DENVER – For Shedeur Sanders, Friday night wasn’t ideal.
Colorado’s senior quarterback takes his work seriously and never likes to waste practice time.
Getting on the field in front of a few thousand fans, however, forced Sanders and the Buffaloes to dial it back a notch.
“You’re not seeing much because we’re not doing some of our route combinations and not putting in some of the packages that we would normally put in and giving Shedeur the usage of the whole field and some things that he wanted to do,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said after the Buffs held a practice at All-City Stadium. “So he got a little frustrated because he wanted to do a few more things, but we can’t do that out here in front of the whole country.”
Advertisement
The time is soon to come that Shedeur and the Buffs can let loose, as the season opener on Aug. 29 against North Dakota State (6 p.m., ESPN) is quickly approaching.
Friday night, however, was about getting in some work in a different environment.
After nearly three weeks of practices behind closed doors on campus in Boulder, CU loaded busses on Friday to work out on the home field of Denver Public Schools squads, located on the campus at Denver South High School.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders calls out during practice at All-City Stadium in Denver on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
All 5,000 of the free passes to the event were claimed, although it was estimated that about 3,500 to 4,000 fans were attendance. It wasn’t a packed house, but still a quality turnout for an evening event that was announced just one week earlier.
“This is phenomenal for the university, this is phenomenal for the young men,” Coach Prime said.
Advertisement
It is believed that this is the first time CU has ever conducted a preseason practice off campus, but Coach Prime wanted to shake things up a bit.
“Usually in camp, everybody hits a little lull,” he said. “We try to catch them before they hit that so they can bring some excitement, so they can push through just the whole monotonous of the same old, same old routine. And that’s what this was about today. I think they did a phenomenal job. I’m proud of them.”
Coach Prime reported that there were no injuries sustained during the practice. Star cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter did not participate, but not because of injury.
“Travis is good,” Coach Prime said. “We just wanted to give him some rest. He’s great. He can’t wait to see the sellout crowd in our first game.”
Asked if the event brought back memories of his own high school days, at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High School in the 1980s, Coach Prime joked that it didn’t because All-City Stadium, with its artificial turf and 5,000-seat bleachers, was nicer than what he played on as a prep.
Advertisement
“We had a grass field (at North Fort Myers), and I think we had one side of the bleachers,” he said. “It was nothing like this. And this probably (would have been) the biggest crowd I would have ever played in (front of during) high school. This probably was a state championship type of game, and I never made it that far.
“But I’m glad we got to come deep in the community. … I just wanted to change the atmosphere, come over to Denver. The fan base is phenomenal everywhere around the country but we just wanted to come over and show some love, because we got a tremendous amount of love and appreciation and respect from this part of the city as well.”
After waiting 10 games due to injury, Vlatko Cancar finally made his return to the Denver Nuggets on November 15. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, he only played a grand total of three games before suffering an injury again.
To make matters worse, it sounds like Cancar’s knee injury was a serious one. According to Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, Cancar will be out for the foreseeable future.
“Not necessarily (season-ending). It could go a couple different ways. We’re still gathering information, letting the knee calm down a little bit,” Malone said. “So I don’t want to get doom and gloom. But he’s out for the foreseeable future”
Vlatko Cancar weighing options for left knee. Malone: “Not necessarily (season-ending). It could go a couple different ways. We’re still gathering information, letting the knee calm down a little bit. So I don’t want to get doom and gloom. But he’s out for the foreseeable future”
Two seasons ago, Cancar played 60 games for the Nuggets and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 48/37/93 shooting from the field. He didn’t play a single game last season due to injury and has only played four games this season due to injury. It’s’ been an incredibly rough two seasons for Cancar with how many major injuries he’s sustained.
“I’m not gonna go into all the details, but some different options will be on the table for Vlatko, and we’ll try to educate him,” Malone said.
Coach Malone gave an update on Vlatko Čančar at Nuggets practice and says “he will be out for the foreseeable future.”
You can feel how bad Malone feels for the bad luck that has gone Vlatko’s way. pic.twitter.com/iBMMlWsUM0
The Denver Nuggets are still missing Nikola Jokic due to personal reasons, and Aaron Gordon due to a right calf strain. The team has been shorthanded, but still has a record of 8-5.
Advertisement
Nikola Jokic Makes NBA History in Nuggets-Mavericks
Nikola Jokic Makes Strong Russell Westbrook Statement
Latest Update on Denver Nuggets Potentially Signing Ex-Lakers Player
Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
Advertisement
The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.
Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
Advertisement
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
Advertisement
Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
Advertisement
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
