Now this is Pac-12 Basketball! I know, this game took place over 10 days ago, but I have been so busy, this was the first chance I have had to go back and relive the game for my website. Earlier in the season, Colorado’s Sabatino Chen hit a game winning shot against the Wildcats in Arizona that was waved off because it came a split second after the final buzzer. So The Buffs were looking for redemption in this game.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes junior forward André Roberson (21) attempts a shot in the Buffaloes game against Arizona at the Coors Event Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
I showed up at to the Coors Event Center during a snow storm hitting the Denver/Boulder area. It normally takes me between 20 and 30 minutes to drive to Boulder from Arvada, but this night it took me over an hour to make the drive. Once I got there, I found a packed media room. I was able to squeeze into my normal area to work, but it was tight.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Askia Booker (0) rises over the Arizona defense for a shot attempt in the NCAA Basketball game between Arizona Wildcats and Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Event Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
Arizona was the first top 10 team I had shot in almost a decade, so I was pretty excited for the game. I headed out to the court to secure a location to shoot from for the first half and got going.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) finds himself wide open for a lay up in the NCAA Basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and Colorado Buffaloes (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
There were a lot of things going on with this game. Besides the number nine team in the nation, the Bronco’s legend John Elway was sitting court side, as well as former Buffalo and current member of the NBA’s Utah Jazz Alec Burks along with former Buffs teammate Shannon Sharpe.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Former Colorado Buffaloes and current Utah Jazz player Alec Burks enjoys the NCAA basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and Colorado Buffaloes (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
And to be 100% honest, I had no clue who Alec Burks was, and the only Shannon Sharpe I know of was an NFL legend. But the other photographers in the media room quickly schooled me in who they were.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - University of Arizona Wildcats freshman forward Grant Jerrett (33) attempts a shot in the NCAA basketball game between the Wildcats and the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Event Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
At halftime, or a little before, I headed into the media room to transmit my photos to Cal Sport Media, and get ready for the second half. I always shoot both sides each half. The first ten minutes of the game and the first ten of the second half I shoot on the Student Section side, then move to the Buffs bench side for the rest. During the start of the second half, only myself and the USA Today Spots Photos shooter were on the Arizona side.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - NFL great John Elway signs an autograph during a time out in the action of the NCAA Basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Event Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
When I made my way over to the other side of the court to end the game, it looked like the Final Four. Two rows for shooters. However, it was a joke. Half the people sitting on the baseline had no business being there and a few that did actually belong there were not being courteous to those around them. Those that did not belong there? Well, there was at least 2 student photographers that were sharing a camera. Really? Take up two spaces for one camera? No, they just wanted to be baseline for the big game. Another person was taking up so much room with their camera bag and multiple cameras. Um, use the media room, lock up your bag. Do not take up valuable real estate by moving in with all your gear. The biggest waste of space was a second cable puller. The ESPN camera guy had a cable puller who was suppose to make sure he had enough cable and that it would not get tangled, but they had a second puller who I could not see do anything worthwhile and was all but laying down on the baseline in everyones way. Ridiculous!
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) attempts a layup past University of Arizona Wildcats freshman center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) during the Buffaloes victory over the visiting Wildcats at the Coors Events Center (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
As the game was winding down, the Wildcats knew they had no chance to catch up and as the Buffs started their on court celebration in their 71 to 58 win, the C-Unit student section rushed onto the floor to celebrate with the team. It was an awesome feeling and the Buffs did themselves proud.
February 14th, 2013: Boulder, Colorado - Colorado Buffaloes freshman forward Xavier Johnson (2) is mobbed by University of Colorado student fans after the Buffaloes knocked off the #9 Arizona Wildcats by a score of 71-58 (Carl Auer/Cal Sport Media)
All the photos from this game can be purchased for MEDIA USE ONLY through Cal Sport Media.
