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Colorado Basketball – March, 2018
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March 30th
… CU in the Arena …
Tad Boyle – “If it can happen to Loyola Chicago, we can certainly make it happen at Colorado”
From the Daily Camera … Tad Boyle is in San Antonio alongside most of his brethren among college basketball coaches.
This year’s edition of the Final Four features an interesting dynamic, with the tournament’s Cinderella story (Loyola Chicago) and another didn’t-think-they’d-be-there program (Michigan) vying for a spot in the championship game against one of the two remaining No. 1 seeds (Kansas and Villanova).
Boyle, the leader of the Colorado men’s basketball team, also will have an opportunity to watch departing senior George King participate in the NABC all-star game Friday night. It is a rite of spring for Division I coaches across the country, a weekend to celebrate the sport and take in college basketball’s biggest spectacle.
Boyle, of course, is a Kansas graduate despite his native Colorado roots. Asked if he will have a rooting interest when the national semifinals tipoff on Saturday, CU’s coach politely deferred.
… Continue reading story here …
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George King shines in all-star game
From the Daily Camera … Consider the first tryout a resounding success for George King.
The departing senior from the Colorado men’s basketball team enjoyed a memorable performance Friday night at the NABC All-Star game in San Antonio, winning the Most Outstanding Player award for the East team.
The game, the first in a line of events and showcases King hopes to use as a springboard to a professional career, is an annual exhibition held in conjunction with the Final Four festivities. The game is reserved for college seniors who just completed their careers.
Though the East team lost 98-94, King was the biggest bright spot for the East, going 8-for-11 from the field before finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots.
King also will participate in the annual Portsmouth Invitational April 11-14.
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March 21st
… CU in the Arena …
Sean Miller denies interest in Pitt job
From the Arizona Republic … Sean Miller isn’t leaving the sidelines in Tucson any time soon.
That’s the guess here based on observing University of Arizona athletics this season.
Speculation has swirled around the embattled coach ever since the college basketball recruiting scandal broke in September. It picked up with developments in that story and with UA’s first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament. And it boiled over this week with a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that said Miller was interested in the Pitt job.
Miller shut that down with a two-sentence statement released through the UA athletics department Wednesday: “I am not a candidate for the University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball head coaching vacancy. I wish them well in their search for a new coach.”
It was his second unequivocal denial of a media report in recent weeks.
… Continue reading story here …
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March 16th
… CU in the Arena …
Pac-12 out of NCAA tournament after first day of the first round after Arizona blowout loss
From the Arizona Republic … After fourth-seeded Arizona lost to 13-seed Buffalo, 89-68, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Taco Bell Arena, there was only one question: Why?
Maybe the distractions were too much?
All season, players and coaches have had to answer questions about the federal investigation into college basketball recruiting practices. There was the PED suspension for Allonzo Trier. And coach Sean Miller missed a game after a media report claimed he agreed to pay to get Deandre Ayton to campus.
Former assistant coach Book Richardson has pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Trier won his appeal and returned to the team. Miller and Ayton forcefully denied wrongdoing. And the team started talking about focusing only on “things it could control.”
Still, it all had to weigh heavily on a season that should have been filled with optimism.
Maybe the NCAA did the Cats in by putting them in the South Region and shipping them clear to Boise?
… Continue reading story here …
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Off-season critical for young Buffs – Boyle: “We’re not interested in finishing eighth”
From CUBuffs.com … When the men’s NCAA Tournament hit full stride Thursday morning, the Colorado Buffaloes were lacing up their sneakers and heading to class.
There were no dancing shoes for the Buffs this year, a rarity in the Tad Boyle era. In fact, Boyle’s eighth year in Boulder is the first that Colorado has not played in the postseason, a stretch that involves four NCAA Tournament bids, two NIT berths and a CBI appearance.
But anyone who saw the Buffs’ last few games — in particular their Pac-12 tournament opening win over Arizona State — knows the refrain Boyle repeated regularly throughout the season has plenty of validity.
The future of Colorado basketball is bright. Now, Boyle is not afraid to make it clear his expectations will rise considerably next season.
“One thing this young group has to understand is that they learned this year that they are really capable of being a force in this league,” Boyle said just minutes after his team’s season-ending loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 quarterfinals last week. “We’re not interested in finishing eighth. We’re interested in playing for championships.”
… Continue reading story here …
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March 13th
… CU in the Arena …
Tory Miller-Stewart to transfer
From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado men’s basketball senior Tory Miller-Stewart will pursue a graduate transfer for the 2018-19 season, head coach Tad Boyle announced on Tuesday.
Miller-Stewart averaged 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds over the first six games of the season before a broken bone in his foot sidelined him for the rest of the year. He is scheduled to graduate in May with his degree in Environmental Studies, and with that status, will be able to enroll in graduate school at another institution and be eligible for a final season immediately.
“After careful consultation with Tory and his family, it was collectively determined to be in his best interest both academically and athletically, to look at other graduate options,” Boyle said.
A 6-foot, 9-inch forward from Kansas City, Kan., Miller-Stewart played in 101 games for the Buffaloes over his four-year career averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds while hitting over 50 percent from the field. His shooting skyrocketed to 59 percent over his final 27 games, dating back to the beginning of the 2016-17 Pac-12 Conference schedule.
“We wish all the best for Tory,” Boyle said. “He’s been a great teammate and competitor during his four years in our program. He will always be a Colorado Buffalo.”
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March 12th
… CU in the Arena …
For the first time in Tad Boyle’s career at CU, Buffs sitting out post-season
From the Daily Camera … Since Tad Boyle arrived at CU eight years ago, this will be the first year in which his Buffaloes do not participate in a postseason tournament. That decision partially is by choice — Boyle reiterated following Thursday’s loss against Arizona that he has no intention of taking part in a third-tier tournament like the CBI, as the Buffs did in 2015 — yet it is a sign the Buffs’ brain trust is eager to get started on raising the expectations for a 2018-19 team that should be poised to compete for an NCAA Tournament berth.
“This unfortunately will be the first team in our era to not play in postseason play. If that’s not motivation for the offseason for these guys, I don’t know what is,” Boyle said. “Those year-end meetings will start Monday. They’ll start right away. We’ll find out where these guys’ minds are, heads are. I’ve got three days to let this sink in and find out where we’re at.”
Topping Boyle’s to-do list will be to clarify the status of forward Tory Miller-Stewart. The senior forward suffered a season-ending broken foot after just six games and remains eligible for a fifth season, but his window for making that decision is starting to close. Boyle still has a scholarship available for a 2018 freshman class that already includes two guards, Elijah Parquet and Denver East’s Daylen Kountz, and he previously said a big man would be targeted for that open spot.
… Continue reading story here …
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March 9th
… CU in the Arena …
George King reflects on his career at Colorado
From the Daily Camera … Before he decided to continue his basketball career at Colorado, even before the Buffaloes started recruiting him, George King had a feeling CU would be a perfect fit.
Five years later King’s career has, most likely, come to a conclusion, a fate that was decided when the Buffaloes were eliminated from the Pac-12 Conference tournament with an 83-67 quarterfinal-round loss Thursday against Arizona.
Given the Buffs are not expecting an invitation to the NIT, King was in a reflective mood after a final performance that featured a team-leading 19 points.
“I remember before CU was recruiting me I was watching Andre (Roberson) here and I told myself I could see myself playing at the University of Colorado,” King said. “When I got the offer I kind of already committed in my head. All I had to do was go to the campus. It’s been a rollercoaster journey for me in my five years here. I’m a Buff for life and always will be.”
It was an unusual yet successful route traveled by King during his CU career. After playing minimal minutes in 27 games as a true freshman during the 2013-14 season, King made the most of a subsequent redshirt season to win the Pac-12 Most Improved Player award in 2016.
… Continue reading story here …
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March 8th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs fall to No. 15 Arizona, 83-67, in Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals
… Related … “Season likely over for CU Buffs after Arizona takes charge in Pac-12 quarterfinals” … from the Daily Camera
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado’s hopes of a Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals upset over top-seeded Arizona came to a crashing halt in the second half Thursday.
Not coincidentally, the end came at the same time Buffs starting point guard McKinley Wright IV crashed out of bounds and left the game with an injury, helping pave the way for an 83-67 Arizona win.
Wright was injured with the Buffs trailing by just three, 42-39, early in the second half.
Soon after he was helped from the floor, the Wildcats put together a 14-0 run to take a 58-41 lead and Colorado never seriously threatened again.
The loss dropped the eighth-seeded Buffs to 17-15 while the 15th-ranked Wildcats improved to 25-7.
CU senior George King led the Buffs with 19 points in his final Pac-12 game while sophomore Lucas Siewert chipped in 16.
Allonzo Trier led Arizona with 22.
Colorado was 18-for-22 from the free throw line, but the Buffs were also whistled for 28 fouls to Arizona’s 18, and the Wildcats hit 26 of their 38 free throws.
The Buffs shot just 38.5 percent from the field (22-for-52) while the Wildcats shot 44 percent (25-for-57).
… Continue reading story here …
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Buffs taking on a huge challenge in No. 15 Arizona (1:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
From CUBuffs.com … It seemingly wouldn’t be a Pac-12 tournament for the Colorado Buffaloes if they didn’t play Arizona.
The Buffs will get their almost annual tournament shot at the Wildcats on Thursday when they meet top-seeded Arizona in a 1 p.m. tournament quarterfinal at T-Mobile Arena. It will be the sixth time in seven Pac-12 tournaments the Buffs have faced the Wildcats, with Arizona holding a 4-1 record in their previous tournament meetings.
But that one win was a very important one for Colorado — a 53-51 win over the Wildcats in the 2011-12 Pac-12 tournament championship game. The win culminated a four-game run through the tourney for the Buffs in their first year in the conference — still the only time a team has won four games in four days in the Pac-12 tournament.
Now, the Buffs hope to replicate the recipe that produced an 80-77 win over then-14th-ranked Arizona in early January this season. Colorado split the season series with the Wildcats, falling 80-71 in late January in Tucson, but if you’re looking for an omen, there is this: CU’s win over the Wildcats came on the heels of a win over Arizona State.
The Buffs defeated ASU 97-85 in Wednesday’s first round of the tournament.
But the Buffs also know they will have to produce at least the type of effort they had against the Sun Devils in order to beat No. 15 Arizona. The 24-7 Wildcats won the regular season title with a 14-4 record, including wins in five of their last six games. Arizona will also enjoy what is annually almost a “home” advantage, as Wildcats fans always pack the tournament arena.
“You’ve got to be able to stop them because they’re very potent offensively,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said of a Wildcats team that features the conference’s freshman of the year and player of the year, Deandre Ayton. “They’re the best offensive Arizona team we’ve probably played against since we’ve been in the Pac-12. Obviously DeAndre Ayton is a heck of a player. But they have other good ones. (Dusan) Ristic is terrific. (Allonzo) Trier is back, shooting well. To me it’s all about our defensive game plan, putting that together.”
… Continue reading story here …
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March 7th
… CU in the Arena …
CU advances to the Pac-12 quarterfinals with 97-85 win over Arizona State
… Related … “Colorado knocks off Arizona State 97-85 in Pac-12 tourney” … from ESPN
… Related … ASU – from Top Five team to Selection Sunday bubble: “Unfathomable” … from the Arizona Republic
From CUBuffs.com … Colorado’s first-round magic in the Pac-12 tournament remains strong under coach Tad Boyle.
McKinley Wright IV had 20 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds Wednesday — his fourth double-double of the season — and fellow freshman Tyler Bey had his second career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Buffs to a 97-85 win over Arizona State in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament at T-Mobile Arena.
It was CU’s seventh Pac-12 tourney opening win in as many tries and lifted the 17-14 Buffs into a Thursday 1 p.m. quarterfinal matchup with Pac-12 regular season champ Arizona. ASU fell to 20-11.
Dominique Collier added 17 points, George King had 12 points and 7 rebounds, Lucas Siewert had 12 points and D’Shawn Schwartz chipped in 10 to round out Colorado’s balanced attack.
The Buffs used a 15-1 run midway through the second half to take control, turning a 60-56 deficit with 12 minutes to play into a 71-61 lead with 7:35 to go. ASU never came closer than five again.
“It was a hard-fought win for our guys,” Boyle said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our players and the grit that they showed and the toughness that they showed from start to finish. .. Our team’s got heart, it’s got fight, and I love coaching them.”
Colorado shot 53.2 percent from the field (33-for-62), including a red-hot 13-for-21 from 3-point range. ASU shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63), including 13-for-32 from beyond the arc. The Buffs also finished with just seven turnovers, a season low against a Pac-12 opponent, and they held a commanding 39-26 edge on the boards.
It was also the first double-digit loss of the season for Arizona State.
… Continue reading story here …
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March 6th
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs looking to take rubber game against Arizona State (Wed., 1:00 p.m., MT, Pac-12 Networks)
Related … “Previewing the opening-round matchups” … from the Pac-12 … “We’re probably one of the best nine seeds in the history of the Pac-12, to be honest,” Hurley said, according to the Arizona Republic.
From CUBuffs.com …
PAC-12 POSTSEASON FACTS … Colorado is in its seventh Pac-12 Tournament holding an overall record of 10-5 in the championship. The Buffaloes are 6-0 all-time in Pac-12 first round games, and have won at least one tournament game (advancing to the quarterfinal round) in each of their previous six appearances. Arizona is the only other school besides Colorado to have won at least one game in each year of the Pac-12 Tournament since the league expanded in 2011-12.
Colorado is also 5-0 in the championship as the higher seeded team. The Buffaloes took a historic route to the 2012 Pac-12
Championship, winning four games in four days at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2012.
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Game Notes … Colorado is 16-14 overall and finished tied with Arizona State for eighth place in the Pac-12 at 8-10. The Buffaloes gained the No. 8 seed at the Pac-12 Tournament over the No. 9 seed Sun Devils by virtue of their 1-1 record against league champion Arizona (ASU was 0-2).
Colorado is 3-1 on a neutral court this year. The Buffaloes won the 2017 Paradise Jam in Lynchburg, Va., back in November winning three games in three days. Colorado dropped a 80-73 decision to Iowa, played in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 22.
Colorado is averaging 71.4 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. Overall the Buffaloes have been balanced in scoring with three players averaging double-figures and seven active Buffs averaging between five and 14 points an outing. Defensively, Colorado is allowing 72.3 points per game while holding opponents to 42.1 percent shooting and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.
Colorado is second in field goal defense and defensive rebounds (27.4 drpg) and third in overall rebounds (37.8 rpg), offensive rebounds (10.4 orpg) and rebounding margin (+3.5) on the Pac-12 charts. During regular season conference play, the Buffaloes had the Pac-12’s top field goal defense (.422), and ranked second in blocks (4.4 bpg).
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THE SUN DEVILS … Arizona State is 20-10 overall and finished tied with Colorado for eighth place in the Pac-12 at 8-10. The Sun Devils are receiving votes in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll. Arizona State sports the top scoring offense in the Pac-12 at 83.5 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field. The Sun Devils lead he Pac-12 in turnover margin (+4.2). Defensively, Arizona State allows 74.6 points per game on 43.6 percent from the field.
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SERIES RECORDS … This will be the 17th meeting between Colorado and Arizona State with the series tied at 8-8. The teams split the regular season series, with each winning at home. Colorado claimed a 90-81 overtime win in Boulder on Jan. 4, while the Sun Devils took the rematch in Tempe, 80-66, on Jan. 27. Colorado has won four of the last seven overall in the series. This will be the first postseason, and first neutral site meeting, between the two teams.
Tad Boyle is 6-7 against Arizona State as a head coach. Bobby Hurley is 2-2 against Colorado as a head coach.
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March 5th
… CU in the Arena …
George King and McKinley Wright named to All-Pac-12 teams
From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado senior guard George King was named to the 2018 All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team while McKinley Wright IV was selected to the All-Freshman Team by a vote of league coaches, the conference announced on Monday.
In addition, Wright earned honorable mention to both the main All-Conference team and the All-Defensive squad.
King is Colorado’s third second team All-Pac-12 selection, joining Askia Booker (2014-15) and Carlon Brown (2011-12). He’s the ninth Buffalo to be named to one of the league’s two All-Conference teams. Colorado has had a first or second team All-Conference performer in all eight seasons as a member of the Pac-12.
Wright is Colorado’s third Pac-12 All-Freshman Team member, joining Josh Scott (2012-13) and Spencer Dinwiddie (2011-12). He is the 12th Buffalo to be named to a conference All-Freshman Team dating back to Matt Bullard’s selection in 1985-86 in the Big Eight Conference.
King leads Colorado in rebounding and 3-point field goals and has been among the Pac-12 leaders in those two categories all season. He finished the regular season fifth in rebounding at 8.0 per game while ranking third in defensive rebounds (6.2 drpg). King has nine double-figure rebounding games this season, with six coming during conference play.
The 2016 Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year, King is averaging 12.8 points while hitting 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range. His 3-point accuracy improved to 41 percent during the conference season, ranking ninth on the league charts while his 2.3 made per game ranked sixth.
Wright leads Colorado at 14.2 points, 5.3 assists and one steal per game. He tops all Pac-12 freshmen in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) while ranking third among first-year players in scoring. On the overall Pac-12 leaderboard, Wright is third in assists, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio, 15th in offensive rebounds (1.7 orpg) and 17th in scoring.
… Continue reading story here …
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Dominique Collier named co-Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year
From CUBuffs.com … University of Colorado senior guard Dominique Collier was named the 2017-18 Co-Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year by a vote of league coaches, the conference announced on Monday.
Collier is the third Buffalo to win one of the Pac-12’s yearly honors, joining Andre Roberson, the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year, and George King, the 2015-16 Most Improved Player of the year. He shares the award with Arizona State freshman guard Remy Martin.
This is the Pac-12’s inaugural Sixth Man of the Year Award. One former Buffalo has a similar honor on his resume. Levi Knutson was the Co-Big 12 Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2010-11.
A native of Denver, Collier came off the bench for 16 of 18 Pac-12 contests, averaging 8.0 points and 1.6 assists while shooting 48 percent from 3-point range during league play. He ranked second in the Pac-12 in 3-point accuracy during conference games hitting on 29 of 60 from long range.
Collier scored in double-figures eight times during the regular season, with six of those games coming during Pac-12 action. He averaged 12.5 points and shot 64 percent from the field in Colorado’s back-to-back upsets of No. 4/6 Arizona State and No. 14/16 Arizona on Jan. 4 & 6.
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March 4th
… CU in the Arena …
Colorado No. 8 seed in Pac-12 tournament, will take on Arizona State Wednesday afternoon
From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs head to Las Vegas next week where they will open play in the Pac-12 tournament Wednesday as the No. 8 seed, squaring off against No. 9 Arizona State in a 1 p.m. (MST) game at T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s a one-game season right now. The next loss could end our season. We have to play with a sense of passion, a sense of urgency, because these guys know there’s no tomorrows. There are no tomorrows for the Buffaloes, so we’d better play like it.”
Colorado split with Arizona State this season. On January 4th, an 8-6 CU squad upset No. 4 Arizona State, 90-81, behind 19 points from both McKinley Wright and Namon Wright, and 18 from George King. On January 27th, the 21st-ranked Sun Devils exacted their revenge, with an 80-66 win in Tempe.
The winner of the Colorado/Arizona State game will advance to play No. 1-seeded Arizona in the quarterfinals, with that game to be played at 1:00 p.m. (MT) on Thursday afternoon.
Full Pac-12 tournament bracket can be found here
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March 3rd
… CU in the Arena …
Buffs rally, but fail to overcome 17-point halftime deficit
From CUBuffs.com … After digging themselves a 17-point hole Saturday night, the Colorado Buffaloes came close to climbing all the way out.
But in the end, the Buffs rally fell short as CU dropped a 64-54 decision to Utah in their regular season finale at the Huntsman Center.
The loss, Colorado’s 10th in 11 road games this year and sixth straight on Utah’s home floor, dropped CU to 16-14 overall and 8-10 in the Pac-12 while Utah improved to 19-10, 11-7.
Colorado trailed by 17 at the half, 41-24, but slowly chipped away at the Utes’ lead after halftime, closing to within four, 46-42.
That, however, was as close as CU could come, as the Utes finally ended an eight-minute scoring drought to slowly build the lead back up to nine, then hold on down the stretch.
“The second half, our guys scratched and clawed,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “We cut it to four. Really proud of those young guys. We had four freshmen and a sophomore on the floor. Maybe they ran out of a little bit of juice, but I can’t fault them for their effort and their toughness.”
Freshman McKinley Wright IV led CU with 16 points and six rebounds while sophomore Lucas Siewert added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Justin Bibbins scored 24 points, including six 3-pointers, for Utah. The Utes also hit 20 of their 26 free throws while Colorado was 7-for-11 from the line.
The Buffs will now face Arizona State on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the first game of the Pac-12 tournament in at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
… Continue reading story here …
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March 2nd
… CU in the Arena …
Tad Boyle: “I’ve said this before — I would not trade McKinley Wright for any freshman”
From CUBuffs.com … Last week, Colorado basketball fans saw a great glimpse of the present and future at the same time.
In back-to-back games, CU fans had the chance to watch two of the best point guards in the Pac-12, USC’s Jordan McLaughlin and UCLA’s Aaron Holiday.
At the same time, they also got to see a player who has all the potential of holding that designation in the very near future, Colorado’s McKinley Wright IV. The CU freshman held his own against both, helping Colorado to a split in their two games against the Los Angeles schools, but maybe more importantly, he continued to confirm what he has been proving all season:
The future of Colorado basketball is in very good hands.
“I’ve said this before — I would not trade McKinley Wright for any freshman,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “People think I’m nuts when I say that. (But) DeAndre Ayton (of Arizona) is going to be in the NBA next year. McKinley’s going to be here next year … He’s terrific.”
Wright has indeed been outstanding for the Buffs this year, bringing not only a healthy dose of stability to the point guard spot, but also a strong measure of consistency to a team that has otherwise had its share of ups and downs.
… Continue reading story here …
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Game Notes … Colorado is 16-13 overall and 8-9 in the Pac-12 Conference after splitting with the Southern California schools at home last week. Colorado enters the weekend tied with Arizona State for eighth place in the Pac-12 having won four of its last seven.
The Buffaloes could still tie for seventh in the final Pac-12 standings, but unofficially appear to be locked in to a No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed game with the Sun Devils in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, March 7-10.
Colorado is averaging 72.0 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field. Overall the Buffaloes have been balanced in
scoring with three players averaging double-figures and seven active Buffs averaging between five and 14 points an outing. Defensively, Colorado is allowing 72.6 points per game while holding opponents to 42.1 percent shooting and 35.2 percent from 3-point range.
Colorado is second in field goal defense and defensive rebounds (27.4 drpg) and third in overall rebounds (37.7 rpg) and rebounding
margin (+3.3) on the Pac-12 charts. During conference play, the Buffaloes have the Pac-12’s top field goal defense (.423), and rank
second in blocks (4.4 bpg).
THE UTES … Utah is 18-10 overall and enters the final day of the regular season in a four-way tie for third place in the Pac-12 at 10-7,
joining UCLA, Washington and Stanford. The Utes saw a five-game winning streak snapped with a 74-58 setback to USC at home on Feb. 24.
Utah averages 74.1 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting. Beyond the arc, the Utes hit 9.2 3-pointers a game ranking second in the Pac-12. Utah sports the Pac-12’s top scoring defense at 69.3 points per game and holds the league’s best overall field goal defense team at 42.0 percent, just a fraction ahead of Colorado.
THE SERIES … This will be the 49th meeting between Colorado and Utah with the Buffaloes holding a 27-21 series lead. The Buffaloes snapped a seven-game skid in the series with a 67-55 win at the Coors Events Center on Feb. 2. Utah has won eight of the last 11 and has an 8-6 edge since the two teams joined the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season. The Utes hold a 14-8 lead in Salt Lake City and have won the last five.
Tad Boyle is 6-8 in his career against Utah. Larry Krystkowiak is 8-6 against Colorado as a collegiate head coach.
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March 1st
… CU in the Arena …
Arizona’s coach Sean Miller receives vote of confidence from Board of Regents, back on the bench
From ESPN … Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller on Thursday vehemently denied an ESPN report about an alleged pay-to-play conversation, while getting a show of support from university president Robert Robbins and the school’s board of regents.
In his first public comments since the report detailing his alleged involvement in a discussion to pay a potential recruit, Miller said he never knowingly violated NCAA rules and has never paid a recruit.
“I never have, and I never will,” Miller said.
“I also understand that there is an ongoing federal investigation, and because of this, I cannot do anything that might compromise the integrity of this investigation. However, on this point, I cannot remain silent in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation of me, the university, and sullied the name of a tremendous young man, Deandre Ayton.”
After the Arizona Board of Regents met later Thursday, Robbins said Miller would remain the coach at Arizona.
“At this time we have no reason to believe Coach Miller violated NCAA rules or any laws regarding the allegations reported in the media,” Robbins said. “Additionally, he has a record of compliance with NCAA rules, and he has been cooperative with this process.
… Continue reading story here …
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