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A little defense might help

Posted November 3, 2006

Just got back from the Buffs' first exhibition game tonight against Concordia University and I thought I'd share a few of my impressions.

First, you got to love the passion and devotion of CU basketball fans. A whopping 722 showed up tonight. It was the smallest crowd ever to see a men's exhibition game at the Coors Events Center.

I was talking to a friend during one of Richard Roby's trips to the foul line and I felt like everyone in the arena could hear me. I almost expected someone to SHHHHHHHHH me.

Listen, I know it's an exhibition and all, but, jeez, 722? (That includes stadium workers, the band, cheerleaders and the media by the way) I guess I just got spoiled covering New Mexico basketball for a few years. Lobos fans get all cranky with each other when only 12,000 of them show up for these things.

The Buffs won 97-85 but never really threatened to run away with it the way you might expect against this level of competition. I sort of expected that going in because it's such a young team with so many new players.

But the bottom line is Concordia had no business scoring 85 points. These Buffs have to play better defense, particularly in the half-court. And I think it's up to Richard Roby to lead the way. They will learn, maybe the hard way.

I know everyone wants to know about the freshman, but first I have to say senior guard Dominique Coleman is suddenly a completely different player than he was a year ago. He's brimming with confidence out there. He finished with 17 points, seven assists and five steals.

I'll say this about the youngsters, these kids can play. Point guard Kal Bay is already one of the most mature basketball players I've covered at CU and this is my fourth season.

Jeremy Williams is going to be a solid player. He's going to be a guy who can score from just about everywhere on the floor by the time his career is over.

The two young post players, Sean Kowal and Marc Van Burck, have potential, but they have a lot of work to do, which is typical of young big men.

I think I'm most impressed with Xavier Silas at this point. He has the best all-around game of the eight true freshman. The weakest part of his game though is his defense. He's not the only one.