CU Buffs host Nuggets victory over Bulls

The Denver Nuggets moved to 2-1 in the NBA preason after a 112-94 blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls. The game was played at the Coors Events Center, which is home to the University of Colorado Buffaloes basketball programs. In what has become an almost annual tradition for the Nuggets, Super Mascot Rocky lead the team onto the court in homage to CU’s Ralphie. The NBAers came back to college for a mashup between a college atmosphere and an NBA one.

Here comes Rocky! pic.twitter.com/lkuLoS0JrL

— Jake Shapiro, but festive 🎁 (@Shapalicious) October 9, 2015

“The Keg” was filled about halfway, as 5,300+ were in attendance. The crowd was split almost 50/50 between Nuggets and Bulls supporters. Nuggets guard Will Barton was playing in Boulder for the second straight year. Last year when he played in Boulder, he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“I was kind of upset with the Boulder crowd,” Barton said. “They were kind of cheering for the Bulls. I saw more Bulls jerseys than Denver Nuggets jerseys.”

Bulls center Joakim Noah claims nobody had more fun in college than he did when he was at the University of Florida. Noah won two national titles (2006, 2007) while in college, with former Nuggets guard Corey Brewer, and made the most of Gainesville.

“It was a good environment,” Noah said. “I wish we would’ve played a little better, but it was a good environment.”

The Bulls even got a little taste of Boulder, too.

“It was cool,” Noah said of Boulder. “We had we had lunch with the rooks on Pearl Steet, it was a good time.”

https://instagram.com/p/8jr9c8SaC5/?taken-by=stickity13

Another college star, former Kansas Jayhawks point guard Kirk Hinrich is a bit more familiar with the area. He played in Boulder plenty while in college, when he was in school KU and CU both played many times as members of the Big 12.

“It’s beautiful (in Boulder),” Hinrich stated. “I was telling my wife that it’s absolutely gorgeous. In college we’d get here late and didn’t really get to see it. It’s absolutely beautiful. Beautiful campus. Beautiful town.”

Another Big 12 connection comes in the form of Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg. He was coaching his second NBA game since leaving his job at Iowa State.

“I played here. I’ve coached here. It’s a place I’m familiar with,” Hoiberg said. “It’s a great college town, it’s a great campus. It was fun to come into this environment.”

Nuggets veteran Kenneth Faried was all smiles, even in the crowded college locker rooms.

“I wish it was even more of a college atmosphere,” Faried explained. “The game was out of reach so the college students kind of didn’t get into it. The kids weren’t thumping on the bleachers and everything, we didn’t get that. I’ve watched CU play before, and that’s exciting to watch, especially when CU plays in conference.”

Barton might have had the quote of the night when he told BSNDenver.com, “To be honest it was a little fun, but I was ready to get out of college and get to the NBA anyways.”

That’s probably how most felt, a fun night to reminisce on the past while getting ready for the upcoming 82 game NBA slate. Only in the preseason could you have a chance to watch some of the NBA’s best go at it while at the foot of the flatirons.

In the end, it was fun to see Emmanuel Mudiay’s first Nuggets “home” game in an intimate environment.