3
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 2,603
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 12,846
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 156
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,907
Total Number of Hotels - 2
Total Number of Different Airports - 3
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Trips the Radio Voice and SID Have Flown Through San Francisco While the Team Flew Direct - 2
Of course, the cloud cover seems appropriate, based on this town's disappointment at the Boise State football team's loss at Nevada last night.
The Pioneers are hoping to extend the Broncos fans' disappointment to the hardwood tonight at Taco Bell Arena.
Like many schools, Boise State built most of their athletic venues in a close proximity to one another. Unlike most schools, though, the Broncos put their complex near the corner of University and Denver streets. Hopefully, that's a good omen on Saturday night.While Boise State may be better known for the blue turf in its football stadium, Taco Bell Arena has some of its own lore.
Taco Bell Arena has hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament seven times. You might remember a few of those games, although if you're a Big 12 fan you may not want to:
- In 1995, UCLA's Tyus Edney went coast-to-coast in 4.8 seconds for a layup at the buzzer that that knocked off Missouri en route to the Bruins' NCAA title.
- In 2001, 15th-seeded Hampton upset No. 2 seed Iowa State
A Sort of Homecoming: DU trainer extraordinaire Pat Hoxsey has returned to his roots this weekend. Hoxsey grew up in nearby Payette, Idaho, and graduated from Boise State in 1991.
Hoxsey, who has helped keep the Pioneers healthy for the past 15 years, enjoyed leftovers from Thanksgiving with his parents, sister and niece.
For a guy who has spent the past 15 Thanksgiving weekends with his basketball family, Hoxsey was thankful that fortuitous scheduling meant he could spend some time this weekend with his family.
Granted, the football score might have made the night a little less festive.
Famous Broncos: In addition to Hoxsey, Boise State is the alma mater to a few more people you may have heard of, including Coby Karl, who is both third on the Broncos' all-time scoring list and the son of Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl; Earl Boen, who has been in everything from Spiderman to Terminator to the World of Warcraft video game; and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Wilcox, who also happened to be roommates with Gary Hoxsey, Pat's father.
Since We're in Boise, Seems Like We Should Mention Football: Yes, the Boise State football team is once again flirting with the top of the polls, and the blue turf of the football field is just steps from Taco Bell Arena.
But we're Denver. And for 50 years, we've been doing just fine without football. In fact, Wednesday was the 50th anniversary of DU's final football game. On Nov. 24, 1960, the Pioneers beat Colorado State 21-12 at Hilltop Stadium in front of a crowd of 6,927. DU announced a few months later that they would be dropping football.
Thanks to our friend (and season ticket holder) Steve Fisher in the Penrose Library for that tidbit.
Exactly how well has Denver done without football? For the past three years, Denver has won the NCAA Division I-AAA (schools that don't have football) Director's Cup, which is awarded to the top athletic department based on the success of its teams in all NCAA sports.
Happy Birthday: We would like to send a very happy birthday out to redshirt sophomore Trevor Noonan, who turns 21 years old today.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 3
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 2,603
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 12,846
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 156
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,907
Total Number of Hotels - 2
Total Number of Different Airports - 3
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Trips the Radio Voice and SID Have Flown Through San Francisco While the Team Flew Direct - 2
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Alcorn State - 11/23/10
DENVER - The campus is quieter than usual. Finals are over for the quarter, and most of the students have headed home until January.
Most of the student-athletes are still around, of course, which means the Ritchie Center remains busy. There's always a sigh of relief when everyone can concentrate on getting better on the court without the pressures of exams and essays hanging over them.
The Pioneers are looking to turn things around tomorrow night, when Alcorn State comes to town.
Since it's the night before Thanksgiving, the Pioneers also are giving fans the opportunity to put off cooking for one more day.
You can get a "One Price" ticket for $15 which includes all the concessions you care to eat. The only exclusions are alcohol, bottled drinks and prepackaged candy. Call it an appetizer for Thanksgiving Day. Regular priced tickets are still available, starting at $9.
About Alcorn State: Located southwest of Jackson, Miss., near the Louisiana border, Alcorn State was founded in 1871 and named after James L. Alcorn, who was the governor of Mississippi at the time. Alcorn's most notable alum is Steve McNair, the late quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. However, Alcorn State has also produced Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers; Jesse Smith, who was better known as Justice on American Gladiators; and Michael Clarke Duncan, an actor perhaps best known for starring alongside Tom Hanks in the Green Mile.
Happy Birthday and Thanksgiving: Assistant coach Jon Jordan is celebrating his birthday on Thursday. We would like to send our best wishes and say happy birthday to Coach J.
A Look Ahead: Drew Cannon of BasketballProspectus.com wrote a column on Nov. 12, predicting what college basketball team had the best chance of going undefeated. His answer is surprising. And it's on the Denver schedule:
Trivia question: What team has the highest probability of an undefeated season according to the current kenpom.com projections? Duke? Second place. Ohio State? Kansas State? Gonzaga? Memphis? All wrong. At 1.14 percent, the most likely team to win every game they play before tournament season is Utah State.
The Aggies roll into Magness Arena on Dec. 1, right before Utah State travels to Georgetown. You can get $5 off your ticket to the DU/USU game by showing any Colorado mountain Ski Pass at the Ritchie Center Ticket Office.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
North Dakota State - 11/14/10
EUGENE, Ore. - After last night's game, the team returned to the hotel for a late night dinner of chicken sandwiches and French fries.
The eating schedule on game days are strange enough, but it's amplified with night games. Yesterday's breakfast was at 10 a.m., pregame (lunch) was at 4 p.m. and dinner was at about 11 p.m. This morning's breakfast was at 8:30 a.m., and pregame will be right after shootaround at about 11:30 a.m., since today's game is at 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. MT).
Speaking of food, the restaurant across the street from the hotel has a sign advertising Tapas night on Wednesdays. After the team's trip to Spain this summer, that sign seemed somehow appropriate.
Delta Tau Chi: We've held off on mentioning this, as we spread the blog about Eugene out to three blogs. Call it saving the best for last.
While walking around this campus, dozens of landmarks jump out. Yes, the University of Oregon was the filming location of one of the most iconic films in history. That's right. Animal House.
The Delta Tau Chi house, or the building used in the film, was torn down in 1986. According to one source, at the time of filming the building served as a halfway house for convicts.
It seems like everywhere you turn on this campus brings back memories of another scene in the movie, and more than a couple lines from the movie have been uttered during the trip. The following video is Mitch Hyder's best imitation of John Belushi's character, John Blutarsky, sneaking into Dean Wormer's office. The Oregon president at the time allowed the crew to use his actual office for the filming.
The Fish Bowl Cafeteria was nearby, but Hyder refrained from imitating a zit or starting a food fight.
Finally, because we like to bring everything in the blog back to focusing on Denver, we leave you with this bit. According to the most accurate source available, Wikipedia, the first screening of Animal House occurred in the Mile High City.
About North Dakota State: NDSU is located in Fargo, N.D. The team turned NCAA Division I a few years ago and became the first team in history to reach the NCAA Tournament in its first year eligible. Current Colorado State head coach Tim Miles held the same position at NDSU.
Famous Bison include former defensive back Tyrone Braxton, who won a pair of Super Bowls with a certain football team in Denver, and Bob Backlund, who beat "Superstar" Billy Graham to win the World Wrestling Federation's heavyweight championship.
Happy Birthday: It's a little early, but just so we don't forget, we'd like to send a happy birthday out to sophomore Chase Hallam, who turns 20 on Wednesday.
Missed Opportunity: Devoted reader and Buffalo Bills fan Dan W. from Denver points out that I missed a couple famous alumni from this weekend's opponents. Former Duck Jarious Byrd led the NFL in interceptions last season, and former Bison Phil Hansen was a second round pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. Not sure how I missed them. My sincerest apologies.
The eating schedule on game days are strange enough, but it's amplified with night games. Yesterday's breakfast was at 10 a.m., pregame (lunch) was at 4 p.m. and dinner was at about 11 p.m. This morning's breakfast was at 8:30 a.m., and pregame will be right after shootaround at about 11:30 a.m., since today's game is at 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. MT).
Speaking of food, the restaurant across the street from the hotel has a sign advertising Tapas night on Wednesdays. After the team's trip to Spain this summer, that sign seemed somehow appropriate.
Delta Tau Chi: We've held off on mentioning this, as we spread the blog about Eugene out to three blogs. Call it saving the best for last.
While walking around this campus, dozens of landmarks jump out. Yes, the University of Oregon was the filming location of one of the most iconic films in history. That's right. Animal House.
The Delta Tau Chi house, or the building used in the film, was torn down in 1986. According to one source, at the time of filming the building served as a halfway house for convicts.
It seems like everywhere you turn on this campus brings back memories of another scene in the movie, and more than a couple lines from the movie have been uttered during the trip. The following video is Mitch Hyder's best imitation of John Belushi's character, John Blutarsky, sneaking into Dean Wormer's office. The Oregon president at the time allowed the crew to use his actual office for the filming.
The Fish Bowl Cafeteria was nearby, but Hyder refrained from imitating a zit or starting a food fight.
Finally, because we like to bring everything in the blog back to focusing on Denver, we leave you with this bit. According to the most accurate source available, Wikipedia, the first screening of Animal House occurred in the Mile High City.
About North Dakota State: NDSU is located in Fargo, N.D. The team turned NCAA Division I a few years ago and became the first team in history to reach the NCAA Tournament in its first year eligible. Current Colorado State head coach Tim Miles held the same position at NDSU.
Famous Bison include former defensive back Tyrone Braxton, who won a pair of Super Bowls with a certain football team in Denver, and Bob Backlund, who beat "Superstar" Billy Graham to win the World Wrestling Federation's heavyweight championship.
Happy Birthday: It's a little early, but just so we don't forget, we'd like to send a happy birthday out to sophomore Chase Hallam, who turns 20 on Wednesday.
Missed Opportunity: Devoted reader and Buffalo Bills fan Dan W. from Denver points out that I missed a couple famous alumni from this weekend's opponents. Former Duck Jarious Byrd led the NFL in interceptions last season, and former Bison Phil Hansen was a second round pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. Not sure how I missed them. My sincerest apologies.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Oregon - 11/13/10
EUGENE, Ore. - Tough
loss last night, but the guys are ready and back at Mac Court for
shootaround, which is later than usual today because the Oregon women's
team had an afternoon game.
After the game last night, the team took in about ¾ of the Ducks game against North Dakota State (the Bison took Oregon to overtime, but the Ducks ultimately won by five points in the waning moments.)
The players had a nice dinner at the hotel before calling it a night. This morning, the team gathered for breakfast around 10 a.m., followed by a brief team meeting to discuss tonight's game.
Tonight's game has a late start (8:30 p.m., local time - 9:30 p.m. MT), which conveniently will allow Oregon fans to watch their football team take on Cal before coming down to The Pit.
Did you know?: Two college mascots were created by Walt Disney (the man, not the company): Oregon's Duck and Denver's former mascot Boone. In 1947, the Oregon athletic director struck a deal with Disney to use Donald Duck as the school's mascot, adopting the cartoon character originally created in 1934. Disney actually created Boone for the University of Denver in 1968.
About Oregon: This school may best be known for a company that spawned from a head coach who made running shoes with the help of a waffle iron and one of his former runners.
That coach was Bill Bowerman, the Oregon legend who played basketball, football and ran track for the Ducks prior to taking over as the track coach and leading the team to four national championships.
The runner was Phil Knight. Bowerman invented waffle soled running shoes and with the marketing prowess of Knight helped found Nike. In fact, Oregon is sometimes called Nike University.
Another one of Bowerman's runners at Oregon also worked briefly for Nike. However, Steve Prefontaine is better known as arguably the best American distance runner of all time. Prior to his tragic death at the age of 24 in 1975, Pre set 15 American records at every race distance between two miles and 10,000 meters. You can't go anywhere in Eugene without seeing references to Pre.
Anyone interested in learning more about running in Eugene can check out "Track Town USA," a coffee table book filled with photographs and essays that was published by our friends over at Rich Clarkson and Associates, the official photographers of University of Denver Athletics. The book hits the shelves this Monday.
Today, fans know the Ducks as the top rated football team in the nation. But Oregon has a rich tradition on the basketball court. In fact, the team won the very first NCAA men's basketball championship in 1939. The gigantic banner is hard to miss, hanging high above one of the baskets. It may be bigger than the American flag on the opposite end of the arena.
Like many colleges, including Denver, Oregon celebrates all its teams with display cases filled with pictures and memorabilia. As we walked by the basketball display, we had to take a second look. One of the photos was taken the last time Denver played here in 1999.
Welcome Pioneer Fans: A good number of Denver supporters made the trip to Eugene, including the families of Alex Pickert, Chase and Travis Hallam, Brian Stafford and assistant coach A.J. Kuhle, as well as Joe Scott's father, Bob, and avid DU fan John Kirby, who also is a favorite caller to the Joe Scott Radio Show every Monday night.
After the game last night, the team took in about ¾ of the Ducks game against North Dakota State (the Bison took Oregon to overtime, but the Ducks ultimately won by five points in the waning moments.)
The players had a nice dinner at the hotel before calling it a night. This morning, the team gathered for breakfast around 10 a.m., followed by a brief team meeting to discuss tonight's game.
Tonight's game has a late start (8:30 p.m., local time - 9:30 p.m. MT), which conveniently will allow Oregon fans to watch their football team take on Cal before coming down to The Pit.
Did you know?: Two college mascots were created by Walt Disney (the man, not the company): Oregon's Duck and Denver's former mascot Boone. In 1947, the Oregon athletic director struck a deal with Disney to use Donald Duck as the school's mascot, adopting the cartoon character originally created in 1934. Disney actually created Boone for the University of Denver in 1968.
About Oregon: This school may best be known for a company that spawned from a head coach who made running shoes with the help of a waffle iron and one of his former runners.
That coach was Bill Bowerman, the Oregon legend who played basketball, football and ran track for the Ducks prior to taking over as the track coach and leading the team to four national championships.
The runner was Phil Knight. Bowerman invented waffle soled running shoes and with the marketing prowess of Knight helped found Nike. In fact, Oregon is sometimes called Nike University.
Another one of Bowerman's runners at Oregon also worked briefly for Nike. However, Steve Prefontaine is better known as arguably the best American distance runner of all time. Prior to his tragic death at the age of 24 in 1975, Pre set 15 American records at every race distance between two miles and 10,000 meters. You can't go anywhere in Eugene without seeing references to Pre.
Anyone interested in learning more about running in Eugene can check out "Track Town USA," a coffee table book filled with photographs and essays that was published by our friends over at Rich Clarkson and Associates, the official photographers of University of Denver Athletics. The book hits the shelves this Monday.
Today, fans know the Ducks as the top rated football team in the nation. But Oregon has a rich tradition on the basketball court. In fact, the team won the very first NCAA men's basketball championship in 1939. The gigantic banner is hard to miss, hanging high above one of the baskets. It may be bigger than the American flag on the opposite end of the arena.
Like many colleges, including Denver, Oregon celebrates all its teams with display cases filled with pictures and memorabilia. As we walked by the basketball display, we had to take a second look. One of the photos was taken the last time Denver played here in 1999.
Welcome Pioneer Fans: A good number of Denver supporters made the trip to Eugene, including the families of Alex Pickert, Chase and Travis Hallam, Brian Stafford and assistant coach A.J. Kuhle, as well as Joe Scott's father, Bob, and avid DU fan John Kirby, who also is a favorite caller to the Joe Scott Radio Show every Monday night.
Friday, November 12, 2010
UC Santa Barbara - 11/12/10
EUGENE, Ore. - It's
been a great week for the University of Denver. While the men's
basketball team was traveling to Oregon for this weekend's BTI
Tournament, a few in the travel party, including head coach Joe Scott, stayed behind for the big announcement that Denver will join the Western Athletic Conference.
Afterward, Scott and company jumped on a plane and joined the team in Eugene, ready for today's season opener against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
The team is currently at shoot-around in historic McArthur Court, a.k.a. Mac Court. It's also The Pit, which is painted inside the lane, and with apologizes to our friends in Albuquerque, this place is the original, built in 1926 with the first game on Jan. 14, 1927.
McArthur Court is the second oldest on-campus arena in college basketball (bonus points if you know the oldest without the help of Google. Answer at the end of the blog.)
As we walked into the arena, the players looked high into the stands, which are comprised of seven rows in the lower bowl and three balconies. The place holds a total 9,087 fans, who create a rowdy atmosphere. The Sporting News called it the best gym in America in 2001.
All of that said, Mac Court is in its twilight with Oregon opening Matthew Knight Arena in January 2011, about 600 yards from where Denver is practicing.
The Pioneers are geared up for the games this weekend. After playing six games in Spain a couple months ago, there has been a feeling that the season started in August with an extended break between September 5 and today.
Everybody around this program has been looking forward to the start of this season since March, and nobody is more excited than the 12 players on the court.
The countdown is on. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
Lunchables: For those of you who read Kyle's Chronicles during Denver's tour of Spain, you might remember senior captain Kyle Lewis' consistent references to "Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta."
Following shootaround today, Lewis was asked what was on the lunch menu. He just smiled.
Upon returning to the hotel, the team headed immediately to a meeting room on the 12th floor to dine on, you guessed it, Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta - the first of 30-plus such pregame meals the team will enjoy.
Junior Brian Stafford decided to mix things up early, putting his chicken and part of his salad on a roll and enjoyed a chicken sandwich.
About UC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos have won the Big West Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, and they are currently ranked 12th in the Mid-Major Top 25, just behind St. Mary's.
Among the school's alumni base are actor Michael Douglas, singer Jack Johnson, sports radio host Jim Rome and 2008 Olympic hero Jason Lezak, who anchored the 4x100 freestyle with an unbelievable comeback to win the Gold. Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs played college ball with the Gauchos.
Happy Belated: We had full intentions to write a blog or two last week, but since they did not happen, we would like to send our best belated birthday wishes to Andrew Hooper, who turned 22 on Nov. 7.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 1
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 977
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 11,220
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 48
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,799
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 2
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Trivia Answer: Rose Hill Gym at Fordham University in New York City was opened on Jan. 16, 1925.
Afterward, Scott and company jumped on a plane and joined the team in Eugene, ready for today's season opener against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
The team is currently at shoot-around in historic McArthur Court, a.k.a. Mac Court. It's also The Pit, which is painted inside the lane, and with apologizes to our friends in Albuquerque, this place is the original, built in 1926 with the first game on Jan. 14, 1927.
McArthur Court is the second oldest on-campus arena in college basketball (bonus points if you know the oldest without the help of Google. Answer at the end of the blog.)
As we walked into the arena, the players looked high into the stands, which are comprised of seven rows in the lower bowl and three balconies. The place holds a total 9,087 fans, who create a rowdy atmosphere. The Sporting News called it the best gym in America in 2001.
All of that said, Mac Court is in its twilight with Oregon opening Matthew Knight Arena in January 2011, about 600 yards from where Denver is practicing.
The Pioneers are geared up for the games this weekend. After playing six games in Spain a couple months ago, there has been a feeling that the season started in August with an extended break between September 5 and today.
Everybody around this program has been looking forward to the start of this season since March, and nobody is more excited than the 12 players on the court.
The countdown is on. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
Lunchables: For those of you who read Kyle's Chronicles during Denver's tour of Spain, you might remember senior captain Kyle Lewis' consistent references to "Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta."
Following shootaround today, Lewis was asked what was on the lunch menu. He just smiled.
Upon returning to the hotel, the team headed immediately to a meeting room on the 12th floor to dine on, you guessed it, Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta - the first of 30-plus such pregame meals the team will enjoy.
Junior Brian Stafford decided to mix things up early, putting his chicken and part of his salad on a roll and enjoyed a chicken sandwich.
About UC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos have won the Big West Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, and they are currently ranked 12th in the Mid-Major Top 25, just behind St. Mary's.
Among the school's alumni base are actor Michael Douglas, singer Jack Johnson, sports radio host Jim Rome and 2008 Olympic hero Jason Lezak, who anchored the 4x100 freestyle with an unbelievable comeback to win the Gold. Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs played college ball with the Gauchos.
Happy Belated: We had full intentions to write a blog or two last week, but since they did not happen, we would like to send our best belated birthday wishes to Andrew Hooper, who turned 22 on Nov. 7.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 1
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 977
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 11,220
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 48
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,799
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 2
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Trivia Answer: Rose Hill Gym at Fordham University in New York City was opened on Jan. 16, 1925.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sun Belt Conference Media Day - 10/27/10
DENVER - University of Denver men's basketball head coach Joe Scott took a break from practice yesterday morning to take part in the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Media Days.
The SBC utilized web conferencing for the second-straight year, meaning that the coaches and media could hold a discussion virtually without traveling to a meeting location. Scott sat in front of a webcam as reporters from around the nation asked about the Pioneers and the Sun Belt Conference.
In addition to being more convenient for everyone involved, it means that coaches like Scott miss no more than about 30 minutes of practice, as opposed to the two days it used to take to travel and meet with the national media and regional reporters from regions throughout the Sun Belt.
The web conference is designed so that each team's head coach takes his turn answering questions for about 10-20 minutes with minimal breaks between coaches. Tuesday was designated for the SBC West Division, and Scott was third after Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State, which obviously fall before Denver alphabetically.
Scott opened with an overall preview of his team heading into the season. The Pioneers were picked third in the annual preseason coaches' poll. In fact, the top four teams in the West were picked exactly how they finished last season.
Scott said the predictions made sense since the teams have a lot of players returning, but he also explained that the preseason polls do not affect what actually happens during the season.
He is pleased with the way the team has practiced so far, in addition to the work the team did in preparation for the trip to Spain and the games they played against professional teams while there.
The Pioneers have seven of their top eight scorers returning, and most of them are juniors and seniors. Scott has seen a lot of improvement in every player, but he said Kyle Lewis and Brian Stafford especially made great strides since last season. Additionally, Denver adds Trevor Noonan and Chris Udofia, who provide a presence in the lane that DU has not had in recent years.
"When you look at the overall picture, we finally have all the pieces," Scott said. "Will all the pieces gel in November or December or January? That's going to be the key to the season. We have experienced guards. We have experienced forwards. We're adding Trevor Noonan and Chris Udofia at center with some size and athleticism. It's a matter of when those pieces become a cohesive unit. I think the chances are good that it happens sooner rather than later, but that's the key to the season."
The SBC utilized web conferencing for the second-straight year, meaning that the coaches and media could hold a discussion virtually without traveling to a meeting location. Scott sat in front of a webcam as reporters from around the nation asked about the Pioneers and the Sun Belt Conference.
In addition to being more convenient for everyone involved, it means that coaches like Scott miss no more than about 30 minutes of practice, as opposed to the two days it used to take to travel and meet with the national media and regional reporters from regions throughout the Sun Belt.
The web conference is designed so that each team's head coach takes his turn answering questions for about 10-20 minutes with minimal breaks between coaches. Tuesday was designated for the SBC West Division, and Scott was third after Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State, which obviously fall before Denver alphabetically.
Scott opened with an overall preview of his team heading into the season. The Pioneers were picked third in the annual preseason coaches' poll. In fact, the top four teams in the West were picked exactly how they finished last season.
Scott said the predictions made sense since the teams have a lot of players returning, but he also explained that the preseason polls do not affect what actually happens during the season.
He is pleased with the way the team has practiced so far, in addition to the work the team did in preparation for the trip to Spain and the games they played against professional teams while there.
The Pioneers have seven of their top eight scorers returning, and most of them are juniors and seniors. Scott has seen a lot of improvement in every player, but he said Kyle Lewis and Brian Stafford especially made great strides since last season. Additionally, Denver adds Trevor Noonan and Chris Udofia, who provide a presence in the lane that DU has not had in recent years.
"When you look at the overall picture, we finally have all the pieces," Scott said. "Will all the pieces gel in November or December or January? That's going to be the key to the season. We have experienced guards. We have experienced forwards. We're adding Trevor Noonan and Chris Udofia at center with some size and athleticism. It's a matter of when those pieces become a cohesive unit. I think the chances are good that it happens sooner rather than later, but that's the key to the season."
Friday, October 15, 2010
First Practice 10/15/10
DENVER - Around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, the University of Denver men's basketball team wheeled a cart filled with balls into Hamilton Gymnasium and started loosening up.
Due to NCAA rules, the coaches remained in their locker room until 5 p.m. - the exact moment that college basketball teams are allowed to begin practice.
Unlike most years, every player on the court ran through the drills and plays with a familiarity, almost like there are no freshmen out there. That, of course, is because the team got to practice 10 times in August before heading to Denver's tour of Spain.
Chris Udofia is the only freshman on the roster, so despite the taste of practice and games he got prior to and in Europe, he continues to learn. He was helped along by senior captain Kyle Lewis and a few other teammates who spent much of the past month working with Udofia on the team's offense.
If there's a question about the excitement surrounding this year's team, you just had to look around practice today. Numerous people caught a peak through the doors at the back of the gym, and even more stopped at the windows overlooking the court on their way to tonight's hockey game.
A few women's basketball players even stopped in to watch practice for a while. You know the team is fun to watch when other teams take time to watch them practice.
Homecoming: It's Homecoming Weekend at DU, which means a lot of excitement as alums return to campus for a visit.
One of those alumni was Joe Jackson, who was on the Pioneers 2004-08. When Jackson strolled into the gym toward the beginning of practice, he smiled as he greeted old friends, including coaches that found a moment to sneak away and say hello.
Those of us that know Jackson were not surprised to see him grab a ball and head up to Gates Field House to fire up some shots.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice.
Due to NCAA rules, the coaches remained in their locker room until 5 p.m. - the exact moment that college basketball teams are allowed to begin practice.
Unlike most years, every player on the court ran through the drills and plays with a familiarity, almost like there are no freshmen out there. That, of course, is because the team got to practice 10 times in August before heading to Denver's tour of Spain.
Chris Udofia is the only freshman on the roster, so despite the taste of practice and games he got prior to and in Europe, he continues to learn. He was helped along by senior captain Kyle Lewis and a few other teammates who spent much of the past month working with Udofia on the team's offense.
If there's a question about the excitement surrounding this year's team, you just had to look around practice today. Numerous people caught a peak through the doors at the back of the gym, and even more stopped at the windows overlooking the court on their way to tonight's hockey game.
A few women's basketball players even stopped in to watch practice for a while. You know the team is fun to watch when other teams take time to watch them practice.
Homecoming: It's Homecoming Weekend at DU, which means a lot of excitement as alums return to campus for a visit.
One of those alumni was Joe Jackson, who was on the Pioneers 2004-08. When Jackson strolled into the gym toward the beginning of practice, he smiled as he greeted old friends, including coaches that found a moment to sneak away and say hello.
Those of us that know Jackson were not surprised to see him grab a ball and head up to Gates Field House to fire up some shots.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Fall Softball Game - 10/14/10
DENVER - The players were looking for revenge. It had been a long, long time since they beat the coaches and staff in the biannual softball game.
After yesterday's performance, it's safe to say they got the monkey off their backs.
The boys were crushing the ball yesterday, much to pitcher (and "Voice of the Pioneers") Mitch Hyder's dismay.
Tyler Thalken, who was a very good high school baseball player in Tulsa, Okla., hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Brian Stafford, sporting a Brad Hawpe Rockies' jersey (likely because Hawpe is a fellow lefty), nearly hit I-25 three times, as he smacked pitch after pitch over the right field fence.
Trevor Noonan added a couple more moon shots over the fence. Chase Hallam and Justin Coughlinwent yard, as well.
In all, the players hit nine home runs, including a barrage to erase an 8-0 deficit in the second game. In one inning, Stafford cranked two and Thalken hit his slam.
Freshmen Chris Udofia and Charles Webb joined the coaches and staff's team in order to balance out numbers (you can probably pick them out in the picture below). Udofia, despite being gifted with great athletic ability, initially was uncomfortable at the plate - quite possibly because he had never picked up a bat before.
As his basketball teammates and softball opponents jeered, Udofia struggled in his first few at-bats, popping up and hitting a soft grounder. Then he seemed to pick up steam, hammering the ball over the outfielders' heads in his next two at-bats.
The coaches and staff battled, as head coachJoe Scott and assistant coach A.J. Kuhle both cleared the fence, but in the end, the players were too much, winning both games, 16-4 after five innings and 9-8 in a four inning encore.
Hyder, for his troubles, ended the fall season 0-2 with a 25.00 ERA.
When asked for a response to his performance, Hyder commented, "Don't blame me. Coach Scott wouldn't let me work the count."
Regardless, sources at the Rockies indicated that the team won't be calling anytime soon.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice, since they are not officially allowed to start until Friday night at 5 p.m.
Unofficial Softball Statistics
Total Home Runs Hit by the Basketball Team - 9
Total Number of Homers Kyle Lewis Needed to Complete the Cycle - 1
Total Number of Singles Andrew Hooper Hit in Five At-Bats - 5
Total Number of Earned Runs Charged to Mitch Hyder - 25
Total Career At-Bats by Chris Udofia Prior to Wednesday - 0
Total Number of Time Chris Udofia Hit Balls Over the Outfielders' Heads Wednesday - 2
Total Runs the Basketball Team Prior to the Third Inning of the Second Game - 0
Total Runs Scored by the Basketball Team in the Third Inning - 9
Final Score of the Second Game - 9-8
After yesterday's performance, it's safe to say they got the monkey off their backs.
The boys were crushing the ball yesterday, much to pitcher (and "Voice of the Pioneers") Mitch Hyder's dismay.
Tyler Thalken, who was a very good high school baseball player in Tulsa, Okla., hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Brian Stafford, sporting a Brad Hawpe Rockies' jersey (likely because Hawpe is a fellow lefty), nearly hit I-25 three times, as he smacked pitch after pitch over the right field fence.
Trevor Noonan added a couple more moon shots over the fence. Chase Hallam and Justin Coughlinwent yard, as well.
In all, the players hit nine home runs, including a barrage to erase an 8-0 deficit in the second game. In one inning, Stafford cranked two and Thalken hit his slam.
Freshmen Chris Udofia and Charles Webb joined the coaches and staff's team in order to balance out numbers (you can probably pick them out in the picture below). Udofia, despite being gifted with great athletic ability, initially was uncomfortable at the plate - quite possibly because he had never picked up a bat before.
As his basketball teammates and softball opponents jeered, Udofia struggled in his first few at-bats, popping up and hitting a soft grounder. Then he seemed to pick up steam, hammering the ball over the outfielders' heads in his next two at-bats.
The coaches and staff battled, as head coachJoe Scott and assistant coach A.J. Kuhle both cleared the fence, but in the end, the players were too much, winning both games, 16-4 after five innings and 9-8 in a four inning encore.
Hyder, for his troubles, ended the fall season 0-2 with a 25.00 ERA.
When asked for a response to his performance, Hyder commented, "Don't blame me. Coach Scott wouldn't let me work the count."
Regardless, sources at the Rockies indicated that the team won't be calling anytime soon.
Open Practice: As a reminder, the men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hamilton Gymnasium. It will be the men's team second practice, since they are not officially allowed to start until Friday night at 5 p.m.
Unofficial Softball Statistics
Total Home Runs Hit by the Basketball Team - 9
Total Number of Homers Kyle Lewis Needed to Complete the Cycle - 1
Total Number of Singles Andrew Hooper Hit in Five At-Bats - 5
Total Number of Earned Runs Charged to Mitch Hyder - 25
Total Career At-Bats by Chris Udofia Prior to Wednesday - 0
Total Number of Time Chris Udofia Hit Balls Over the Outfielders' Heads Wednesday - 2
Total Runs the Basketball Team Prior to the Third Inning of the Second Game - 0
Total Runs Scored by the Basketball Team in the Third Inning - 9
Final Score of the Second Game - 9-8
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Born in a Small Town - 10/7/10
DENVER - Junior forward Justin Coughlin's upbringing in Yuma, Colo., has long been the source of entertaining questions from and conversations with teammates and friends.
Yuma is a small town of about 3,300 people in northeast Colorado, about 40 miles from the Nebraska border.
Because most of his teammates are from cities or their suburbs, they are often fascinated by Coughlin's tales of growing up in a small town.
Between workouts, pickup games and school work, Coughlin enjoyed a recent visit from his brother Jared, who made the 2.5 hour drive to DU. Coughlin wanted to show Jared what it was like to live in Denver.
"Denver's a little different than Yuma," Coughlin said with a grin. "There's no Chili's or anything like that, and the movie theater only shows two movies a night."
A Google search for restaurants reveals 15 restaurants within Yuma with the next closest a little more than 13 miles away. The one after that? It's 26 miles away in Otis, Colo. If somebody in Yuma has a Big Mac attack, he's going to have to drive 43 miles to Sterling, Colo., which is also the location of the nearest Wal-mart.
Yes, Yuma is small, but Coughlin would have it no other way. He's proud of his hometown and speaks often of Yuma's friendly people and supportive atmosphere, which is also obvious throughout the season when many people from the town head to Magness Arena for games.
"Sure you only have two movies to choose from, but they're usually first-run movies and only cost about $3," Coughlin said. "They show the same movies in Denver, but it will cost you about $12 per person."
When Coughlin arrived at the University of Denver two years ago, he could have been described as skinny and a little timid, which to be fair describes a lot of college freshmen.
These days, Coughlin walks around campus with more confidence after growing in both maturity and body - the 6-9 forward has added about 30 pounds of muscle since arriving at DU.
Coughlin sat out the first four games as a freshman, but he has started all 59 Pioneers games since then - leading the team in blocked shots each of the last two season - and he and his teammates are excited for the season to start.
"We are feeling good and looking forward to this year," Coughlin said. "We all worked hard during the summer, and the trip to Spain should be a big help for us heading into the season."
Open Practice: The men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices on Saturday, October 16, the day after the men's team is officially allowed to start.
Fans will have an opportunity to meet coaches and players from each team. Look for more details on DenverPioneers.com early next week.
Yuma is a small town of about 3,300 people in northeast Colorado, about 40 miles from the Nebraska border.
Because most of his teammates are from cities or their suburbs, they are often fascinated by Coughlin's tales of growing up in a small town.
Between workouts, pickup games and school work, Coughlin enjoyed a recent visit from his brother Jared, who made the 2.5 hour drive to DU. Coughlin wanted to show Jared what it was like to live in Denver.
"Denver's a little different than Yuma," Coughlin said with a grin. "There's no Chili's or anything like that, and the movie theater only shows two movies a night."
A Google search for restaurants reveals 15 restaurants within Yuma with the next closest a little more than 13 miles away. The one after that? It's 26 miles away in Otis, Colo. If somebody in Yuma has a Big Mac attack, he's going to have to drive 43 miles to Sterling, Colo., which is also the location of the nearest Wal-mart.
Yes, Yuma is small, but Coughlin would have it no other way. He's proud of his hometown and speaks often of Yuma's friendly people and supportive atmosphere, which is also obvious throughout the season when many people from the town head to Magness Arena for games.
"Sure you only have two movies to choose from, but they're usually first-run movies and only cost about $3," Coughlin said. "They show the same movies in Denver, but it will cost you about $12 per person."
When Coughlin arrived at the University of Denver two years ago, he could have been described as skinny and a little timid, which to be fair describes a lot of college freshmen.
These days, Coughlin walks around campus with more confidence after growing in both maturity and body - the 6-9 forward has added about 30 pounds of muscle since arriving at DU.
Coughlin sat out the first four games as a freshman, but he has started all 59 Pioneers games since then - leading the team in blocked shots each of the last two season - and he and his teammates are excited for the season to start.
"We are feeling good and looking forward to this year," Coughlin said. "We all worked hard during the summer, and the trip to Spain should be a big help for us heading into the season."
Open Practice: The men's and women's basketball teams will have open practices on Saturday, October 16, the day after the men's team is officially allowed to start.
Fans will have an opportunity to meet coaches and players from each team. Look for more details on DenverPioneers.com early next week.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Back to School - 9/23/10
DENVER - Last week, Kyle Lewis was
walking through the Ritchie Center, and I asked him what he was doing
now that the Spain trip was over and official practices were nearly a
month away.
"You know, I have a lot of free time right now," Lewis said. "Maybe too much. I'm not sure what to do with myself."
Due to NCAA rules, coaches are allowed to work with teams only two hours per week prior to October 15, and following the trip to Spain, DU's coaches postponed the start of those workouts until later this week.
So today I decided to talk to a few of the players about what they were doing with all this free time, expecting to hear about reuniting with old classmates they hadn't seen since the spring and maybe hitting a pizza place or movie.
As the only freshman, Chris Udofia seemed like a logical choice to talk to. Udofia took two classes over the summer and joined the team in Spain, but this is still the official start to his first academic year in college.
"The last couple of weeks have been a nice little transition, especially since being here in the summer helped me adjust more quickly," Udofia said. "It gave me more confidence and an identity. It helped me feel like I know what's going on, and I know the buildings and where I'm supposed to go. It's like a little head start compared to the rest of the freshmen."
So, how has Udofia spent all this free time, when he doesn't have to go to practice and has few obligations outside the classroom?
"We're lifting three days a week and playing pick-up five-on-five games in the afternoon," said Udofia, who along with transfer redshirt sophomore Trevor Noonan and redshirt freshman Blake Foeman are expected to see their first action with the Pioneers this season. "Then twice a week, some of the older guys come help me, Trevor and Blake get familiarized with the offense, since we're getting thrown in."
That's right. Lewis, along with teammates like Andrew Hooper, Brian Stafford and Chase Hallam, decided that while the coaches couldn't hold practices with the players, they could do it themselves.
"We've been holding our own practices so that we can run through the offense, because when we get started officially on October 15, we can jump right into it and not have to rework the things we put in this summer before Spain," said Lewis, who was named DU's captain last week. "We don't want to take any steps back as a team. We want to keep moving forward and making progress."
Udofia looked solid during games in Spain, but a newcomer in a complicated basketball system is liable to get overwhelmed at times.
"It helps out so much. I can see the progress over just the past couple of days," Udofia said. "I'm not going to lie, over the summer I was kind of going off instincts because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and it didn't always work out."
Lewis and company have developed these practice sessions primarily to help Udofia, since Noonan and Foeman practiced with the team last season, even though they did not play.
"We want Chris Udofia to be in shape to the point where he knows the offense," Lewis said. "We don't want things to click for him in January or February. We want him to be ready in October, so that he's ready to help us out in November. That's what we want. It's crucial to this team and the direction we're going."
It hasn't been all about basketball for these guys.
Udofia, like most other college freshmen, is enjoying the opportunity to learn about life on campus and meet new people, including roommate Justin Jones, who is a fellow Dallas native and a first year player on the hockey team.
"It's been cool hanging out with the different crowds and getting different perspectives of the DU lifestyle," Udofia said.
Lewis said that he is enjoying his free time, especially since three years of summer school now mean he only needs three classes per quarter in order to graduate on time in June.
"I get to relax and not get so stressed out, and I get to focus on basketball for my last go around," Lewis said. "I'm just enjoying the time with my teammates. We've been able to spend a lot of time together. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we don't have class until noon, so we come in here and hang out, get some shots up and be the guys that we are."
OK. Maybe it has been mostly about basketball.
"You know, I have a lot of free time right now," Lewis said. "Maybe too much. I'm not sure what to do with myself."
Due to NCAA rules, coaches are allowed to work with teams only two hours per week prior to October 15, and following the trip to Spain, DU's coaches postponed the start of those workouts until later this week.
So today I decided to talk to a few of the players about what they were doing with all this free time, expecting to hear about reuniting with old classmates they hadn't seen since the spring and maybe hitting a pizza place or movie.
As the only freshman, Chris Udofia seemed like a logical choice to talk to. Udofia took two classes over the summer and joined the team in Spain, but this is still the official start to his first academic year in college.
"The last couple of weeks have been a nice little transition, especially since being here in the summer helped me adjust more quickly," Udofia said. "It gave me more confidence and an identity. It helped me feel like I know what's going on, and I know the buildings and where I'm supposed to go. It's like a little head start compared to the rest of the freshmen."
So, how has Udofia spent all this free time, when he doesn't have to go to practice and has few obligations outside the classroom?
"We're lifting three days a week and playing pick-up five-on-five games in the afternoon," said Udofia, who along with transfer redshirt sophomore Trevor Noonan and redshirt freshman Blake Foeman are expected to see their first action with the Pioneers this season. "Then twice a week, some of the older guys come help me, Trevor and Blake get familiarized with the offense, since we're getting thrown in."
That's right. Lewis, along with teammates like Andrew Hooper, Brian Stafford and Chase Hallam, decided that while the coaches couldn't hold practices with the players, they could do it themselves.
"We've been holding our own practices so that we can run through the offense, because when we get started officially on October 15, we can jump right into it and not have to rework the things we put in this summer before Spain," said Lewis, who was named DU's captain last week. "We don't want to take any steps back as a team. We want to keep moving forward and making progress."
Udofia looked solid during games in Spain, but a newcomer in a complicated basketball system is liable to get overwhelmed at times.
"It helps out so much. I can see the progress over just the past couple of days," Udofia said. "I'm not going to lie, over the summer I was kind of going off instincts because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and it didn't always work out."
Lewis and company have developed these practice sessions primarily to help Udofia, since Noonan and Foeman practiced with the team last season, even though they did not play.
"We want Chris Udofia to be in shape to the point where he knows the offense," Lewis said. "We don't want things to click for him in January or February. We want him to be ready in October, so that he's ready to help us out in November. That's what we want. It's crucial to this team and the direction we're going."
It hasn't been all about basketball for these guys.
Udofia, like most other college freshmen, is enjoying the opportunity to learn about life on campus and meet new people, including roommate Justin Jones, who is a fellow Dallas native and a first year player on the hockey team.
"It's been cool hanging out with the different crowds and getting different perspectives of the DU lifestyle," Udofia said.
Lewis said that he is enjoying his free time, especially since three years of summer school now mean he only needs three classes per quarter in order to graduate on time in June.
"I get to relax and not get so stressed out, and I get to focus on basketball for my last go around," Lewis said. "I'm just enjoying the time with my teammates. We've been able to spend a lot of time together. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we don't have class until noon, so we come in here and hang out, get some shots up and be the guys that we are."
OK. Maybe it has been mostly about basketball.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Adiós España - 9/4/10
MADRID, Spain - After the game last night, forward Chase Hallam asked where we were playing tomorrow.
He was told it was in a town about 90 minutes away, and the incredulous look on his face told the story: This team has been on the bus A LOT this trip.
In fact, the Pioneers traveled 1,752 bus miles last season. That's the entire season combined.
By the time the team returns to campus on Sunday night, we will have surpassed that total during this two-week trip.
Of course, it's all been worth it, since Francisco the bus driver took us from Madrid to the Pyrenees to Barcelona to Andorra through France to San Sebastian and finally back to Madrid.
It was very nice to be in Madrid today with most of the early part of the day off. The players jumped on the subway and headed downtown. Most of them simply walked around exploring and shopping, but Blake Foeman and Alex Pickert ended up touring a castle.
There's so much to see in this city, and while the organized tours have been great, everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to wander off and do his own thing.
Overall, as the trip comes to a close, the entire experience has been amazing with a perfect combination of touring Spain and playing basketball against teams of varying levels.
And, without question, the team has gotten better on the court, which was the primary purpose of this adventure. The players and coaches learned things that will help them better prepare for this season.
Everyone seems to be ready to head back to Denver, but everybody on this trip will carry memories of these two weeks in Spain for years.
But, the best part? The first official practice of the season is just 41 days away.
Cleanliness is next to what?: As you can probably imagine, a certain odor has morphed into an extraordinary funk during the past two weeks. Although the players have a few uniforms, which were washed in San Sebastian, playing six games and then stuffing your clothes in a bag takes its toll.
I don't want to be overdramatic, so I will say simply that the bus and team's hallway in the hotel have developed a smell that can only be described as a cross between a hockey locker room and tear gas.
At this point, everybody on the trip is searching for those last remaining pieces of clothing that are at least cleanish. Mitch Hyder, in fact, was caught rubbing deodorant directly onto the shirt he's wearing to tonight's game.
Warning to those waiting back home: Please make sure all washing machines are empty, ready and working.
Run for the Border: When guard Alex Pickert was asked if he was ready to be home. This was his answer: "I just want Taco Bell. If I could get a chalupa here, I think I could stay for a lot longer. And you can quote me on that." Hey Pick, guess where you're playing on Nov. 27. That's right, Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho.
Just Filling In: Someone asked the waiter tonight for a recommendation. His response was that he needed to ask the manager, which seemed odd.
When pushed further he replied, "Really, I'm just one of the security guys, but I'm the only one here who speaks English, so they asked me to take your order."
That, my friends, is customer service.
Special Thanks: I would like to send a personal thank you out to General Jim Head, who helped immensely in compiling unofficial statistics during the six games in Spain. The General is a friend of the coaching staff, who traveled with Joe Scott's teams at Air Force, and was a welcome addition to the travel party. The game recaps would have been considerably more difficult without General Head's assistance.
Estimated Statistics of the Tour of Spain*:
Miles by Air - 11,220
Miles by Bus - 1,752+
Number of Photos Taken by Andrew Hooper - 2,242
Number of Meals Chris Udofia has Eaten at McDonald's - 6
Number of Times Justin Coughlin Has Eaten Gelato - 7 (although he lost count)
Number of Bull Fighting Arenas DU Played In - 1
Number of Puns, such as "Spained Ankle" and "Basque-etball," that Mitch Hyder Made - 4,386
Rolls of Tape Used on Ankles - 50
Number of Side Items at Disco Burger in San Sebastian - 0
Number of Hand Driers that Actually Dried Hands - 0
* Estimates upon return to Denver
He was told it was in a town about 90 minutes away, and the incredulous look on his face told the story: This team has been on the bus A LOT this trip.
In fact, the Pioneers traveled 1,752 bus miles last season. That's the entire season combined.
By the time the team returns to campus on Sunday night, we will have surpassed that total during this two-week trip.
Of course, it's all been worth it, since Francisco the bus driver took us from Madrid to the Pyrenees to Barcelona to Andorra through France to San Sebastian and finally back to Madrid.
It was very nice to be in Madrid today with most of the early part of the day off. The players jumped on the subway and headed downtown. Most of them simply walked around exploring and shopping, but Blake Foeman and Alex Pickert ended up touring a castle.
There's so much to see in this city, and while the organized tours have been great, everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to wander off and do his own thing.
Overall, as the trip comes to a close, the entire experience has been amazing with a perfect combination of touring Spain and playing basketball against teams of varying levels.
And, without question, the team has gotten better on the court, which was the primary purpose of this adventure. The players and coaches learned things that will help them better prepare for this season.
Everyone seems to be ready to head back to Denver, but everybody on this trip will carry memories of these two weeks in Spain for years.
But, the best part? The first official practice of the season is just 41 days away.
Cleanliness is next to what?: As you can probably imagine, a certain odor has morphed into an extraordinary funk during the past two weeks. Although the players have a few uniforms, which were washed in San Sebastian, playing six games and then stuffing your clothes in a bag takes its toll.
I don't want to be overdramatic, so I will say simply that the bus and team's hallway in the hotel have developed a smell that can only be described as a cross between a hockey locker room and tear gas.
At this point, everybody on the trip is searching for those last remaining pieces of clothing that are at least cleanish. Mitch Hyder, in fact, was caught rubbing deodorant directly onto the shirt he's wearing to tonight's game.
Warning to those waiting back home: Please make sure all washing machines are empty, ready and working.
Run for the Border: When guard Alex Pickert was asked if he was ready to be home. This was his answer: "I just want Taco Bell. If I could get a chalupa here, I think I could stay for a lot longer. And you can quote me on that." Hey Pick, guess where you're playing on Nov. 27. That's right, Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho.
Just Filling In: Someone asked the waiter tonight for a recommendation. His response was that he needed to ask the manager, which seemed odd.
When pushed further he replied, "Really, I'm just one of the security guys, but I'm the only one here who speaks English, so they asked me to take your order."
That, my friends, is customer service.
Special Thanks: I would like to send a personal thank you out to General Jim Head, who helped immensely in compiling unofficial statistics during the six games in Spain. The General is a friend of the coaching staff, who traveled with Joe Scott's teams at Air Force, and was a welcome addition to the travel party. The game recaps would have been considerably more difficult without General Head's assistance.
Estimated Statistics of the Tour of Spain*:
Miles by Air - 11,220
Miles by Bus - 1,752+
Number of Photos Taken by Andrew Hooper - 2,242
Number of Meals Chris Udofia has Eaten at McDonald's - 6
Number of Times Justin Coughlin Has Eaten Gelato - 7 (although he lost count)
Number of Bull Fighting Arenas DU Played In - 1
Number of Puns, such as "Spained Ankle" and "Basque-etball," that Mitch Hyder Made - 4,386
Rolls of Tape Used on Ankles - 50
Number of Side Items at Disco Burger in San Sebastian - 0
Number of Hand Driers that Actually Dried Hands - 0
* Estimates upon return to Denver
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)