Tag Archives: Denver Basketball

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Part 2: Putting Denver Hoops on the Map

Leave a comment

He is young, handsome, smart, a Denver native, and an alum. Rodney Billups is starting his run as head coach with a hand full of aces – so he can push the boundaries.

When it comes to men’s basketball, what does the University of Denver have? A middling basketball program in a middling conference (Summit League) at an excellent university and very good facilities in an extraordinary city. Some contend that there is a low level of interest in college basketball in Denver while others argue that there is pent-up demand for a strong college basketball program. DU has no regular history of excellence in basketball. If you follow online student forums, DU is seen as an elite snobby university by many urban students and community members who see DU as aspiring to be ‘ivy league’,  a rich kid school,  and stocked by white suburban kids.   Continue reading Part 2: Putting Denver Hoops on the Map →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

What DU Can Learn from Lumberjacks, Crusaders, & Bulldogs

4 Comments

Photo Credit: Jim Cowsert, USA TODAY Sports

When watching the first weekend of March Madness, one couldn’t help but see other basketball programs that might offer the University of Denver men’s basketball program some hope. Here are three teams that caught my interest and how their performances may provide DU with a roadmap for future success. Continue reading What DU Can Learn from Lumberjacks, Crusaders, & Bulldogs →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

LetsGoDU Rooting for Omaha in CBI

4 Comments

Photo: Senior Devin Patterson by Omaha.com

Root for the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks? Yes, it’s true, we are rooting for them to have a good run in the CBI (College Basketball Invitational). They start Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh against Duquesne. Continue reading LetsGoDU Rooting for Omaha in CBI →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Puck Swami: Billups Hire Bigger Than Winning Basketball

5 Comments

DU Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation Peg Bradley-Doppes (left) has hired Rodney Billups (right) as DU’s new head men’s basketball coach. Photo credit: University of Denver Athletics

As the University of Denver introduced former Pioneer point guard Rodney Billups as its new head basketball coach this week, there were a lot of happy faces in the Ritchie Center for the press conference. Continue reading Puck Swami: Billups Hire Bigger Than Winning Basketball →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Rodney Billups To Be Introduced as Next DU Basketball Head Coach

Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Jeremy Papasso, Daily Camera

As reported earlier on Friday and later confirmed by a source close to the program, Rodney Billups, Denver basketball alumnus (2002-2005) and younger brother of NBA legend Chauncey Billups, will be the next head coach of the University of Denver basketball program. This news comes on the heels of the altogether surprising announcement that the program had parted ways with 9 year head coach, Joe Scott. Continue reading Rodney Billups To Be Introduced as Next DU Basketball Head Coach →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

DU Basketball Coach Joe Scott Fired

14 Comments
DU basketball practice
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 31: DU basketball Joe Scott conducts practice October 31, 2013 as they prepare for the season (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)

After nine seasons as head basketball coach at the University of Denver, Joe Scott has been fired, according to a statement released to the press this afternoon.

“We’d like to thank Joe for his years of service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” DU Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes said. “At this juncture we feel the time is right to make a change in the direction of the program and we look forward to entering a new, exciting era for the program with a dynamic new head coach at the helm.”

Scott was originally hired by DU in March of 2007 and amassed a record of 146-132 during his nine years at the helm of the men’s basketball program. The Pioneers’ 2015-16 season came to an end on Monday March 7, with a 54-53 loss to South Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament Semifinals in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Joe Scott issued this statement after being fired:

CdSvRTzUAAA8M46

 

Scott’s nine years at DU dug the program out of the bottom of Division I, rose to a WAC title and and an NIT win in 2013, but since then, the program suffered some down years, recruiting issues, transfers and falling attendance.

Expect more coverage here as the story develops.

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Hoops 2016-2017: Does Denver Have What it Takes?

12 Comments

After this year’s exciting, if a bit heartbreaking, semifinal game against South Dakota State and the dismantling of Omaha and North Dakota State in the prior two games, DU  is still the same team that lost to cellar-dwelling Western Illinois in Denver on February 11th. While Denver did show dramatic improvement near the end of this season, that progress must continue if DU is going to travel to Sioux Falls next year and have more success on a “not exactly neutral” court.

Continue reading Hoops 2016-2017: Does Denver Have What it Takes? →

Uncategorized

It’s OK to be Optimistic About Denver Men’s Basketball

Leave a comment

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 →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Summit League Semi-Final Preview – DU vs. SDSU

8 Comments

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 →

Men's Basketball, Men's Sports

Puck Swami: DU Men’s Basketball Regular Season Review

2 Comments

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 →