Final score 79-55 – and it wasn’t even that close.
Pioneer fans were treated to a basketball clinic as Denver (11-7, 3-2) ran roughshod over one of the top teams in the Summit League, North Dakota State (12-6, 4-1) . Sure it was a home game but the the Denver squad gave fans a glimpse of what Rodney Billups “play fast” basketball looks like – on both ends of the floor. The Pioneers, led by a dominant Daniel Amigo’s 28 points and 12 rebounds, thrashed North Dakota State University on the offensive end and shut down their penetrating offensive drives on the defensive end.
A Denver Post article on Daniel Amigo earlier in the week, largely positive, but also critical seemed to fire up Amigo as he displayed a dominating all-around presence – running the floor, defending, and dominating in the offensive and defensive paint.
This was by far Denver’s best game of the year. With Daniel Amigo dominating down low, DU took advantage of close-in opportunities for easy buckets as well as deadly perimeter sharpshooting with 48.3% from the floor using crisp passing and smart shot selection. Denver held NDSU to a miserly 31.7% from the field. Denver crushed the Bison on the boards by a massive margin, 49-27.
In the first 5 plus minutes of play, four Daniel Amigo layups gave DU a 12-8 advantage.The next five minutes, the teams traded punches but a Thomas Neff 3-point shot at 9:20 gave DU a 18 – 13 lead. Joe Rosga and Thomas Neff hammered home 3-pointers and Daniel Amigo had a layup and a couple of free throws to build a 28-15 lead with 5:22 to go in the first half. In the final four minutes, Daniel Amigo and Jake Krafka buckets were followed by a pair of three point bombs from Jake Pemberton and Joe Rosga to balloon DU’s lead. A C.J. Bobbitt lay-up and free throw was followed by a Bison foul on Thomas Neff and 2 made free throws to give DU a 20 point advantage at half, 23-43.
Sure, the Pioneers earned a huge lead but could they hold it when the Bison made the inevitable surge in the second half?
The teams started trading baskets in the second half and a jump shot from NDSU’s Dylan Miller at 15:39 cut DU’s lead to 49-30. Then, a 3-pointer by the Bison’s Paul Miller made it 49-33, a 16 point lead for Denver. C.J. Bobbitt countered with two layups and a free throw to take DU up 54-33 @ 14:26. Christian Mackey got into the lineup during the middle of the half and added immediate energy, rebounds, and tough points. Denver continued to extend the lead with an all-out effort by the entire team. Denver jacked the lead up to 71-44 with two C.J. Bobbitt free throws at 4:53 and the game was essentially over. The teams traded buckets and Denver emptied their bench. The game ended 79-55, a thorough dismantling of NDSU.
Rodney Billups explained that the Pioneer formula was, “Being aggressive and playing how we want to play. Our guys were ready and fired up to play (the undefeated Summit League Bison). We just executed the game plan.” And, of course, Daniel Amigo was in the discussion as well, “Daniel is such a big part of our team. We need to keep our eyes on him (rest & fouls). I am trying different things to help him. We have to do a better job of keeping him engaged in the games.”
A nice birthday present for head coach Rodney Billups.
That was a hell of a game. With South Dakota beating Fort Wayne today, it is looking like the Summit has a top tier of Denver/Fort Wayne/North Dakota State/South Dakota.
I never would have thought this preseason, but if Amigo can consistently stay out of foul trouble this team will be in the mix for the league title at the end of the year. I’m not saying they’re going to win it, but if they can take care of business at home and then win 3 of the remaining 7 road games (say SDSU/ORU/WIU) then they’re looking at 10-6 and I think 11-5 will win the conference.
That was the most dominating home performance by a DU big man since the days of Yemi Nicholson more than a decade ago. With 28 points and 12 rebounds today, Daniel Amigo showed he can be one of the very best players in the Summit League when he is on his game.
DU destroyed a very good 12-5 NDSU team, showing the rest of the league that the Pios can defend home court. The Pios played with energy, fantastic ball movement, good running basketball, excellent passing, some gritty defense and crisp shooting. This was a preview of what DU could be, as Billups will add his own style of players as he goes.
Despite an easy 4pm start on a Saturday early the the new quarter, I would have expected a better DU student turnout, as almost no students were there who weren’t players, cheerleaders, dancers or band members/ This is a solid, basketball winning team, and it’s deserving of fan support. I know it’s skiing season right now, but with 5,000 undergrads in the student body, and a crowd of 2,641 fans in the house, it too much to ask to get 100 DU students to support their team?
That was a hell of a game. With South Dakota beating Fort Wayne today, it is looking like the Summit has a top tier of Denver/Fort Wayne/North Dakota State/South Dakota.
I never would have thought this preseason, but if Amigo can consistently stay out of foul trouble this team will be in the mix for the league title at the end of the year. I’m not saying they’re going to win it, but if they can take care of business at home and then win 3 of the remaining 7 road games (say SDSU/ORU/WIU) then they’re looking at 10-6 and I think 11-5 will win the conference.
That was the most dominating home performance by a DU big man since the days of Yemi Nicholson more than a decade ago. With 28 points and 12 rebounds today, Daniel Amigo showed he can be one of the very best players in the Summit League when he is on his game.
DU destroyed a very good 12-5 NDSU team, showing the rest of the league that the Pios can defend home court. The Pios played with energy, fantastic ball movement, good running basketball, excellent passing, some gritty defense and crisp shooting. This was a preview of what DU could be, as Billups will add his own style of players as he goes.
Despite an easy 4pm start on a Saturday early the the new quarter, I would have expected a better DU student turnout, as almost no students were there who weren’t players, cheerleaders, dancers or band members/ This is a solid, basketball winning team, and it’s deserving of fan support. I know it’s skiing season right now, but with 5,000 undergrads in the student body, and a crowd of 2,641 fans in the house, it too much to ask to get 100 DU students to support their team?
Uh. DU had a couple of hockey games this weekend. Relatively important ones, at that….
Any thoughts on this weekend’s performance in Kalamazoo? What about Terry’s injury?
Or, do the persistent worries about basketball attendance trump all else here?
Nick T. had a CPA exam this weekend so he was tied up. He is going to get something up today. If not, we will start posting links to articles for road games. It was a big series!
Perhaps Liked it Better could volunteer to write some hockey articles when a LetsGoDU writer is taking a CPA exam? Wow, what a ridiculous complaint.esp. when it was mentioned somewhere that hockey articles would be delayed.
I just hope Nick doesn’t get too smart to write for LetsGoDU. No one loves Pioneer hockey more than he does!
That being said, I am glad Anon cares! DU needs passionate fans like him/her.
Uh. DU had a couple of hockey games this weekend. Relatively important ones, at that….
Any thoughts on this weekend’s performance in Kalamazoo? What about Terry’s injury?
Or, do the persistent worries about basketball attendance trump all else here?
Nick T. had a CPA exam this weekend so he was tied up. He is going to get something up today. If not, we will start posting links to articles for road games. It was a big series!
Perhaps Liked it Better could volunteer to write some hockey articles when a LetsGoDU writer is taking a CPA exam? Wow, what a ridiculous complaint.esp. when it was mentioned somewhere that hockey articles would be delayed.
I just hope Nick doesn’t get too smart to write for LetsGoDU. No one loves Pioneer hockey more than he does!
That being said, I am glad Anon cares! DU needs passionate fans like him/her.
Statement win. This team continues to improve and will make for an exciting season in a wide-open Summit.
Statement win. This team continues to improve and will make for an exciting season in a wide-open Summit.