Photo Credit: The Summit League
If you missed the University of Denver Men’s Basketball team’s Summit League Semi-Final against South Dakota State last night, DU lost on a missed free throw by Joe Rosga with barely a second left in the game. It was a heartbreaking finish to a game that the Pioneers probably should have won.
Read that again. Continue reading It’s OK to be Optimistic About Denver Men’s Basketball
This season, the University of Denver Pioneers (16-14) are 0-2 against the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits (24-7). But tonight’s semifinal game is not the mismatch it appears to be on paper.
DU started their conference season in Brookings, South Dakota on January 1st, dropping a 68-59 decision. South Dakota State killed DU on the offensive boards 12-2 and led for 32 minutes 26 seconds, using big scoring runs to pull away. Denver was led by Marcus Byrd (16 points), Joe Rosga (12 points), and Nate Engesser (11 points). SDSU had balanced scoring with 5 players in double digits. SDSU had 11 turnovers to 19 for the Pioneers. Denver trailed in rebounds 22-29 (-7). Continue reading Summit League Semi-Final Preview – DU vs. SDSU
Photo Credit: DU Athletics
Puck Swami is the internet moniker of a long-time DU fan and alumnus. He shares his views periodically with LetsGoDU.
As I look back on the 2015-2106 DU basketball season, the operative phrase, at least for me, is “pleasant surprise.”
At 15-14, the Pioneers achieved a winning record and sixth-place finish in the regular season where the cognoscenti predicted a last-place (eighth place) finish for DU in the Summit League. It was a return to respectability with a very young, resilient team overachieving after last year’s 12-18 disappointment with a veteran lineup. Continue reading Puck Swami: DU Men’s Basketball Regular Season Review
Following a 12-18 season in 2014-15, the Pioneers were loaded with freshmen (a stunning nine total on the game & practice rosters) and an uncertain future heading into this season. There was every reason to believe the Pioneers were headed for consecutive losing seasons – but they defied the odds with senior leadership, a solid incoming freshmen class, the development of existing players, liberal substitutions and a deep bench. A variety of different players stepped up at different times to finish out this regular season with a winning record, 15-14. Continue reading LetsGoDU Men’s Basketball Regular Season Awards
Photo: Denver Seniors, DU Website
LetsGoDU predicted 11 wins for the 2015-16 DU men’s hoops (14-14) squad based on their schedule, roster turnover, inexperience, and a host of unknowns regarding this year’s squad.
They passed that figure January 28th with a 66-52 win against against South Dakota at Magness Arena and have added three more victories since. Continue reading Saturday Presents Huge Game for Denver Men’s Basketball
DU finished the third quarter of their basketball season last night, 3-5. All eight games were against Summit Conference opponents. During that stretch, DU averaged 62.3 points per game while their opponents scored 68.6, a -6.3 margin.
Quarter 3 Evaluation Period: Period: South Dakota State through South Dakota
Photo: 2013 Photo with DU’s Charles Webb (5’4″) & UC Irvine’s Mamadou Ndiaye (7’6″)
It is a near miracle DU is playing .500 ball at 10-10 heading into tonight’s game against South Dakota at Magness Arena.
This is a scrappy bunch that leaves everything on the floor but their chance of winning falls to almost zero without 50+% shooting from the floor and beyond the arc while winning the turnover and steal battle. With a -7.6 rebound differential, the Pioneers have slid to 334 out of 346 D-1 programs, putting a lot of pressure on a young team on both ends of the floor. Continue reading Rebound Woes Haunt Team
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
