Colorado Buffaloes sophomore Alec Burks has decided to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and declare for the NBA Draft. He announced his intentions today live from Boulder.

"I'll be in the 2011 draft with plans to sign with an agent." - Alec Burks

The sophomore from Grandview, MO led the Big 12 in scoring this season with a 20.1 points per game average. Last season Burks was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, after posting 17.1 ppg.

Burks is an athletic guard who can both score off the dribble, or off set plays.  Draft website NBADraft.net slots Burks as the 10^th overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, while Draft Express has Burks as the 12^th pick to the Utah Jazz.

In my opinion, in order for Burks to rise to the All-Star level, he will need to develop his outside shot -- he shot only 29.2 percent from beyond the arc this season.  At CU he was able to use his 6'6 frame to tower over opposing guards and create mismatches offensively.  In the NBA, he won't have near the size advantage that he had in college, so an outside shot will help keep defenses honest and allow him to use his patented pump fake dribble drive to get to the bucket. As I said when I was on Denver radio's The Ticket, before March Madness i can envision Burks turning into an Arron Afflalo type of player.

With Burks' gone, CU will lose its top four scorers, as Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson and Marcus Relphorde all have used up their college eligibility. It might be a rough year in the Pac-12 for the newcomers from Boulder.

2010-11 Record: 24-14

Big 12 Conference Record (Standing): 8-8 (tied for 5th)

Our Preseason Predictions:

Joe: 6th in the Big 12

Evan: 6th in the Big 12

Matt: 5th in the Big 12

Season MVP: Alec Burks (Sophomore)

Without Burks, CU is a sub-.500 team and is contending for a spot in the CBI tournament, with Burks, they are the last team left out of NCAA Tournament. This is not to say that Cory Higgins, Levi Knutson or Andre Roberson weren't valuable to the Buffs, but without Burks, CU is an after thought. Burks finished the season as the Big 12's leading scorer at 20.1 points per game. He also led the Buffs in assists with 2.9 apg and was second on the team in rebounding at 6.4 rpg. Burks was CU basketball in 2010-11.

Season Recap:
The Buffs had momentum going into the season. Despite finishing the previous season 15-16 overall and 6-10 in conference, the Buffs were on an upswing form a 1-15 conference tick in 2008-09. Many of us thought the Buffs would contend for and NCAA birth, and come out as the most improved team in the country, and frankly, we were right. Despite not making the Big Dance, CU's jump from 6-10 to 8-8 in conference was almost more difficult than their five game improvement the previous year. And not only did they win eight conference games, they beat perennial conference powerhouses Mizzou, K-State (three times) and Texas. Had it not been for early season blips on the radar (read: losses to Harvard and San Francisco) or a mid-conference four game losing streak, this was - and should have been - an NCAA Tournament team.

As it was, CU made the most of their exclusion and advanced to the NIT Final Four, where they were a rimmed out shot away from making the championship game.

2011-2012 Outlook:
Coach Tad Boyle must have thought he was living the dream. Not only could he come in and coach his home-state program and set up his family in Boulder, CO, but Jeff Bzdelik left the cupboards completely full. With a future lottery pick in Alec Burks and the future CU Buff all-time leading scorer Cory Higgins, Boyle had himself a team from day one. A team that had proven it could rise to a challenge and compete with anyone in the country. The real test for Byle and CU will come this year, though. With Marcus Relphorde, Knutson and Higgins graduating, and the potential loss of the sophomore Burks to the NBA, Boyle's 2011-12 team won't have the star power that this year's team has. Throw in the move to a new conference, so different travel arrangements and facing new teams, and CU will certainly have their work cut out for them.

I've always said that if you are a borderline program and have an outstanding year, you need to capitalize on the success by bringing in recruits that otherwise would have turned their back to your program. CU hasn't filled the big shoes with those types of recruits, so, if Burks leaves as I expect, I foresee a big step back for the Buffs.

See our schedule for Season Recaps after the Jump.

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Hello Chris Webber. After the University of San Francisco's Rashad Green hit a game-tying, driving lay-up with 1.7 second left in overtime, the Colorado Buffaloes called a timeout. Problem was that they didn't have any. The Dons Michael Williams calmly stepped up to the free throw line and sank the two technical free throws, giving USF an 83-81 overtime win at War Memorial Arena in San Fran.

The Colorado Buffaloes (1-2) were supposed to be a two-headed scoring machine this season. Alec Burks and Cory Higgins were tabbed to carry the Buffs on their shoulders. Points haven't been an issue for the duo, but Higgins has been ice cold shooting so far this season.

Higgins ended up leading the Buffs in scoring, registering 29 points, but did so on just 8-23 shooting after starting the game 1-9 from the field. Burks ended the game with 28 points.

This is an unacceptable loss for a Colorado team with high preseason expectations. If you are trying to compete in a rough Big 12, with the goal of trying to impress the NCAA tournament committee into offering an at-large bid, you simply cannot lose to the San Francisco Dons. No offense intended to the Dons, but if you are going to lose to a team from the WCC, they better have Gonzaga scribbled across their chests.

Angelo Caloiaro led the Dons in scoring with 26 points.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be taking an in-depth look at every school in the Big 12.  I'll focus on the past (i.e. last season's strengths and weaknesses), the changes (i.e. incoming freshmen, departing seniors, new coaches), and the future.

See past previews: Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Texas

I'm not sure why I'm so high on the Buffaloes right now.  Maybe it's because I recognize in my Big 12 Conference Preseason rankings I totally underestimated them (in my defense: I was a little biased, as they were packing their suitcases for the West Coast, and I was still in the "Big 12 will be 10x the basketball conference without you!" stage).  Maybe it's because I only realized how good a job Jeff Bzdelik had done once Wake Forest swooped in and stole him.  I'm not sure.  Either way, here they are: I have Colorado slated to finish #5 in the Big 12.

The fact of the matter is Colorado is talented enough to do it.  They could even finish fourth depending on the outcome of LaceDarius Dunn's legal troubles!  But they could also finish 9th (sorry Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Nebraska fans...).  Colorado has experience in seniors Cory Higgins and Marcus Relphorde, and they have a genuine star in Alec Burks (his stat line as a freshman read 19 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game!).  Burks should almost certainly get better, and their only loss is Dwight Thorne II (7.5 / 2 / 1.5).  Oh, and incoming recruits Andre Robinson (PF) and Ben Mills (7' 1" C) are ranked in the top hundred at their respective positions nationally.  On paper, I don't know how this team couldn't finish in the top five of the conference...

But here comes reality.  The Buffaloes have a new coach, Tad Boyle.  He did a great job at Northern Colorado, but he's totally unproven at the major-conference level.  Colorado had these players last year, and they went 15-16.  They were an ugly 6-10 in conference play with one conference win over a higher ranked opponent (the aforementioned Baylor game), with the rest coming against Texas Tech (home), Nebraska (won both games), Iowa State (barely won at home), and Oklahoma (home).  It should start sending red flags when the only team they beat on the road was Nebraska...

More after the break.

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Real quick what does Colorado basketball have in common with these programs: Gonzaga, Michigan State, Duke, Syracuse & Purdue?

The answer is these six schools are the only teams with at least 2 candidates for the 2010-2011 Wooden Award: Colorado (Alec Burks, Cory Higgins); Duke (Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler); Gonzaga (Steven Gray, Elias Harris); Michigan State (Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers); Purdue (Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson); Syracuse (Kris Johnson, Brandon Triche).

So while in no way does this make one think Colorado will be dueling with Duke in the Final Four, it's a good situation for new coach Tad Boyle to step into at Boulder.

The Big 12 had 5 additional players listed among the 50 in the preseason list.

LaceDarius Dunn - Baylor Bears

Jacob Pullen - Kansas State Wildcats

Marcus Morris - Kansas Jayhawks

Kim English - Missouri Tigers

Jordan Hamilton -  Texas Longhorns

At the start of the season, B12H.com ran a "Five Questions For..." segment asking the five most pressing questions of each team. In our continuing review of the season, here are the answers to those questions.

Five Questions For... Colorado basketball

1)       Now that Jeff Bzdelik is in his third year, can he bring a winning season to Boulder?

Technical answer: no. Emotional answer: yes. Though the Buffs ended their season 15-16 overall and 6-10 in conference play, CU was not the push over they have been in years past. Taking KU to overtime, winning on the road for the first time in 3 years, beating Baylor, Beating Oklahoma... all of these brought a winning attitude back to Boulder.

2)       If not, how much longer will the CU AD go on with the Bzdelik experiment?

By low, sell high. That's what Coach Bz did since the season has ended, parlaying a winning attitude into a promotion out east at Wake Forrest. So, even though CU AD Mike Bohn didn't end the Bz Experiment, the Bz Experiment was ended after last season.

3)       Can Cory Higgins perform up to his 08-09 level, when he placed fifth in the conference in scoring?

He can and he did, finishing the season as the conference's third leading scorer and upping his average 1.5 ppg to 18.9, even though he was now asharing the ball with another pro prospect, Alec Burks.

4)       Who else steps up for the Buffaloes?

Alec Burks, a freshman from the Kansas City area, who was passed over by both Missouri and Kansas, lit up the league for 17.1 ppg and 5 rpg. The Burks-Higgins-Marcus Relphorde trio was one of the best in the conference last season, and with all three coming back it will be some Must See TV this fall and winter.

5)       Will the Buffaloes improve upon last season's 1-15 conference record?

They will! In fact they will win 6 times more games this season than last.

Now that the college basketball season is officially over, we're going to take a look back at each Big 12 school to discuss their season. The rundown will go in order of conference standing. See the complete schedule after The Jump.

What Went Right: When you're predicted to finish last in conference and you finish any higher, the season might be considered a success.  But what about a team that is predicted to finish last in conference and finishes 8th? Well that is mind numbly amazing. Not only did CU accomplish that feat, but they won as many conference games -- 6 -- this year as the three previous seasons COMBINED. They also took conference champion Kansas to overtime, a moral victory, and won on the road against a D1 foe for the first time since December 22, 2007.  Repeat 2007. And they were tremendously fun to watch. Cory Higgins, Alec Burks, Marcus Relphorde all averaged double digits and turned CU from a half court, slow tempo (read as: SNOOZE) style to a more up-tempo style. So, yes, Buff fans will gladly take a 6-10 record knowing that the foundation is there to build upon.

What Went Wrong: Well, truth be told, moral victories can only go so far. And while the Buffs were entertaining and while they did win 6 games, at the end of the day they did go 6-10 in conference. Before they got their sea legs they also lost some horrific games to a terrible Oregon St team and at in-state rival Colorado St. So with all the fan fare they received a sub .500 overall record of 15-16 is still what will go into the history books.

Team MVP: There wasn't a single MVP, but rather once the tandem of Burks and Higgins got going, fans could no longer automatically mark down a CU game as an easy W. Their combined 36 ppg were the reason CU was who they were in 2009-10 and neither would have succeeded on that level without the other.

Key Losses: As I write this reports are swirling about the loss of Buff coach Jeff Bzdelik's departure. I am torn as to what to think on that one. On one hand coach Bz likes the slow tempo style, and might limit the games of Burks, Higgins and Relphorde. On the other hand, he did an all right job with them last year, so who knows.

Outlook Next Year: With the team they have in Boulder, I can see the momentum shifting upwards and see the Buffs as a middle of the pack team next year, moving up for their 8th slot this season, but not quite cracking the top tier... probably 6th or so in conference. 

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Mark Allan Peterson
Managing Editor
editor@big12hoops.com 

Former Wyoming head coach Steve McLain, the current Associate Head Coach at Colorado, will coach the Buffs tonight against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The game starts at 7 p.m. CST at the Coors Events Center.

Jeff Bzdelik will at least miss tonight's season opener after the Colorado coach was called out of town early this morning due to an undisclosed family emergency.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff and his family," CU athletic director Mike Bohn said.  "We are fortunate to have a veteran former head coach with a great deal of experience and previous success like Steve McClain to lead our team while Jeff is out of town."

It's not known at this time if Bzdelik will be able to return in time for CU’s next game Monday against Coppin State.

McClain, the former University of Wyoming head coach from 1998-2007, brings over 27 years of coaching experience to the CU bench. He averaged 18 victories in nine years at Wyoming and led the team to post-season births in four of his first five seasons, three NIT bids and one trip to the NCAA Tournament.