Buffs Big Man Walton Showing Steady Improvement
January 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado redshirt freshman Dallas Walton is steadily developing into the player the Buffaloes need him to be.
It is a need that has become far more important since the season began.
The Buffs opened the season figuring Walton would be a key reserve, providing relief inside for senior starter Tory Miller-Stewart. But when Miller suffered a season-ending foot injury after the sixth game of the season, Walton's role changed — and he is developing into the type of big man who should be able to hold his own in the Pac-12, particularly as he gains more experience.
In his first two Pac-12 games last weekend, Walton had just five points against Oregon State and three against Oregon. But he did make his presence known on the boards, collecting five rebounds against the Beavers and six against the Ducks, as well as a pair of blocked shots against OSU. While the rebound totals weren't a career high — he had eight earlier this year against New Mexico — his performance nevertheless provided him with some reassurance that he can play in the Pac-12.
"You don't really know what kind of level your body needs to be at until you're down there bumping with the big guys like (OSU's Drew) Eubanks, one of the best big guys in the Pac-12," Walton said. "Oregon had some big strong bigs as well. Holding my own against them, bumping with them — it opened my eyes. I realized I belong here. In my mind I was preparing myself for the absolute worst and the worst didn't happen."
It's not that Walton doubted himself. After spending his redshirt year in Boulder putting about 20 pounds of muscle on his frame (he is now a solid 7-foot, 230 pounds), he believed he belonged. But now that he has 12 games under his belt, he has proof.
"I still have a long way to go, I know that," Walton said. "Those first Pac-12 games were definitely an experience. I was happy to be there, but it was also kind of eye-opening. When Pac-12 play starts, you have to take it up a notch. I think it's an experience that all the freshmen needed."
Walton appears to be gaining confidence each week. Over his last three games, he's averaged 7 points and 4.3 rebounds in roughly 20 minutes per game.
"He's getting getter," head coach Tad Boyle said. "More aggressive, more confident. He just has to slow down in the post. He struggled a little bit scoring on the post this weekend, but hat's going to come and it's going to go. … I like what he's bringing to our team defensively and offensively."
But maybe most of all, the Buffs need his rebounding and defensive presence. His two blocked shots against OSU were an indication of what he can do around the rim. Now, Boyle wants him to improve his offensive rebounding.
"I challenged him," Boyle said. "I want him to do it on both ends of the floor. He's really exerted himself on the defensive glass, now the offensive glass comes next. I'll never be satisfied until we get another Andre Roberson, second in the country (in offensive boards)."
Walton knows that expediting his development is virtually a must for the Buffs. CU has only one other "big man" on the roster, 6-10 forward Lucas Siewert.
"As the games go on, I'm getting much-needed experience," he said. "Experience is the best teacher and it's helping me along the way. But I need to get better at making the smart decisions, more aggressive decisions."
Currently 8-6 (0-2 Pac-12) and mired in a three-game losing streak, the Buffs have a chance to snap out of their slump this week when they host No. 4 Arizona State on Thursday (6:30 p.m.) and No. 14 Arizona on Saturday (noon). The Sun Devils have a quality big man in starter Romello White (13.8 points, 8.6 rebounds per game) as well as reserve De'Quon Lake.
Arizona, meanwhile, will bring 7-foot-1 freshman Deandre Ayton (19.7 points, 11.9 rebounds) to Boulder.
"You can't ask for a better opportunity," Walton said "Two top 20 teams and the opportunity to show how we can handle ourselves against that type of competition. Being able to compete with those guys is an experience we need."
BOYLE SEES IMPROVEMENT: Even though the Buffs lost both games in Oregon last week, Boyle said he continues to see improvement from his team. In both games, the Buffs battled back from big early deficits — only to see the opponent pull away again.
Still, Boyle said, he's seen enough glimpses of solid play to make him believe the Buffs can compete in the Pac-12.
"There's no doubt," he said. "The fans and the media and everybody from the outside looking in — they look at the wins and losses, and I get that. I'm not trying to sugarcoat anything. But as a coach, you can see progress. You can see improvement, even though the wins aren't there yet — but they will be if we continue to improve. It's taking those six-minute stretches and making them 12-minute stretches. Or taking the six-minute lapse and turning it into a two-minute lapse and then a 30-second lapse. And eventually there's no lapse. Now there's ebbs and flows, there's runs, but it's not because we are beating ourselves."
Those lapses, Boyle said, have been costly for the 8-6 Buffs.
"Right now, we are doing things to beat ourselves," he said. "We have six losses and I feel like we've been beaten once. We lost the other five games by the things we have or have not done."
BROADCAST CREWS: Both games this week will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks. Thursday's crew will include Ted Robinson and Eddie House. The crew for Saturday's game will be Robinson, Bill Walton and Cindy Brunson.
BOYLE AGAIN IN 'INFINITI CHALLENGE': Boyle is once again one of 48 coaches across the nation participating in the "Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge," a contest that could help him win $100,000 for Special Olympics Colorado.
Partnering with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the NCAA and ESPN, the program consists of a four-round online and social media fan vote that helps raise money for each coaches' individual charity.
Special Olympics Colorado provides year-round training and competition in 22 sports for the 23,229-plus athletes living in the state of Colorado. With the support of more than 10,000 volunteers and the generosity of Colorado citizens, corporations and local businesses, Special Olympics Colorado is able to offer more than 100 events annually to individuals with intellectual disabilities age 2 and up.
Participation with other athletes, Unified partners (typically developing peers), coaches, sponsors and volunteers builds confidence and creates opportunities to participate as productive and respected members of society by increasing public awareness of the athletes' capabilities.
Fans will decide the winner over a four-round, 10-week period, by casting votes on a custom online microsite at www.ESPN.com/INFINITI as well as social media channels on Instagram and Twitter. There is no login required to vote on the ESPN microsite.
Voters can vote once per day on each of the three platforms: ESPN microsite, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to mention #Timeout2Vote and @CoachTadBoyle on Twitter and Instagram to make your social media votes count.
While there can only be one winner, Infiniti has guaranteed coach Boyle a donation of at least $1,000 to Special Olympics Colorado. The amount of the donation increases the longer he stays in the competition.
The first round of voting runs through Jan. 21, with half of the coaches advancing to a second round, held between Jan. 22 and Feb. 11. From Feb. 12 to Feb. 25, the 16 advancing coaches from round two will compete in a third round where only four coaches advance to the final, fourth round. From Feb. 26 to Mar.10, fans can vote for one coach per day, with the top vote-getting coach and charity announced on Mar. 11, 2017.
For more information on Special Olympics Colorado, visit SpecialOlympicsCO.org. You can follow SOCO on social media: (FB) SpecialOlympicsColorado; (Twitter) @SpecOlympicsCO; (Instagram) specialolympicsco.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
