Denver men’s (6-2-0) and women’s (15-1-1, 14-1-1) soccer teams are on the verge of securing two NCAA bids this weekend. Continue reading Omaha Standing between Denver Soccer and Two NCAA Bids
Category Archives: Men’s Sports
Weekend Update: Denver Secures Regular Season Titles and in the Hunt for More
Like all Pioneer fans, it has been weird not seeing DU hockey in the NCAA Tournament over the past couple of weeks but DU did have yet another undefeated weekend in spring sports. There were plenty of big wins this past weekend and still lots of excitement remaining in this academic year. Continue reading Weekend Update: Denver Secures Regular Season Titles and in the Hunt for More
#5 Pioneers Score 10 in Third Quarter to Cruise to 17-10 Victory Over #20 Villanova
Ethan Walker, Denver’s all-time points leader and 2nd-leading scorer in 2021, didn’t dress but it made no difference for a #5 Denver Pioneers (9-2, 7-0 BIG EAST) offense that scored 17 goals, 10 in the third quarter alone, against the #20 Villanova Wildcats (4-3, 4-3 BIG EAST). Jackson Morrill led the way with a hat trick while his former Yale teammate Lucas Cotler scored twice to account for half of Denver’s third-quarter offense on another perfect Colorado Saturday afternoon at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Denver added one more in the fourth to salt away the 17-10 victory and remain unbeaten in BIG EAST play. Continue reading #5 Pioneers Score 10 in Third Quarter to Cruise to 17-10 Victory Over #20 Villanova
Can Denver Hockey Get Bigger this Summer?
It’s no secret that Denver looks for smart and talented hockey players that fit head coach David Carle’s style of high speed, high-skill transition hockey. For many years now (pre-dating Carle’s tenure), DU has often featured small, fast, and shifty offensive players who can move and control the puck on the rush, through the neutral zone, and down low below the face-off dots. These speedsters are usually backed by a very mobile puck-moving defensive corps who can jump into the offensive zone and contribute on the scoresheet. It’s a system that typically works well for the Pioneers, as that speed and skill can create both open spaces and skill mismatches that can often compensate for a lack of size.
Smaller players also tend to stay longer in college, and are often undrafted by the NHL, allowing a program such as DU to skate a more experienced lineup vs. teams who consistently lose talent early to pro contracts. Continue reading Can Denver Hockey Get Bigger this Summer?
Weekend Update: Heartbreak and Hope
It was a bittersweet several days for DU athletes and fans this week as Denver competed in season-ending competitions which, ultimately, were decided in their opponents’ favor. This is a reminder to all of us why athletic competitions can provide great exhilaration as well as gut-wrenching disappointment which oftentimes hinge on a single moment. In each case, Denver was positioned for success but came up just short.
Pioneers Remain Unbeaten in BIG EAST Behind Ethan Walker’s Record-Breaking Performance
There is a new name at the top of the Denver Men’s Lacrosse all-time points leaderboard. With a goal near the end of the first half against the Marquette Golden Eagles (1-6, 0-5 BIG EAST), Ethan Walker officially passed Wes Berg on DU’s all-time points list with his 256th of his storied career as a Pioneer. Thanks to that goal, two hat tricks from Jack Hannah and JJ Sillstrop, and an impressive 8-save, 61.5% performance by goaltender Jack Thompson, the Pioneers (8-2, 6-0 BIG EAST) beat the Golden Eagles 16-6 at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on a picturesque early spring Saturday afternoon in Denver. Continue reading Pioneers Remain Unbeaten in BIG EAST Behind Ethan Walker’s Record-Breaking Performance
Denver Men’s Basketball Hit Hard by Portal Exits
How can it possibly get worse for a 2-19 basketball team? New coach Jeff Wulbrun faces an uphill battle with DU starters being plucked from the hoops transfer portal. So far, DU’s three top scorers from this past season have left the program and two more players are in the portal with the intention to transfer. Continue reading Denver Men’s Basketball Hit Hard by Portal Exits
Puck Swami’s Rapid Reaction: Jeff Wulbrun Hire Exceeds Expectations
Newly-hired Denver men’s basketball coach Jeff Wulbrun wasn’t shy in his first Zoom press conference. He set a serious bar for himself and for his program:
“We want to be the most improved team in the country next year.”
Wow! I’ll be honest – I didn’t expect this.
Perhaps, neither did you. Continue reading Puck Swami’s Rapid Reaction: Jeff Wulbrun Hire Exceeds Expectations
Exploding Transfer Portal has Far-Reaching Impacts
At last count (yesterday), 881 men’s basketball players are in the transfer portal with well over 1,000 expected in the near term. After the University of Denver did not renew former head coach Rodney Billups’ contract, four Pioneers entered the portal, including Jase Townsend, Robert Jones, Sam Hines, Jr., and Taelyr Gatlin. About 60% of those who entered the portal came from the Power Five and are leaving for a variety of reasons. Under the current rules in light of COVID and additional eligibility, student-athletes have been granted one-time transfer waivers. In fact, a number of NCAA Tournament teams had players on the court who were simultaneously playing for their team while listed in the transfer portal.
You can track the exits up to the minute here.
Continue reading Exploding Transfer Portal has Far-Reaching Impacts
Cinderella Runs in March Madness Fuel Money, Publicity for Schools
Tiny #14 seed Abiline Christian University defeated #3 seed Texas in the first round of the NCAA tournament. And the value of that win to the tiny southwestern university? “So far we are close to $120 million-plus and we really haven’t had time to tally up the totals,” said university president Dr. Phil Schubert to Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. For context, that is approximately four times the budget of DU athletics in one year. Continue reading Cinderella Runs in March Madness Fuel Money, Publicity for Schools