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Game of Thrones: Pac-12 Edition

By Michael Hanna

March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott addresses the media in a press conference before the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament between the Oregon State Beavers and the California Golden Bears at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott addresses the media in a press conference before the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament between the Oregon State Beavers and the California Golden Bears at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Dominique Collier (15) shoots the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Rodney Purvis (44) during the second half in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Dominique Collier (15) shoots the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Rodney Purvis (44) during the second half in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Colorado:  House Baratheon

Brothers in black and gold that have their own unique geographic niche in comparison to those around them, Colorado and House Baratheon have shockingly similar story lines.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

While both have decent legacies of success historically, a couple decades ago, both were able to make an unprecedented rise to the absolute top of the heap. However, after maintaining in the upper echelon for a while after, things have absolutely fallen apart in recent times and there seems to be no way out of the doldrums.

House Baratheon has fallen apart with no remaining true-born (meaning, not King Tommen) survivors. Similarly, Colorado football is now a shell of the program that won conference and national championships, and mere relevance and bowl-eligibility are the dreams now as hoping for much more than that doesn’t seem realistic given Colorado’s perpetual state as the Pac-12 South’s doormat to date.

And Colorado basketball is basically Renly Baratheon: it was cute when they took advantage of a power vacuum to play King for a day, but that novelty was ended fairly quickly. Authorities in Boulder are still searching for the demon shadow that stabbed Tad Boyle’s coaching talents in the heart.

Next: Oregon