Photo: A confident non-starter, Senior Kyler Erickson
A solid UNO squad (12-7, 4-1 Summit) invade Magness Arena tonight. They have played Missouri, Colorado, and Minnesota tough and were, clearly, the most underrated team in the Summit Conference heading into the season.
In today’s edition of Omaha.com, a highly confident Senior Kyler Erickson said: “Traditionally, you want to split on the road,” he said, “but I think our attitude this weekend (against Denver & Oral Roberts) is we’re going to go and get two games. We’re going to knock those two teams out. That’s who we are, and that’s what we do.”Continue reading Visitors Brimming with Confidence→
UNO, DU’s home opponent this Thursday, is a surprising 4-1 in Summit League play (12-7 overall) and looking to qualify for the league tournament and potentially, the NCAA Tournament. It really doesn’t matter, though. Continue reading Summit League Basketball Needs to Grow Up→
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI basketball team put together a 17-0 run spanning two halves to blast past Denver inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Saturday (Jan. 16), 76-61. The Jaguars shot a blistering 69 percent from the floor and 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) from three-point range in the victory. Senior Marcellus Barksdalepaced four Jags in double-digits with a season-high 19 points and junior Darell Combs added 16 on 5-of-6 shooting. Junior Matt O’Leary chimed in with 11 andJordan Pickett added 10 points and four assists off the bench. Continue reading JAGS RIDE BIG RUN TO ROLL PAST DENVER, 76-61→
According to The College Fix, another university is taking on the issue of microaggressions. “At Pennsylvania State University” according to The Fix, “no hurt feeling is too small, no slight too inconsequential, no unintentionally biased statement too unimportant. Administrators want to know it all.” Continue reading Proactive Response Needed to Address Microagressions→
Denver (10-8) got off to their best first half of the season and held off a second half charge from Western Illinois (7-8) for a confidence-building 76-69 road victory on Thursday night in Macomb, Illinois. Denver streaked out to a 39-21 first half lead and comfortably fought off a second half push by the Leathernecks for the win. Freshman Thomas Neff and Senior Nate Engesser started the game with three point buckets and the first half rout was on. Duke Douglas, an unexpected hero, was everywhere for DU with 10 points and 6 defensive rebounds. Nate Engesser, getting his first start, led the team with 14 points. It was all 11’s for Marcus Byrd, Bryant Rucker, and super freshman Joe Rosga. The Pioneers bench outscored the Western Illinois bench 28-18. DU’s biggest player, Daniel Amigo was MIA for game -number three for the crimson and gold. Continue reading Pioneer First Half Surge Overwhelms Leathernecks→
This basketball game was not for the faint of heart Pioneer basketball fan – 3 for 17 from the 3-point line, 9 of 27 from the field, and trailing by double digits in rebounds – the Pioneers had a brutal first half. The Pios (9-8) dug a big hole against a good team, IPFW (14-3). Despite a second half rally and a brief DU lead, 58-57 with 3 minutes to go, the Pioneers could not hold on for the win. Continue reading Ice Age First Half Gives Mastodons Life, 64-65→
When Wednesday night’s game started, the big question was how would DU (9-7) respond coming off a 4-game skid. Were they ready to get back to the basics that led them to a host of early season victories? And, could they offset the inevitable rebound disadvantage? For Oral Roberts (8-9), could they adjust to the loss of their Summit pre-season player of the year, Obi Emegano, who missed the game with a concussion.
DU responded on all counts with a complete team victory tonight, leading ORU nearly the entire game. Late-stage drama occurred in the final 3 minutes of the game as Oral Roberts began to exchange deadly three point shots while DU was nearly flawless at the foul line, narrowing the game to an uncomfortable 1 point margin in the waning seconds. A desperation shot at the buzzer by the Golden Eagles caromed off the rim to give the Pioneers the 3-point win. Continue reading Denver Dodges Late Oral Roberts Bombs for Win 78-75→
According to NCAA statistics, DU is rated 325th out of 346 teams with a -7 rebound differential versus their opponents. This deficit has become more pronounced over the last four games, all losses, as the rebounding differential has swollen to -12.75.
The Pioneers do not not need to win the rebound battle. However, they need to keep it close. The difference can be overcome by improved shot selection, reduced turnovers, superior free throw percentage and steals. Continue reading Rebounding Differential Spells Trouble→
The Pioneers (8-7) ventured to lovely Fargo, North Dakota to face the 11-4 Bison. North Dakota State, predicted to finish second in the Summit League, were undefeated at home and led by Paul Miller (16.5 ppg.) and A.J. Jacobson (14.1 ppg.).
As the holidays come to an end and conference play begins, it is time to seriously discuss the need for a regular holiday basketball tournament in Denver featuring front range D1 basketball teams.
There should be an annual holiday round robin tournament featuring Colorado, CSU, Air Force, & Denver. Depending on the format, Wyoming and Northern Colorado could be included or rotated into the tournament as well. Continue reading No Good Excuses for Denver’s Holiday Tournament Void→
