News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) Things are returning to normal in PioNation.  DU in first place and Colorado College in last place

The University of Denver Men's Soccer team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2008, after defeating Western Illinois 1-0 in the Summit League Championship Game on Sunday.

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The DU Men's basketball team held a lead at halftime but eventually fell to Stanford 66-57 at Magness Arena on Sunday. Chris Udofa scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds for the Pioneers.

DU's Chis Udofia: NCAA's Most Underrated Player

From: Bleacher Report

by Scott Henry

With nearly 4,500 players in college basketball, they can't all be stars. Whether they toil in the shadow of more lauded teammates, play in minor conferences or simply on losing teams, there may be reasons their names aren't widely known. That still doesn't make it fair, however.

1.)  CHRIS UDOFIA - The Denver Pioneers can be brutal to watch if you want players to run. Coach Joe Scott's offense was the second-slowest in America last season according to Ken Pomeroy. 

Still, DU had the talent to threaten for an NCAA berth, and team leader Chris Udofia is the prime example. 

At only 6'6" and 200 pounds, Udofia is still one of the nation's most feared shot-blocking threats. A career two-BPG player, Udofia had only one game with no swats last season. His 9.0 block percentage ranked 64th nationally. Oh, and he swiped 1.6 steals per game last year, too. 

On the offensive end, Udofia led the Pioneers in scoring and should see a bigger share of the chances with top wingman Royce O'Neale transferring to Baylor. Udofia's been a steady 50-percent shooter throughout his career and is an improving three-point presence, but will need greater consistency at the foul line. 

 Denver's deliberate style will make it difficult for any player to put up gaudy offensive numbers, but Udofia will get his scores by being one of the nation's top defensive playmakers. As he told the Denver Post last January, "Different years, you have different jobs. We have a good bunch of players and no one has to do it all." 

Without O'Neale, Udofia will have to do a bit more, but in a new conference—the Nate Wolters-less Summit League—Denver will still have the horses to contend for its first-ever NCAA bid.

N.I.T.: Maryland 62 - Denver 52 FINAL

(above) DU student Adam Hammerman and his family were supporting the Pioneers in Maryland yesterday

From: Washington Times

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland used a small lineup to mount a big comeback in a 62-52 victory over Denver on Thursday night in the second round of the NIT.

Dez Wells scored 19 points for the Terrapins, who closed with a 23-4 run after trailing 48-39 with 9:15 left.

“Our kids battled. We didn’t want the season to end,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “Our big lineup couldn’t guard them so we went small. We went five guards.”

Wells fueled the surge with nine points. It was the sixth game in 12 days for the Terrapins (24-12), who won’t play again until next week against either Alabama or Stanford.

“We’re gassed,” Turgeon said. “Our guys just had guts. That’s a really good win for us after what we’ve been through.”

Chris Udofia scored 24 for the Pioneers (22-10), including 19 during a first half that featured three ties and 12 lead changes. But he got his third foul with 17:55 left and fourth with 8:37 to go.

“Obviously, foul trouble on Udofia was a key factor for us,” Pioneers coach Joe Scott said. “But they made the plays they had to make, they made the foul shots, and we didn’t.”

Seeking its 12th win in 13 games, Denver appeared poised for an upset as the second half wore on. It was 33-all before Marcus Byrd drilled a 3-pointer to spark a 15-6 spree that included a three-point play and a 3-pointer by Brett Olsen.

And then Maryland began its comeback with 7-foot-1 Alex Len and 6-8 James Padgett on the bench.

“We were desperate,” Turgeon said. “We couldn’t guard them. They had complete control of the game and our post guys couldn’t score against them. So we tried to spread them out, try to drive on them and get to the foul line.”

Maryland used five straight free throws to launch the decisive run. A runner by Seth Allen put the Terrapins up 51-50 with 4:09 remaining, the first time they led after halftime.

Turgeon was pressed to remember the last time he used a lineup of five guards for that long.

“I coached a JV team at Kansas where my power forward was 6-2 and sometimes he played center,” Turgeon said. “I’m sure we did it there.”

Despite the loss, Scott believed his team benefited from its two-game run in the NIT.

“The future is bright,” he said, “and this type of experience is the thing that can get you going in the direction you want to go.”

DU Kicks Off NIT Tonight Against Ohio In Magness

(above) Chris Udofia Leads DU against Ohio tonight

$5 Tickets For Tonight's NIT Game

The #3-seeded University of Denver men's basketball team will host #6-seeded Ohio University in the National Invitation Tournament First Round at Magness Arena on Tuesday at 7:15 PM MT. The game will air live on ESPN3.com.
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DU men's basketball season ticket holders can call 303-871-HOOP. The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to face the winner of #2 Maryland (22-12) and #7 Niagara (19-13).

Denver 76 - Louisiana Tech 54 FINAL

(above) Boone & DU star Chris Udofia

(above) Boone and DU Senior Chase Hallam celebrate

(above) DU players embrace after claiming a share of the WAC title

(above) Some enterprising students, including one lad in a Boone sweatshirt, jumped into the basketball team photo

Denver Post Game Recap

Mile High Mids Game Recap & Photos 

The University of Denver basketball team jumped out to a 21 point lead at halftime and never looked back on Saturday afternoon at Magness Arena.  Louisiana Tech came into the game with one of the best records in the country and only one loss in conference play.

DU saved their best game for the end of the season and shot 68% in the first half.

Hoops Coach Joe Scott Calls For Student Support

(above) In today's Denver Post DU basketball coach Joe Scott challenged the student body to help the team

From: Denver Post
by Irv Moss

The Pioneers head into their final four games of the regular season 17-8 overall and in sole possession of second place in the WAC at 13-2.

Scott's question: How many teams are 13-1 over their past 14 games? The coach knows one of them is his own.

Scott is hopeful that the DU student body will increase its attendance at the three vital games.

"I'd like to think that will happen," Scott said. "If our students come out, it will be a great boost for our team" [read entire article].

Sunbelt Semi-Final: DU 63 - WKU 67 FINAL

(above) DU's cheerleader before the game

(above) Joe Scott had words for Chris Udofia in the first half

(above) The first half was a see-saw affair

(above) WKU had a big edge in points off the bench

(above) Not exactly an overflow crowd

Sunbelt Tournament Semi-Finals

#9 Arkansas State 72 - #5 North Texas 76 Final

 #3 DU 63 - #7 Western Kentucky 67 Final

TV: Sun Belt Network [Not available in Colorado]
Radio: AM 1510 & FM 93.7
Web: www.ESPN3.com
 ****Web: Sunbelt Website [$5.95]****
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News & Notes From Around PioNation

The New York Islanders Website has a great question and answer session with DU Defenseman Scott Mayfield.  He talks about adjusting to college hockey and spends quite a bit of time discussing classwork.

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DU is offering $6 tickets to Saturday's lacrosse match-up against Hartford. Go to to DenverPioneers.com

Click on "Promotions" on the left hand side of the screen
Enter the code - DULAX
Order as many $6 tickets as you'd like

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The DU Clarion has an article about Joey LaLeggia.  He is having a bang-up season of historic proportions leading the country in Freshman scoring as a defenseman.

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The DU Athletics Website has details on some honors picked up by two DU basketball players. Chris Udofia was named Sunbelt Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Sunbelt Conference team.  Brian Stafford was named 2nd Team All-Sunbelt Conference Team.

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Pat Rooney has written an excellent article about the Shore brothers.  Nick is applying daily pressure on Drew to return for his Senior season. 

Denver Post: Chris Udofia Has Blossomed At DU

From: Denver Post
by Irv Moss

If Chris Udofia flew under the radar on his way to his college basketball home, did he end up finding his best target anyway?

The University of Denver sophomore believes he did. In fact, he questions whether the Pioneers are actually under the radar anymore [read entire article].

DU 75 - Middle Tennessee 60

(above) Boone whipping up the students pre-game

photo credit: Andrew Fielding

(above) The students were en fuego

photo credit: Andrew Fielding

(above) DU students storm the court

(above) How sweet it is

"When DU plays like that, they could beat a lot of top-20 teams. They had a fantastic crowd. It was set up for them to play well."

-Middle Tennessee Coach Kermit Davis

Forward Chris Udofia scored a career-high 27 points, as the University of Denver won 75-60 to give Middle Tennessee its first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season in front of a national television audience on ESPN2 at Magness Arena on Saturday.

Redshirt-senior forward Rob Lewis tied a season-high with 17 points, and freshman guard Royce O'Neale rounded out DU's double-figure scoring trio by adding 14 points off the bench.

DenverPioneers.com Game Recap

Denver Post Game Recap

Denver Post Photo Slideshow 

DU Hoops Thumps Arkansas State 66-52

Travis Hallam

From: DenverPioneers.com

360° photo of Magness Crowd

University of Denver sophomore forward Chris Udofia tied a career-high with 21 points and senior guard Brian Stafford added 15 points, as the Pioneers defeated the Arkansas State Red Wolves 66-52 at Magness Arena on Thursday.

Udofia went 8-of-13 from the field, including three baskets from beyond the arc. Denver recorded its 11th double-digit victory of the season in front of 7,075 fans, the third largest men's basketball crowd in Magness Arena history.

"I thought we played extremely well tonight," head coach Joe Scott said. "It's great to see that kind of crowd. It's good for our players. They've worked hard and earned it."