I headed up to Boulder on Saturday morning to shoot the Bruins and Buffs game. After beating USC a couple nights before, I knew this was going to be a tough match up for the Buffs. UCLA has always been a tough school. But, the Buffaloes have a great record at home and a great fan base to help them.
January 12th, 2013: The Bruins and Buffaloes warm up on the court before the start of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
I headed out to the arena before most of the fans had shown up, while the two teams were on the court doing their pre-game shoot around to get the shot above. I have a couple ideas for the next game for some pre-game shots. from the same area this was shot from.
January 12th, 2013: A Colorado Buffaloes cheerleader waves her pom poms prior to the start of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
I am also trying to get that one cheerleader photo…the one that just captures the feel in the arena, the electricity. I will get it, but I am still searching for it.
January 12th, 2013: A Colorado cheerleader waits for the Buffaloes to come onto the court for the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
The game started out loud, even though it was the first time all season there had been less than 10,000 fans in the arena. You can blame that on the Broncos. Anyone going to the Broncos game that normally would be at the Buffs game were blowing off the Buffs to get down to Sports Authority field for the playoff football game.
January 12th, 2013: Chips is all revved up for action as the teams are introduced before the start of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
But while the arena was not full, it was still loud, and Chips the Colorado mascot was in rare form. From air guitar to messing with fans and teasing the Bruins, he was all over the place. Maybe he was a little pumped from making Sports Illustrated’s online photo gallery from the USC game.
January 12th, 2013: Colorado Buffaloes freshman forward Xavier Johnson (2) flips a shot up as he is fouled by UCLA Bruins freshman guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) during the first half of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
When I shoot these games, I look for something interesting. Whether it be the cheerleaders, coaches, fans, players, or, like the photo bellow, the ball. Whatever makes a interesting photo! Hmmm…Nike, are you seeing this? Buy Buy Buy!
January 12th, 2013: The Nike game ball used at the University of Colorado sits on the baseline during a time out in first half action of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
The Buffs played good. They were struggling with the offense and defense that the Bruins were handing out, but they stayed with it and going into halftime, they trailed only by 1 with a midway score of 35-34. Could the Buffs pull it off and stay undefeated at home?
January 12th, 2013: Colorado Buffaloes freshman forward Josh Scott (40) makes a move baseline for a shot in the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
The Buffaloes were kept in this game by three players. Spencer Dinwiddie had a great game with a team high 23 points during a game high 36 minutes on the court. Both Askia Booker and Josh Scott put in 18 points apiece for CU and Scott also added 9 rebounds (Andre Roberson had a game high 12 rebound for the Buffs). But the points from the rest of the Buffaloes only totaled 16 points and that was 4 points shy of beating the Bruins who would go on to beat the home team 78 to 75.
January 12th, 2013: Colorado Buffaloes senior guard Sabatino Chen (23) slices past the UCLA defense for an easy lay up in the first half of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
The Buffaloes trailed by three with seconds left in the game. But, unfortunately for the Buffs, the 3 point attempt by Askia Booker rimmed off and the game was over. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Buff, who need to start winning in order to even be considered for the Big Dance in March. They really do not want to have to win the Pac-12 tournament again to get into the dance.
January 12th, 2013: A Cousy Award player to watch, Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) is fouled as he floats a shot up over the UCLA defense during the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
January 12th, 2013: The Colorado Cheerleaders perform during a break in the action of the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
Now, while it wasn’t a win for the Buffs, it was a good game for me. My second Pac-12 game and my second photo sold to Sports Illustrated. I was excited to see the following photo get picked up. My first one from the USC game just was in a gallery. This one went on the College Basketball homepage. Unfortunately, they credited Cal Sport Media instead of Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media, and the page has changed numerous times this week, but I made a screen grab of my photo and it is posted right after the original bellow.
January 12th, 2013: UCLA Bruins freshman guard Kyle Anderson (5) makes a move past the defense of Colorado Buffaloes junior guard Jeremy Adams (31) during the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
So I was pretty happy that two games in a row I had a photo picked up. I am now shooting for 2 photos from the next game.
January 12th, 2013: Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) lays up the ball during the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center in Boulder CO (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
All the photos in this post are for Media Use Only and available through Cal Sport Media.
On a side note, while I guess I have adopted Colorado as my Pac-12 team, the Dawgs will always be my boys and the next game for the Buffs was in Seattle. My Dawgs beat the Buffs, which was bittersweet for me, but then the Buffs beat the Cougs in Pulman, and well, it is always a good day when WAZZU takes a loss.
