University of Colorado officials can’t recall if a U.S. president has ever visited the Boulder campus while in office. But what about a president’s brother-in-law?
That will happen today, when Oregon State men’s coach Craig Robinson brings the Beavers to the Coors Events Center for an 8 p.m. game against CU for the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. Robinson is first lady Michelle Obama’s brother.
“I think this will be really important, to measure ourselves against a good team,” CU coach Tad Boyle said. “Oregon State plays a lot of zone, so we’ll have to be prepared for that. The great thing is, it will give our fans a preview of next season in the Pac-12.”
The CU women’s team will open the doubleheader with a 5 p.m. battle against Illinois in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.
In facing quality opponents, both CU teams get an opportunity to make a statement and gain some confidence early in their first season under a new coach. Boyle’s men’s squad (3-3) has played only once against a team from one of the “big six” conferences, losing 83-74 at Georgia on Nov. 16.
The Buffs will try to extend a six-game home winning streak dating to last season and hope to avoid going winless in the series, which is ending. Colorado is the only Big 12 team without a win (0-3) in the series.
Oregon State (3-3) has yet to defeat a quality opponent but, like Colorado, the Beavers have more potential than their early-season results would suggest. CU gets most of its points from the backcourt of sophomore Alec Burks (20.7 ppg) and senior Cory Higgins (18.5), while Oregon State relies heavily on 6-foot-9 senior forward Omari Johnson (14.7) and senior guard Calvin Haynes (14.2).
First-year CU women’s coach Linda Lappe stresses defense, and her team is listening. For the first time in the program’s history, the Buffs (6-1) have held consecutive opponents — Loyola-Chicago and Texas State — to under 40 points. But Illinois (3-5) figures to be a step up in talent.
