I shot my last men’s NCAA basketball game of the season Thursday night. I had a lot going against me as I was suffering from a terrible head cold all week. It started to hit me Sunday night and by Thursday, it was full blown, and this game was the start of a busy weekend for me.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) drives towards the hoop in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
The Buffs had their problems going into this game too. It was Josh Scott’s first home game back since he was knocked out during the ASU game and Andre Roberson was out with an illness. They had beaten the ranked Oregon Duck’s earlier in the season at Oregon, but the Buffs were at full strength then, and they were obviously not 100 percent for this game.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) attempts a lay up in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
It was going to take everything the Buffaloes had to beat the 19th ranked University of Nike Duck’s, and right from the tip off, you could feel the electricity in the Coors Events Center. Colorado’s Askia Booker really shined for the Buffs in the first half, and all the Buffs stepped up their game.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) tries to dribble around the Oregon defense in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 17 points in the game and led the Buffs with 6 assists. He was very tough on the defense too, but may have had a little help with that as seen in the photo bellow.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) grabs onto the jersey of University of Oregon Ducks freshman guard Damyean Dotson (21) in the NCAA basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
Coach Tad Boyle had his team clicking on all sides and as they took a 16 point lead into the locker room at halftime. With the Pac-12 tournament only a week away, he knew this game and the next against Oregon State were big for the Buffs.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle calls out a play during the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
During halftime, the fans at the Coors Events Center were treated to some ball play by former Denver Bronco’s quarterback John Elway. He started out playing around palming a basketball in the sidelines, then launched a ball way up into the stands showing that his 50 year old quarterback arm was still there.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Former NFL quarterback John Elway palms a basketball during halftime of the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
You could tell Josh Scott was not at full potential. He only grabbed 8 boards and scored just 4 points, 2 of which came from the free throw line.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) floats up a shot attempt in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
In the second half, Oregon played better ball, but it was not enough. The Ducks were still outscored by the Buffs in the second half by 7 points and would go on to fall to Colorado 76-53.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) elevates for a shot in the land in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
I am still on my search for the perfect cheerleader photo. This one bellow is not my best of the season, but the cheerleader in it finds my camera quite a bit. As you can see she is looking right at me. I wonder if she is thinking “Will you STOP pointing that camera at me??”
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - The Colorado cheerleaders take to the floor during a break in the action of the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
Still have not grabbed my that killer cheer shot yet, so I will start my quest again next season.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - The Colorado cheerleaders take to the floor during a break in the action of the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
So, the Buffs had one more game, against Oregon State, which originally I was going to miss because I was scheduled to shoot the Colorado Rapids home opener on Saturday. The next night I was at Denver Coliseum for the CHSAA 5A Boys Great 8 basketball games, still sick, and totally wiped out. We got close to a foot of snow and the Rapids game was changed to Sunday afternoon, clearing the way for me to shoot the Oregon State game, but I decided to take the day off and relax before Sunday’s soccer match.
March 3, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) attempts a jump shot over the Oregon defense in the Colorado Buffaloes game against the University of Oregon Ducks at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
But I did not miss anything. As it was most of the season after the loss to Kansas, Colorado plays great against the tough opponents and falls to the bad ones. OSU, the worst team in the Pac-12 beat the Buffs on Saturday, ending the Buffs regular season. So this week the Pac-12 tournament starts and who do the Buffs play first? The Oregon State Beavers….come on CU. I want to see a UW CU final!
