Colorado Basketball

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Colorado Basketball

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January 18th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs fall to 0-6 in Big 12 play after 83-73 loss to Oklahoma State

… Related … CU Buffs fall flat at Oklahoma State, remain winless in Big 12 … from the Daily Camera 

From CUBuffs.com … Turnovers and foul trouble plagued Colorado against Oklahoma State on Saturday, as the Buffaloes dropped their sixth straight game 83-73 at the Gallagher-Iba Arena Eddie Sutton Court.

Colorado (9-7, 0-6) battled Oklahoma State (10-7, 2-4), but a common theme of turnovers and three-point shooting woes, along with a season-high 29 fouls committed, did them in.

In both the first half and second half the Buffs made a three-point shot to cut the into the lead with Andrej Jakimovski in the first half to cut the lead to 24-21 and Javon Ruffin in the second half to cut the lead to 45-41. Each time the Cowboys would answer by pushing the lead back to double-digits.

Oklahoma State didn’t shoot lights out from the field as a team but shot a season-high 31-42 from the free-throw line. Five different players made at least four free throws.

Sophomore Bangot Dak led the team in scoring for the second straight game with 15 points shooting 6-8 from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line to go with five rebounds and a block.

“When we get good shots, we’re pretty darn good,” Boyle said on the turnovers. “The problem is we turn it over before we get good shots. Dead last in the league in that category [turnovers], and Oklahoma State knew it. That’s why they pressed us, why they doubled our ball screens, and we’ve got to be able to handle it better.”

… Read full story here …

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Buffs (0-5) seeking first Big 12 v. Oklahoma State (1-4) (1:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

… Related … Struggling CU Buffs look to end slide at Oklahoma State … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Oklahoma State, Saturday, January 18, 2025
Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.
Tip: 1:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (James Westling, Bryndon Manzer)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 381, SXM App 971
Live Statistics: https://buffs.me/3CfciAJ

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-7 overall and 0-5 in Big 12 Conference play after falling to Cincinnati on January 15th. The Buffaloes are 0-5 in conference play for the first time since 2016-17, when Colorado dropped its first seven Pac-12 games before rebounding to win eight of its last 11. Overall, it’s Colorado’s first five-game skid since dropping the final five games of the 2019-20 season ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of conference and national postseason tournaments.

The Buffaloes will be playing in their third true road game of the season and looking for their first win. Colorado is 1-4 away from Boulder this season, that win coming at the Maui Invitational against defending NCAA champion UConn. Colorado will play four of its next six on the road.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS: Oklahoma State is 9-7 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12, coming off an 0-2 road trip at Utah and BYU over the last week. The Cowboys have won six of seven at home this season. OSU averages 73.4 points per game and ranks last in the Big 12 in shooting at 41.9 percent. The Cowboys are a top 30 team nationally in getting to the line (24.4 FTApg) and shoot 72.3 percent from the charity stripe. OSU allows 74.0 points per game and ranks last in field goal defense at 47 percent. The Cowboys are second in the Big 12 in steals (9.0 spg) and turnovers forced (15.3 topg).

THE SERIES: This will be the 110th meeting between Colorado and Oklahoma State in a series that dates back to 1948, 11 seasons before the Cowboys would join the Big Eight Conference. Oklahoma State holds a 61-48 all-time series lead. This will be the first meeting in 11 years, since a nonconference neutral site game in Las Vegas on Dec. 21, 2013, won by the Cowboys, 78-73. Oklahoma State has won 27 of 37 all-time meetings in Stillwater. Colorado last won in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Jan. 21, 2006, in overtime.

… Read full story here …

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January 16th 

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs fall to last place in the Big 12 after 68-62 home loss to Cincinnati – Boyle: “I feel like this is the poorest coached team in America”

From CUBuffs.com … A sluggish start offensively for Colorado was too much to handle against Cincinnati, leading to a 68-62 Bearcats win Wednesday night in the CU Events Center.

The Buffs have now dropped their fifth straight contest, falling to 9-7 overall and 0-5 in the Big 12. It’s the first time Colorado has lost five consecutive games since the final five games of the 2019-20 season.

“I sound like a broken record here the last five games, but really, really disappointing, and we drop our third game at home,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “We lost one in this building the entire season last year, and now we’ve lost three and all winnable games that we weren’t good enough to win. And I told the team I feel like this is the poorest coached team in America. That’s how I feel, because the stuff that we talk about in practice, the stuff we talk about in huddles, it doesn’t translate to the games, for whatever reason which is really frustrating.”

Bangot Dak had an impressive night for the Buffs, posting a career-highs with 19 points and eight blocked shots. It’s the third most blocks ever by a CU player in a single game. Only David Harrison has swatted more balls in Colorado’s single-game history, holding the record with 11 set back in 2003.

Dak also matched personal bests in field goals made, hitting 7 of 11, and eight rebounds, as the sophomore led the charge for the Buffaloes on both ends of the court.

Trevor Baskin notched eight points, six rebounds, and two steals on the night. Freshman Sebastian Rancik added nine points on 3-for-6 shooting.

“All I want are great shots for our team, and I can’t make the shots for them, but we got to get great shots and and in order to win games down the stretch, you have to have players that make plays, or I got to do a better job of crafting some stuff offensively for them, and have more sound defensively,” Boyle stated. “And when you break down in this league, you’re going to pay for it, and that’s what our guys were doing.”

… Continue reading story here …

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January 15th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Battle for the basement: CU (0-4) taking on Cincinnati (0-4) for 15th place in the Big 12 (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

… Related … CU Buffs likely to be shorthanded in battle of winless Big 12 squads … From the Daily Camera …

CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle offered updates on starters Elijah Malone and RJ Smith, and while their outlooks are encouraging in the big picture, the Buffs still are likely to be without both players when they host Cincinnati on Wednesday night in a battle between the only two teams still winless in Big 12 play.

Neither Smith nor Malone played during the second half of Sunday’s loss against West Virginia. And while Boyle stopped short of ruling out the duo out against Cincinnati, he labeled the status of both players as “questionable” while saying neither practiced on Tuesday.

Malone, CU’s 6-foot-10 center, has started every game, but logged a season-low 9 minutes, 40 seconds before going to the bench with a back issue against West Virginia. Smith’s situation appeared more ambiguous following the WVU loss, as Boyle said Smith would be subjected to further testing after looking out of sorts on the CU bench.

… Continue reading story here …

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From CUBuffs.com …

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12 Conference play after falling to No. 21/23 (AP/Coaches) West Virginia on Jan. 12. The Buffaloes are 0-4 in conference play for the first time since 2016-17, when Colorado dropped its first seven Pac-12 games before rebounding to win eight of its last 11. Overall, it’s Colorado’s first four-game skid since dropping the final five games of the 2019-20 season ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of conference and national postseason tournaments.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Cincinnati is 10-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, joining Colorado as the last two teams without a league win. The Bearcats are averaging 73.1 points on the season, but have been held to 55.5 points an outing over four league contests including back-to-back games of being held under 50 at Baylor and against Kansas. Cincinnati sports the seventh-best scoring defense in the country allowing just 60.5 points per game. The Bearcats guard the perimeter exceptionally well, ranking fifth in the nation in 3-point percentage defense (.271).

THE SERIES: This will be the ninth meeting between Colorado and Cincinnati and first in 42 years. Cincinnati holds a 7-1 advantage, winning the first seven before the Buffaloes picked their lone win in the last meeting between the teams, 79-65, on Dec. 18, 1982, at the CU Events Center.

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January 12th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs comeback falls short against No. 21 West Virginia; CU drops to 0-4 in Big 12 play

From the Daily Camera … Suddenly shorthanded after another turnover-filled half of basketball, Colorado refused to go away without a fight.

Yet it still wasn’t enough to pick up the elusive first win in Big 12 Conference play.

The Buffaloes staged a comeback after a dismal first half to give No. 21 West Virginia a scare, but  the CU men’s basketball team never quite got over the hump while suffering a 78-70 defeat on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center.

West Virginia led 40-29 at halftime and extended its advantage to 14 points early in the second half before the Buffs rallied, thanks in large part to Mountaineers fouls that put CU in the bonus early and led to 28 free throw attempts in the second half.

The Buffs pulled to within two points on five different occasions but couldn’t get any closer.

CU (9-6, 0-4 Big 12) played the second half without starting center Elijah Malone, who suffered an apparent injury, and starting guard RJ Smith, who didn’t return to the bench after halftime.

Julian Hammond led the Buffs’ offense with 21 points, while Assane Diop went 8-for-8 at the free throw line before finishing with 15 points and five rebounds. A pair of free throws from Diop with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining kept CU within 68-65, but the Mountaineers scored the next eight points to seal the Buffs’ fate.

CU committed 11 turnovers in the first half and finished with 14.

… Continue reading story here …

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Lack of consistency keeping the Buffs from posting Big 12 victories

From the Daily Camera … Anyone that has watched the Colorado men’s basketball team doesn’t need to be told the Buffaloes have been inconsistent.

Yet fixing those inconsistent points has been a source of frustration for head coach Tad Boyle, as the Buffs have also been inconsistent within their inconsistencies.

One night the defense is lackadaisical. On another, the rebounding might be lagging. During the recent two-game run on the road, the Buffs’ energy and intensity were missing in a loss at Arizona State. CU turned around and put up an excellent effort in those departments at Central Florida, only to be done in by 22 turnovers.

Even the turnovers, one of CU’s most consistent problems from the start of the season through the start of Big 12 play, have occurred from various sources. One night the frontcourt and bad passing might be to blame. The next, the backcourt and too many offensive fouls.

For Boyle and his staff, improvement certainly hasn’t been a matter of ironing out a single shortcoming or two. But the Buffs will have another opportunity to finally get in the win column in Big 12 play when CU hosts what likely will be a shorthanded No. 21-ranked West Virginia on Sunday afternoon.

“We just have no consistency. That’s the thing,” Boyle said. “Our effort was great against Iowa State, terrible against Arizona State, great against Central Florida. Whether it’s effort, whether it’s scoring production, whether it’s taking care of the ball. At Arizona State, most of our turnovers were from our frontcourt. And then our starting backcourt has 11 turnovers between them against Central Florida. Even the turnovers are inconsistent.”

… Continue reading story here …

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West Virginia, Sunday, January 12, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 1:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Ted Emrich, Tim Welsh) https://buffs.me/3WaavE0
Radio: KHOW 630 AM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 389, SXM App 979
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546198

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-5 overall and 0-3 to open Big 12 Conference play after falling at UCF 75-74 on Jan. 8 in its second true road game of the season. The Buffaloes are 0-3 in conference play for the first time since 2016-17, when Colorado dropped its first seven Pac-12 games before rebounding to win eight of its last 11. Overall, it’s Colorado’s first three-game skid since the same time frame last year, January 4-10, 2024, all road losses at Arizona, Arizona State and California.

ABOUT THE MOUNTAINEERS: No. 23 (AP) / 21 (Coaches) ranked West Virginia is 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12. The Mountaineers saw a seven-game winning streak snapped with a 75-56 home setback to Arizona in their last outing on Jan. 7. West Virginia averages 74.2 points per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field. The Mountaineers’ defense has been outstanding. WVU allows 63.4 points per game and ranks 15th in the nation in field goal shooting defense at 38.2 percent. The Mountaineers are even better guarding the perimeter, ranking 11th in the country in 3-point defense (.279). West Virginia tops the Big 12 in 3-point defense and in blocked shots (5.6 bpg).

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and West Virginia on the hardwood. The Buffaloes have never traveled, nor played a team, from the state of West Virginia. The Mountaineers are the only team from the “new” Big 12 Colorado had never faced prior to this season.

AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Colorado is 1-2 against ranked opponents in 2024-25 falling to a top 5 Iowa State team for the second time in a little over a month on Dec. 30. The Buffaloes faced No. 2/2 UConn and No. 5/5 Iowa State on back-to-back dates at the Maui Invitational.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 9th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs blow ten-point lead, fall on the road to UCF

From the Daily Camera … In terms of rebounding from a listless performance, the Colorado men’s basketball team did exactly what it wanted to do in many aspects in an unfamiliar arena.

The Buffaloes posted one of their top shooting percentages of the season, posting by far their best mark in Big 12 Conference play. CU held the opposition under 40% in its own gym. The Buffs outrebounded a Big 12 foe for the first time this season and enjoyed a strong bounce-back performance offensively from their senior point guard.

But then there were the turnovers, a familiar nemesis for the Buffs. And boy, there were a lot of them.

CU kicked away a golden opportunity to pick up a road win thanks to an ugly glut of turnovers, particularly in the second half, as Central Florida rallied to top the Buffs 75-74 on Wednesday night at Addition Financial Arena.

It wasn’t a result that was difficult to dissect. The Buffs otherwise were excellent on offense, and played well enough to win defensively and on the glass. However, a season-high 22 turnovers led to a 24-10 advantage for UCF in points off turnovers. In a one-point result, that was the entire story as CU fell to 0-3 in league play for the first time since an 0-7 start in the Pac-12 in 2016-17.

“I told the team I don’t know how the hell we’re in this game when we turn it over 22 times, and they scored 24 points off our turnovers,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “That says something about our fight and our ability to compete. (Turnovers) have been an Achilles heel of Colorado all year long. They reared their head tonight. When we got our defense set and took care of the ball, we guarded them pretty darn well.”

The comedy of errors erased an effort that saw the Buffs shoot .522 overall, their second-best mark of the season, while going 7-for-13 on 3-pointers. Defensively, CU held UCF to a .392 mark and outrebounded the Knights 33-28. UCF posted a 7-2 advantage in the first half on second-chance points off seven offensive rebounds, but UCF had only two offensive boards and two second-chance points after halftime.

Yet on the heels of a listless loss last week at Arizona State, the Buffs suffered another road defeat despite a far superior effort thanks solely to their own miscues.

… Continue reading story here …

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January 8th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs try to regroup against UCF (5:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+) – “Nobody gets a pass for being outhustled”

UCF, Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Fla.
Tip: 5:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Drew Fellios, BJ Taylor) https://buffs.me/4gJstp3
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 384, SXM App 974
Live Statistics: https://buffs.me/4a8NlmU

From the Daily Camera … The CU men’s basketball team went through a tough practice on Monday before flying to Orlando, where they will visit the Central Florida Knights for the first time as Big 12 Conference rivals on Wednesday night.

The Buffs are coming off arguably their most frustrating effort of the season, losing by 20 points at Arizona State against a Sun Devils squad missing its leading scorer. A loss is one thing. But after watching his team get outrebounded and outhustled at ASU, CU head coach Tad Boyle hinted changes might be in store if the Buffs continue trending the wrong direction.

“You have to decide as a coach, what are the non-negotiables?” Boyle said. “Because we can’t lower the standards of our program for one team or one guy. The standards are the standards, and we have to live up to the standards. And we’re not doing that right now. Number one is making that crystal clear to the guys. The standards that we set for this program are not being adhered to with our defensive effort and our rebounding effort.

“The second thing is, the 50-50 balls … that’s unacceptable. That’s a non-negotiable. You don’t give them a pass for that. Nobody gets a pass for getting outhustled, or getting out-toughed. I have to be not emotional about how I react but make them understand. I think we did that at practice (Monday).”

After battling commendably against No. 3 Iowa State in the Big 12 opener, the Buffs fell flat in all facets at ASU. CU shot a season-low .125 (3-for-24) from 3-point range and was outrebounded 38-34. Including a nonconference game against ISU at the Maui Invitational, the Buffs have been outrebounded by all three of their Big 12 opponents.

… Continue reading story here …

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ABOUT THE KNIGHTS: UCF is 10-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. The Knights defeated Texas Tech on the road in their league opener 87-83, but fell at home to Kansas on Jan. 5, 99-48. UCF averages 78.8 points on 42.2 shooting. The Knights lead the Big 12 in free throws at 18.8 made per game and rank second in free throw shooting at 77.5 percent. Defensively, UCF allows 76.6 points while opponents shoot 43.1 percent.

Junior forward Keyshawn Hall leads UCF at 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Senior guard Darius Johnson averages 14.5 points, leading the Knights in 3-point field goals (33), assists (55) and steals (38). Johnson’s 2.9 steals per game average leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth in the nation. Freshman center Moustapha Thiam is 10th in the country in blocked shots at 2.5 per game while pitching in 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

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January 5th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs not competitive in 81-61 road loss to Arizona State – Boyle: “They got whatever they wanted”

From CUBuffs.com … A first half offensive explosion by Arizona State along with some Colorado shooting woes led to an 81-61 decision in favor of the Sun Devils Saturday afternoon at Desert Financial Arena.

Colorado trailed by double digits early in the game and could not mount a comeback to capture its first Big 12 Conference win of the season, falling to 9-4 (0-2) on the year while ASU improves to 10-3 (1-1).

Trailing by as much as 23 in the first half, the Buffaloes went on a 10-0 run in the final 2:35 minutes of the period to cut the deficit to 13 with another 20 minutes to play.

Graduate transfer Trevor Baskin scored a season-high 23 points on 9 of 14 from the floor with 10 rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block. It marks his second double-double as a Buff and 24th of his collegiate career. It’s also the first time he has logged 20 or more points in his time at CU.

The Buffs got a hefty 40 points from their bench. Javon Ruffin, Sebastian Rancik, and Harrison Carrington combined for 17 of those points, in addition to Baskin’s 23.

Arizona State’s BJ Freeman posted a season-high 19 points in the win.

The difference was a season-low field goal percentage (34.8%) and three-point field goal percentage (12.5%) by the Buffaloes, with the combination of the Sun Devils shooting 51.9% from the field and 46.4% from beyond the arc.

“They just had whatever they wanted,” head coach Tad Boyle stated. “They’d beat us inside, they’d beat us outside. They got whatever they wanted. And we just didn’t. We didn’t dictate at all with our defense. We were on our heels. It felt like the whole night, both offensively and defensively.”

… Continue reading story here …

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January 4th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs take on Arizona State in first Big 12 road test

From CUBuffs.com …

ABOUT THE SUN DEVILS: Arizona State is 9-3 overall, dropping its Big 12 opener at BYU, 76-56 on Dec. 31. The Sun Devils will be playing just their fifth home game of the season and first in over a month, since a 90-53 win over San Diego on Dec. 3. ASU averages 76.7 points while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. The Sun Devils shoot 36.7 from 3-point range, ranking fourth in the Big 12. Defensively, Arizona State allows 71.8 points while opponents shoot 41.5 percent. ASU ranks third in the Big 12 in blocked shots at 5.3 per game.

Joson Sanon leads Arizona State in scoring at 13.5 points per game with a team-best 28 3-point field goals, shooting 48.3 percent from downtown. Basheer Jihad averages 13.3 points on 46.9 percent from the field. Jayden Quaintance leads Arizona State in rebounding at 8.1 per game and tops the Big 12 in blocked shots at 3.2 per game.

THE SERIES: This will be the 29th meeting between Colorado and Arizona State with the Buffaloes holding a 16-12 edge in the series. The teams split last year’s Pac-12 Conference battles, both winning at home. Arizona holds a 9-4 advantage in Tempe although three of those Colorado wins have come in the last four trips.

… Read full story here …

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December 31st 

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs competitive, but fall to No. 3 Iowa State, 79-69

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado threw a scare into No. 3 Iowa State on Monday in their Big 12 opener but the Buffaloes couldn’t close the deal down the stretch and dropped a 79-69 decision at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs fell to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play. Iowa State improved to 11-1, 1-0.

Colorado overcame a 12-point deficit early in the second half to take a 53-48 lead with 13 minutes to play. But the Buffs couldn’t hold the lead as ISU took advantage of a CU cold streak to regain the edge, then used an 8-0 run in the final three minutes to put the game away.

Julian Hammond III led CU with 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting and also had four rebounds, four assists and no turnovers. RJ Smith added 14 points and Bangot Dak led the Buffs with eight rebounds.

Curtis Jones led ISU with 20 points.

The Buffs shot the ball well, hitting 49 percent from the floor (28-for-57) while holding the Cyclones to 43 percent (29-for-68).

But the difference came in turnovers and offensive rebounds. Colorado committed 19 miscues that ISU converted into 24 points and the Cyclones grabbed 20 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points.

Colorado also shot just eight free throws and made six while the Cylones were 17-for-22 from the line.

“I was pleased with our effort and our competitiveness,” Boyle said, “But we had the answer to this test before the test. We talked about it in pregame — second-chance points, points off turnovers. They have 20 offensive rebounds and we turn it over 19 times, and still somehow we stayed in the game until the end … But we didn’t do what we knew we had to do to beat this team.”

… Continue reading story here …

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December 30th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs open Big 12 conference play against No. 3 Iowa State

… Related … Rebounding test awaits CU Buffs against No. 3 Iowa State … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Iowa State, Monday, December 30, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:05 p.m. MT
Watch: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Dan Dickau)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 389, SXM App 979
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546204

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 9-2 overall and winners of its last four as the Buffaloes closed out their nonconference schedule with a 79-55 triumph over Bellarmine on Dec. 21.

Colorado is set to play its first Big 12 Conference regular season game since March 5, 2011, a 67-57 home win over Nebraska. Led by then first-year head coach Tad Boyle, the Buffaloes tied for fifth place in the league standings that season at 8-8 advancing to the Big 12 Championship semifinals. Colorado won a then-school record 24 games in 2010-11 (24-14), finishing its season in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

The Buffaloes are a perfect 8-0 at the CU Events Center this season, have won their last 11 home games dating back to last year and have won 24 of 25 since the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

Away from the friendly confines, Colorado placed sixth at the 2024 Maui Invitational. A thrilling 73-72 win over then-No. 2/2 ranked UConn on the tournament’s second day (Nov. 26) highlighted the trip for the Buffaloes who eventually fell to No. 5/5 Iowa State 99-71 in the consolation final (fifth place game) on Nov. 27 to round out the event with a 1-2 record. The game against Iowa State counted as a nonconference game.

Colorado is averaging 76.7 points per game, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from 3-point range. Defensively, Colorado is allowing 68.4 points per game while opponents are shooting 41.3 percent.

ABOUT THE CYCLONES: No. 3 (AP & Coaches) ranked Iowa State is 10-1 on the season and has won its last seven. The lone loss on the season for the Cyclones was a two-point setback (83-81) against current No. 2 ranked Auburn in the first round of the Maui Invitational. Iowa State leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth in the nation in scoring at 88.5 points per game. The Cyclones also rank in the nation’s top 10 in shooting (7th, .513), scoring margin (6th, +22.9), assist-to-turnover ratio (7th, 1.9) and turnover margin (7th, +6.5).

Iowa State features six players averaging in double-digit scoring, led by senior guard Keshon Gilbert at 16.5 points per game. Gilbert also leads the Cyclones in assists (57) and free throws made and attempted (52-68). Senior guard Curtis Jones, who primarily comes off the bench, averages 16.0 points and leads ISU with 31 3-point field goals. Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic, who scored a game-high 24 points against Colorado at the Maui Invitational, is third in scoring at 11.6 points per game. Junior forward Joshua Jefferson leads Iowa State in rebounding at 8.4 per game while pitching in 11.5 points per game.

THE SERIES: This will be the 150th meeting between Colorado and Iowa State, the third-most played series in program history (trailing Kansas-164 and Missouri-151). Iowa State holds a 79-70 series lead. This will be the first regular season conference game between the two long-time rivals since a 95-90 ISU win in Ames on Feb. 1, 2011. Colorado and Iowa State played a pair of nonconference games since CU’s last stint in the Big 12 – both won by the Cyclones – last month at the Maui Invitational and a neutral site game in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Nov. 13, 2015. Colorado holds a 48-16 advantage in Boulder and has won the last six played at the CU Events Center. ISU’s last win in Boulder came on March 5, 2005 (78-73).

… Read full story here …

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December 21st – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs finish non-conference play with a 9-2 record with a 79-55 romp over Bellarmine

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado took care of business Saturday at the CU Events Center as the Buffaloes rolled past Bellarmine, 79-55, in their final tuneup before Big 12 play.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 9-2 with their fourth straight win while the overmatched Knights dropped to 3-10.

Colorado used a 25-4 run in the first half to cruise to a 45-16 edge at the break and the Knights never threatened to make it a game after halftime.

CU led by as much as 37 early in the second half but the Buffaloes’ defense let up down the stretch, allowing the Knights to outscore Colorado 39-34 in the final 20 minutes.

The Buffs put three players in double figures, led by a career-high 15 points from sophomore forward Assane Diop on 7-for-11 shooting. Sophomore guard RJ Smith had 11 points and a team-high five rebounds while senior point guard Julian Hammond III had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Dezmond McKinney led Bellarmine with 12 points.

Colorado shot 29-for-62 (47 percent) from the floor while the Knights were 21-for-53 (39.6 percent). CU also had a 38-30 edge on the boards, making the Buffs 95-6 in the Boyle era when hitting the “gold standard” of holding a team to 40 percent or less shooting and collecting at least a plus-8 rebound edge.

But despite the lopsided win, Boyle wasn’t pleased with CU’s second-half effort. Bellarmine outscored Colorado in the second half by five points while shooting almost 62 percent from the floor (16-for-26, including 6-for-12 from 3-point range).

“I was really, really disappointed in the second half,” said Boyle, whose Buffs open Big 12 play on Dec. 30 at home against No. 3 Iowa State. “I thought we kind of mailed it in at halftime, and that was a challenge I gave to our team — don’t play the scoreboard, play the possession — and we didn’t do that at all … (The Knights) scored more points in the first eight minutes of the second half than they did the whole first half. That means our defense really took a step backwards and for us to be successful in the league we’re going to play in starting December 30, that ain’t good enough. You have to play for 40 minutes, not 20.”

… Continue reading story here …

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CU finishes up non-conference play against Bellarmine (1:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

From CUBuffs.com … Bellarmine, Saturday, December 21, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 1:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/49Ogunk
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 390, SXM App 980
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546200

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 8-2 overall and winners of its last three following an 81-70 win over South Dakota State on Dec. 13. The Buffaloes improved to 7-0 at the CU Events Center this season, have won their last 10 home games dating back to last year and have won 23 of 24 since the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

Away from the friendly confines, Colorado placed sixth at the 2024 Maui Invitational. A thrilling 73-72 win over then-No. 2/2 ranked UConn on the tournament’s second day (Nov. 26) highlighted the trip for the Buffaloes who eventually fell to No. 5/5 Iowa State 99-71 in the consolation final (fifth place game) on Nov. 27 to round out the event with a 1-2 record. The game against Iowa State counted as a nonconference game and the two long-time rivals are set for a rematch in the Big 12 Conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30.

Colorado is averaging 76.5 points per game, shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point range. Colorado’s 3-point percentage ranks 28th in the nation and third in the Big 12.

Defensively, Colorado is allowing 69.7 points per game while opponents are shooting 41.4 percent.

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS: Bellarmine, out of the Atlantic Sun Conference, is 3-9 overall and has lost two-straight and four of its last five. The Knights are coming off a 92-55 setback at Wyoming on Dec. 19. Bellarmine has just one win against an NCAA Division I opponent, defeating Bowling Green at home, 80-68, on Nov. 23. The Knights average 74.3 points and are the top shooting team in the ASUN both overall (.472) and from 3-point range (.366). Defensively, Bellarmine allows 79.8 points while opponents shoot 48 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from 3-point range.

Junior guard Ben Johnson averages 13.2 points and has a team-best 30 3-point field goals. Junior guard Billy Smith averages 12.8 points and leads the team in assists (29) and is second in 3-point field goals (29). Junior forward Curt Hopf is Bellarmine’s top rebounder at 5.1 per contest.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and Bellarmine. The Buffaloes are 9-1 all-time against schools that currently make up the Atlantic Sun Conference, the last game an 84-60 Colorado win over North Alabama on Dec. 15, 2022.

… Read full story here …

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December 14th

… CU in the Arena … 

Julian Hammond’s career high 23 points leads Buffs past South Dakota State, 81-70

… Related … Julian Hammond III leads CU Buffs past South Dakota State … from the Daily Camera …

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado’s Julian Hammond III scored a career-high 23 points Friday to lift the Buffaloes to an 81-70 win over South Dakota State at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs won their third in a row to improve to 8-2 overall while SDSU fell to 8-5.

Hammond scored 10 of his 23 in the final four minutes of the game, including a clutch 3-pointer and free throw with 49 seconds remaining to salt away the win. He also had six assists and just one turnover. Elijah Malone had 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting and nine rebounds for CU and RJ Smith added 11 points.

Joe Sayler led the Jackrabbits with 16 points.

While the Buffs led for almost the entire game, they never pushed their lead into double digits until the final minutes. SDSU stayed close by hitting 11 3-pointers, including seven in the first half, but the Buffs shot 50 percent from the floor (28-for-56) for the game to make the difference.

Colorado finished with a 34-26 edge on the boards and the Buffs were better defensively after the break, holding the Jackrabbits to just 4-for-12 shooting from long range.

CU also hit 18 of its 19 free throw attempts, including 16 in the second half.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for them, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Boyle said. “I was disappointed in our ability to guard the 3-point line tonight … I thought we did some really good things offensively, but defensively, if we take away their threes and make those tough twos, you know, it’s a 20-point game. But overall it’s a good win and we’ll take it.”

“Julian was terrific,” Boyle said of his senior point guard. “That was a big time three at the end that we needed to put that thing away. You look at his line, he had 23 points on 14 shots, six assists, one turnover. That’s what you need from your senior point guard.”

The victory was the Buffs’ 10th in a row on their home court.

… Read full story here …

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December 13th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

CU hosting South Dakota State (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

… Related … Last visit by South Dakota State an epic battle for CU Buffs … from the Daily Camera …

From CUBuffs.com …

South Dakota State, Friday, December 13, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/3BsAoYi
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 380, SXM App 970
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/546193

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 7-2 overall following a 72-55 win over Colorado State on Dec. 7, improving to 6-0 at the CU Events Center this season. The Buffaloes have won their last nine home games dating back to last year and have won 22 of 23 since the beginning of 2023-24.

Away from the friendly confines, Colorado placed sixth at the 2024 Maui Invitational. A thrilling 73-72 win over then-No. 2/2 ranked UConn on the tournament’s second day (Nov. 26) highlighted the trip for the Buffaloes who eventually fell to No. 5/5 Iowa State 99-71 in the consolation final (fifth place game) on Nov. 27 to round out the event with a 1-2 record. The game against Iowa State counted as a nonconference game and the two long-time rivals are set for a rematch in the Big 12 Conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30.

Colorado is averaging 76.0 points per game, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point range. Colorado’s 3-point percentage ranks 18th in the nation and third in the Big 12.

Defensively, Colorado is allowing 69.7 points per game while opponents are shooting 41.2 percent.

ABOUT THE JACKRABBITS: South Dakota State is 8-4 overall, coming off a 77-63 setback at Nevada on Dec. 11. The Jackrabbits are 3-4 away from home but have dropped both true road contests, with a 71-67 loss at Montana on Dec. 4 the other. SDSU averages 77.4 points per game and leads the Summit League in shooting at 47.3 percent. The Jackrabbits also top the Summit League, and rank 13th in the nation in rebounding margin at plus-10.3 boards per game. Defensively, SDSU allows 67.3 points while opponents are shooting just over 40 percent.

Senior center Oscar Cluff averages 17.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 73.1 percent from the field (76-104). He leads the nation in double-doubles with eight while ranking second in field goal percentage and sixth in rebounding average. Cluff transferred to South Dakota State from Washington State where he was a teammate of current Buffalo Andrej Jakimovski.

Freshman guard Joe Sayler is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game. Sophomore guard Kalen Garry averages 9.6 points while leading the Jackrabbits in assists with 33.

THE SERIES: This will be the fourth meeting between Colorado and South Dakota State. The Buffaloes have won all three previous meetings, all coming in Boulder. The last meeting was a double-overtime scoring fest with the Buffaloes outlasting the Jackrabbits 112-103 on Dec. 15, 2017.

… Read full story here …

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December 7th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs jump to an early lead, rout CSU Rams, 72-55

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado used a 16-0 run to take control in the first half Saturday and the Buffaloes went on to take a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 7-2 while Colorado State fell to 5-4.

Colorado never trailed in the game, taking the lead for good early on a Bangot Dak 3-pointer. The Buffs then used a 16-0 run to turn a 14-11 lead into a 30-11 cushion with just under 8 minutes to play in the first half and built the edge to 43-21 by the break.

CU extended its lead to as much as 26 early in the second half, 56-30, before the Rams managed to shave the deficit into the teens down the stretch. But CSU never managed to get back within single digits and the Buffs held on for the win.

Bangor Dak led the Buffs in scoring with a career-high 16 points, Julian Hammond III added 13 and Elijah Malone chipped in 10. Trevor Baskin scored nine points and grabbed 11 boards while Assane Diop had eight rebounds.

Jalen Lake led CSU with 18 points while the Buffs held Rams leading scorer (and former Buff) Nique Clifford to just 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs jumped out to an early lead and never trailed.

An Assane Diop 3-pointer broke a 5-5 tie and the Buffs quickly built the lead to seven on an Elijah Malone bucket inside.

CSU managed to shave the Colorado lead to three, 14-11, with a basket inside at the 12:15 mark but the Buffs then broke the game open with a 16-0 run.

… Continue reading story here …

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Rivalry Game – CU v. CSU as Nique Clifford returns to the Events Center

Colorado State, Saturday, December 7, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 6:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel, Sean Kearney)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 381, SXM App 971

… Related … CU Buffs ready for Events Center return of CSU’s Nique Clifford … from the Daily Camera …

TOY DRIVE: Colorado Athletics will host its annual Toy Drive, presented by Anthem, Saturday at the men’s and women’s basketball games.  Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate at designated drop-off locations at the arena entrances. Your generosity will support A Precious Child, spreading cheer to families in need.

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 6-2 overall following a 75-66 win over Pacific on Dec. 2, improving to 5-0 at the CU Events Center this season. The Buffaloes have won their last eight home games dating back to last year and have won 21 of 22 since the beginning of 2023-24.

Away from the friendly confines, Colorado placed sixth at the 2024 Maui Invitational. A thrilling 73-72 win over then-No. 2/2 ranked UConn on the tournament’s second day (Nov. 26) highlighted the trip for the Buffaloes who eventually fell to No. 5/5 Iowa State 99-71 in the consolation final (fifth place game) on Nov. 27 to round out the event with a 1-2 record. The game against Iowa State counted as a nonconference game and the two long-time rivals are set for a rematch in the Big 12 Conference opener in Boulder on Dec. 30.

Colorado is averaging 76.5 points per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range. Colorado’s 3-point percentage ranks 13th in the nation and third in the Big 12.

Defensively, Colorado is allowing 71.5 points per game while opponents are shooting 42.5 percent.

ABOUT THE RAMS: Colorado State is 5-3 overall and winners of its last two after an 83-54 victory over Loyola Marymount on Dec. 4. Saturday’s game will be the Rams’ first true road game of the season. CSU is 1-2 in neutral site games, highlighted by a 76-72 overtime win over TCU on Nov. 29 in Palm Desert, Calif. Colorado State is averaging 76.6 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 71.9 percent from the foul line. The Rams lead the Mountain West Conference in 3-point attempts at 26.8 per game and shoot 31.3 percent beyond the arc. CSU is one of better defensive rebounding teams in the nation, ranking 32nd at 28.6 per game. Defensively, Colorado State allows 70 points per game on 40.9 percent from the field. The Rams are allowing 35.8 percent from 3-point range, ranking near the bottom of the MWC.

Fifth-year wing Nique Clifford leads Colorado State at 18.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field. A former Colorado Buffalo (2020-23), Clifford is the nation’s leader in defensive rebounds (9.6 drpg), ranks fifth in overall rebounding average and 13th in double-doubles (four). Senior guard Jalen Lake averages 15.0 points per game and leads the Rams in 3-point field goals with 22 and is shooting 40 percent from long range. Sophomore forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is third in scoring (9.4 ppg) and second in rebounding (4.8 rpg).

THE SERIES: This will be the 132nd meeting between Colorado and Colorado State with the Buffaloes holding a commanding 92-39 series lead. Colorado State snapped a three-game Buffaloes win streak in the series with an 88-83 decision in Fort Collins last season in the first contest in series history where the Rams were a ranked team. The Buffaloes hold a 55-9 lead in Boulder and have won five of the last seven.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 3rd 

… CU in the Arena …

Another day, another comeback against a lesser opponent – CU defeats Pacific, 75-66

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado overcame a 10-point second half deficit and took control with a 29-8 surge Monday as the Buffaloes collected a 75-66 win over Pacific at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 6-2 while Pacific dropped to 5-5.

CU’s Trevor Baskin flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Andrej Jakimovski led CU with 17 points, RJ Smith had eight points and seven boards and Bangot Dak had seven points, six assists and four blocks.

Elias Ralph led Pacific with 24 points.

The Buffs fell behind by 11 in the first half, thanks to a 15-0 Pacific run that saw the Tigers hit six straight shots while the Buffaloes missed 10 in a row. CU managed to briefly cut the deficit to four but trailed by nine at the break, 38-29, after the Tigers finished the half with a 5-0 run.

Colorado shot just 10-for-31 in the first half while the Tigers were 14-for-29. Pacific also held a 24-8 edge in the paint in the opening 20 minutes.

But the Buffs finally found their defense while also revving up their offense following the break. After Pacific took a 48-38 lead, the Buffs put together a 15-2 run to take their first lead since early in the game, 53-50, with 11 minutes to play.

Pacific managed to keep it close over the next four minutes before CU finally took firm control, using a 10-0 run to take a 67-56 lead, part of the decisive 29-8 run.

Colorado then held the Tigers at bay over the final minutes for the win.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 2nd – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Pacific, Monday, December 2, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Pacific is 5-4 overall and has won its last two, including a 64-55 home win over Cal State Fullerton on November 30th, a team the Buffaloes defeated by 30 (83-53) on November 13th. The Tigers have yet to win a true road contest this season with an 0-3 record. Pacific is averaging 73.8 points while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. The Tigers have been a solid rebounding team, ranking in the top 45 in the nation in both rebounding margin (+8.4, 40th) and rebounding average (40.6, 45th). Defensively, the Tigers allow 68.6 points while a opponents are shooting 40.2 percent. Pacific has been stingy on the perimeter, allowing only 27.0 percent from 3-point range, the second-best mark in the West Coast Conference.

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Buffs taking on Pacific in search of a starting lineup: “I can’t continue to play 11 guys. I’ve got some decisions to make”

From the Daily Camera … The Buffs returned to Boulder on Friday after going 1-2 at the Maui Invitational, producing an impressive win against two-time defending UConn in between lopsided losses against Michigan State and Iowa State. After a long trip, the Buffs will have a relatively short turnaround before hosting Pacific on Monday night (7 p.m., ESPN+).

Through seven games, Boyle has utilized three different starting lineups. Not a gaudy total, but certainly a trend that is atypical to Boyle’s 15-season tenure. That part of the equation is likely to continue — more because of game-to-game matchups than competition or experimenting with the starting five.

But Boyle also has given meaningful minutes to a rotation 11-deep so far, and with only four nonconference games remaining before the Buffs open Big 12 play on Dec. 30 against the same Iowa State squad that routed them by 28 points in the Maui finale, the overall rotation is likely to be whittled.

“In terms of the starting lineup, it’s a matchup thing for sure,” Boyle said. “But I can’t continue to play 11 guys. So I’ve got some decisions to make. And I’m going to make my decisions based on practice and based on the performance in games.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 27th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

No. 5 Iowa State rolls over CU in Maui, 99-71: “We’ve got to bounce back. It was a good experience for us”

From the Daily Camera … Defeating second-ranked UConn showed the new-look Colorado men’s basketball team is quite capable of competing with the top programs in the nation.

Iowa State showed the Buffaloes they still have plenty of work to do before Big 12 Conference play begins in a month. Against, as fate would have it, Iowa State.

The Buffs took aim at a second top-five victory in as many days in their final contest at the Maui Invitational, but instead were humbled by the fifth-ranked Cyclones, who routed CU 99-71 on Wednesday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

A combination of too many reckless turnovers by CU, particularly in the first half, and torrid shooting from the Cyclones made it a long morning in Hawaii for the Buffs, who return home with a 1-2 mark against a loaded field at the most prestigious nonconference tournament in college basketball.

“Today, it was all a matter of taking care of the ball and not boxing out,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “I wasn’t a math major but I can add. Fifty-one points of their 99 came off of offensive rebounds where we don’t box out or we get punked or beat, whatever you want to say. Thirty-seven on turnovers and 14 on second-chance points. Our half-court defense wasn’t very good either.

“You put the combination of turnovers, not boxing out, and not guarding, and this is what you get.”

CU (5-2) stayed close early, but with the game tied 22-22 Iowa State slowly took control, outscoring the Buffs 23-12 over the remainder of the first half to take a 45-34 lead at the break. The Buffs had curtailed their early-season turnover issues heading into the game, but CU committed nine in the first half, leading to a 20-2 advantage for Iowa State in points off turnovers at the break.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 26th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs Stun No. 2 UConn in Maui Classic, beating the Huskies, 73-72

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado staged a big second-half rally Tuesday and the Buffaloes knocked off No. 2-ranked UConn 73-72 in the Maui Invitational.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 5-1 with the win while two-time defending national champion UConn lost its second straight to slip to 4-2.

Julian Hammond III and Elijah Malone each had 16 points for the Buffs while Andrej Jakimovski had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, his first as a Buff.

Liam McNeely led UConn with 20 points.

Colorado trailed by as much as 11 in the first half and by nine in the second half before using an 11-0 run midway through the second half to take the lead. The two teams then traded the lead down the stretch several times before Jakimovski drove to the hoop with nine seconds remaining to give the Buffs the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado stayed close for the first 10 minutes, with Julian Hammond III scoring eight points in the first six minutes. With 9:34 to play in the half, Javon Ruffin hit a pair of free throws to pull the Buffs to within 18-14.

But the Huskies then reeled off a 7-0 run to push their lead to 11 as Colorado endured an 0-for-7 stretch from the floor.

Ruffin hit just one of three free throws with 36 seconds remaining and CU then missed one more shot in the final seconds, sending Colorado into the break trailing 40-32.

But Colorado didn’t fade away in the second half. Instead, the Buffs chipped away at UConn’s edge, finally using an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the game.

Hammond started the run with a 3-pointer before Elijah Malone scored on an alley-oop layup. Bangot Dak then hit one free throw before Hammond connected on another trey — the Buffs’ sixth straight successful field goal attempt — to give CU a 48-46 lead with 14:02 to play.

The Huskies regained the lead with a quick 5-0 surge but Colorado had another answer. Malone scored inside to cut UConn’s lead to one before RJ Smith drained a long 3-pointer to give CU a 57-56 edge with 9:14 to play.

At that point, CU had hit 10 of 13 field goal tries in the second half, including a 4-for-5 effort from long range.

UConn came back to take a 61-59 lead before Andrej Jakimovski drained a corner trey for the Buffs to tie the score at 63-63 with 5:16 to play, then hit two free throws to tie it again at 65-65.

But the Huskies responded with a quick 5-0 run, getting a 3-pointer and layup from Solo Ball to take a 70-65 lead with 3:28 to play.

Colorado answered with a Trevor Baskin bucket inside, then two free throws from Malone after a steal to cut UConn’s lead to one, 70-69, with two minutes to play.

The Huskies pushed their lead back to three on their next possession, getting a tip-in to take a 72-69 edge with 1:34 on the clock.

But Colorado cut it back to one again, getting a Malone jump hook inside. CU then got a block from Ruffin on the defensive end to take possession with 47 seconds left.

The Buffs missed a 3-point try but Baskin grabbed the rebound and called time out with 21 seconds remaining.

Jakimovski then gave the Buffs the lead with an off-balance right-hand drive to the hoop, giving Colorado a 73-72 lead with 8 seconds to play.

UConn inbounded the ball and then called time out. The Huskies took a difficult 3-point try with just a few ticks remaining and the ball bounced off the rim, handing the Buffs the win.

… Read the full story here …

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November 25th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs fall to Michigan State, 72-56, to face No. 2 UConn Tuesday 

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado started fast but couldn’t keep pace with Michigan State on Monday, as the Buffaloes dropped a 72-56 decision in the opening round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 while Michigan State improved to 5-1.

Colorado now plays second-ranked and defending national champion UConn in a 1:30 p.m. (MT) game Tuesday. The Huskies were upset by Memphis, 99-97, in overtime Monday.

The Buffs got off to a good start, taking an early lead on 3-pointers from Julian Hammond III and Andrej Jakimovski. The Buffs were still tied with the Spartans midway through the first half when Elijah Malone scored inside to knot the score at 21-21.

But the Buffs went cold from that point on and the Spartans closed the half with a 17-4 run to take a 38-25 lead at halftime.

CU then briefly cut the lead back to seven early in the second half on two more 3-pointers from Hammond. But the Spartans then slowly pulled away, building their lead to 17 at the midway point of the half and pushing it to as much as 20 down the stretch.

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs taking on Michigan State in Maui Classic (3:00 p.m., MT, ESPN2)

From CUBuffs.com …

Michigan State, Monday, November 25, 2024
Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, Hawai’i
Tip: 3 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN2 (Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 384, SXM App 974
Live Statistics: https//maui.statbroadcast.com

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 4-0 to start a season for the second-straight year and the fifth time in the coach Tad Boyle era (since 2010-11). The Buffaloes are coming off an 88-66 win over Harvard at the CU Events Center on Nov. 17.

Colorado averaged 84.3 points over its season-opening four-game home-stand while shooting exactly 50 percent from the field (113-226)and 40.2 percent from 3-point range. The Buffaloes offense began to gain steam in the last two games, increasing that shooting percentage to 54.1 percent (59-109). Colorado has won eight-straight games, and 19 of its last 21, when shooting at least 50 percent.

The Buffaloes have picked up from 3-point range as well. After starting the season making 14 of 41 from 3-point range in the first two games (.341) the Buffaloes have made 21 of 46 over the last two (.457). Colorado’s 12 3-point field goals against Cal State Fullerton was its most since making 13 almost a year to the day, Nov. 15, 2023 vs. Milwaukee.

The Buffaloes dished out a season-high 22 assists against Cal State Fullerton, improving from just nine in the previous game against Northern Colorado. Colorado followed that performance up with 18 assists, along with a season-low 13 turnovers, in the win over Harvard.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS: Michigan State is 4-1 on the season with its lone loss coming in a competitive 77-69 neutral-floor battle against top-ranked Kansas on November 12th. The Spartans average 83.0 points shooting 46.3 percent from the field. Michigan State, receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls, have held opponents to just 68.2 points on 39.7 percent shooting.

Senior guard Jaden Akins leads the Spartans in scoring at 14.6 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding at 6.2 per contest. Senior Frankie Fidler is averaging 11.8 points and is shooting 89.5 percent from the line, getting to the line nearly eight times per game (34-38). Junior Jaxon Kohler leads Michigan State in rebounding at 8.0 per game while averaging 10.2 points on 50 percent shooting.

THE SERIES: This will be the fifth meeting between Colorado and Michigan State with the Spartans holding a 3-1 advantage. This will be the first meeting since a first round match-up in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. No. 7 seed Michigan State defeated No. 10 Colorado 79-64, in a South Region contest played in Tampa, Fla. Colorado’s lone win in the series was a 90-87 decision on Dec. 28, 1956, in Kansas City as part of the old Big Seven (later Big Eight) Holiday Tournament.

BUFFS IN MAUI: Colorado makes its second appearance at the Maui Invitational. The Buffaloes finished seventh at the 2009 Maui Invitational. Then coached by Jeff Bzdelik, in his final season at Colorado, the Buffaloes suffered back-to-back narrow losses to Gonzaga (76-72) and Arizona (91-87 in OT) before defeating Chaminade (73-58) on the final day.

PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS: Colorado has won eight preseason tournaments – also called MTE’s or multi-team events – most recently the 2019 MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas by defeating Wyoming (56-41) and Clemson (71-67). Four of Colorado’s preseason tournament titles have been won on a neutral court.

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November 17th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs pull away from Harvard to improve to 4-0 with 88-66 win

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado put four players in double figures Sunday and the Buffaloes pulled away from Harvard down the stretch to take an 88-66 win at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 4-0 as Colorado won its seventh straight game at home and 20th in the last 21. Harvard dropped to 1-4.

Andrej Jakimovski led CU with 20 points. Elijah Malone scored 16 and added seven rebounds, Javon Ruffin scored 15 and Trevor Baskin added 13 points and seven boards.

Evan Nelson and Chandler Pigge each scored 11 for the Crimson.

Colorado led by 12 at the half and pushed the lead to 17 early in the second period. Harvard managed to cut the deficit to just six midway through the half before the Buffs put the game away with a 21-4 run that gave Colorado a 77-54 cushion with 5:42 to play.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Harvard led early before the Buffs took the lead for good on an Elijah Malone bucket inside, the beginning of a 9-0 run that gave the Buffs a 14-6 edge eight minutes into the game.

But the Crimson managed to stay close, cutting the deficit down to three, 18-15, with a 3-pointer at the 8:38 mark.

Colorado, though, pushed its lead to 10 three minutes later on the heels of a 10-4 run. Malone tallied a three-point play, Andrej Jakimovski scored inside, Julian Hammond III drained a 3-pointer and Trevor Baskin connected from the lane to give the Buffs a 31-21 edge.

Harvard answered one more time, putting together a 7-0 run to pull back within three, 31-28.

But Colorado finished the half with a 15-6 run to take control. Javon Ruffin hit two treys in the surge and Jakimovski added five points and the Buffs took a 46-34 lead into the break.

The Buffs threatened to blow the game open early in the second half with a quick 5-0 run. Malone hit two free throws and Baskin swished a 3-pointer to give Colorado a 17-point edge, 51-34.

But the Crimson answered with a 14-3 run that included two 3-pointers while the Buffs endured a 1-for-7 shooting stretch. With 11:41 to play, Colorado’s lead had dwindled to just six, 56-50.

Colorado’s shooting woes contributed to Harvard’s brief surge as as the Buffs hit just five of their first 21 field goal tries of the half.

But just as quickly as Harvard pulled back within range, the Buffs put the game away with a 21-4 run that saw CU hit seven of eight field goal tries.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 14th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs pull away from winless Cal-State Fullerton for an 83-53 victory – Tad Boyle: “A lot to be pleased with”

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado drained 12 3-pointers and the Buffaloes ran away from Cal State Fullerton in the second half Wednesday night for an 83-53 win at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 3-0 with the win while the Titans dropped to 0-3.

The Buffs led by just six at the half, 35-29, but used a decisive 16-6 run midway through the second half to push their lead to 20, then slowly built the cushion down the stretch.

CU’s Andrej Jakimovski, a grad transfer from Washington State, tied his career best with five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Freshman Sebastian Rancik came off the bench to tally 13, Julian Hammond III had 11 points and four assists and Elijah Malone had nine points and four rebounds. Assane Diop led the Buffs on the boards with eight rebounds.

Donovan Oday led the Titans with 13 points.

Colorado finished with a season-best 22 assists while shooting 30-for-53 from the field (56.6 percent), including 12-for-27 from long range. The Buffs also had a 38-28 edge on the boards while holding the Titans to 31 percent shooting (18-for-58), including 2-for-17 from beyond the arc.

“You win by 30 at home and you defend pretty well, you rebound the ball pretty well, a lot to be pleased with,” said Boyle, whose Buffs are now 99-8 in non-conference home games in his tenure. “I thought we really took a step forward offensively tonight in terms of our ball movement and the ball not sticking in people’s hands. We had 22 assists on 30 baskets, which is phenomenal. We’ll take that every night.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 13th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena …

Signing Day: Tad Boyle signs five freshmen 

From the Daily Camera … Tad Boyle is willing to adapt with some of his old school ideals.

Others, not so much. And one of those embedded philosophies is on full display with the class of 2025 signing day haul for the Colorado men’s basketball team.

In an era when many programs lean heavily into more experienced spring acquisitions via the transfer portal, Boyle, in his 15th season at CU, remains devoted to the sign-and-develop approach to program-building. The Buffs added plenty of additional talent to work with on Wednesday’s national signing day, making it official with five new recruits.

That class — Colorado Prep standout Josiah Sanders, Texas wing Ian Inman, Los Angeles-area guard Isaiah Johnson, and prep teammates Jalin Holland and big man Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola — was ranked as the No. 32 class in the nation on signing day, per 247Sports. It’s ranked fourth in the 16-team Big 12, behind Iowa State (8), West Virginia (20) and BYU (30), though those numbers are certain to fluctuate.

Between a potential shift to 15 scholarships in NCAA men’s basketball and a possible reduction of power-conference level talent available in the transfer portal with the pending end of the extra COVID seasons of eligibility, Boyle and the Buffs opted to stockpile young talent.

“The whole key, I think, is you get good players, and you retain them. And then you develop them as retention happens. I think that’s how we can be successful at Colorado,” Boyle said. “Not to say we’ll never use the transfer portal. We used it this year. We signed three graduate transfers. But this is the last year of the COVID fifth-year guys. There will be graduate transfers, guys that graduated in three years or redshirted somewhere and graduated in four and still have one year of eligibility left. Those guys will still be around. I just think you can’t retain them if you don’t get them.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs taking on Cal-State Fullerton (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado is 2-0 after its 90-88 double overtime win over instate rival Northern Colorado on Nov. 8. The Buffaloes knocked off Eastern Washington in their opener, 76-56, on Nov. 4th.

Colorado has had the flair for the dramatic to open the season. Along with the double-overtime win over UNC, the Buffaloes rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to collect the win over Eastern Washington.

In the comeback win over Eastern Washington, Colorado trailed 27-10 at the 6:44 mark of the first half but was able to cut the margin to six at halftime thanks to a 10-2 run over the last 3:30 of the period. The Buffaloes then took over in the second half, outscoring the Eagles 51-25.

The 17-point deficit tied for the Buffaloes’ eighth-best comeback since 1947. Colorado had overcome a 17-point deficit on three other occasions, with one being another game against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, 2016. The Buffaloes trailed 19-2 right out of the gate in that contest before fighting back for a 76-68 victory.

IN THE OT: Colorado improved to 56-57 (.496) all-time in overtime games and 33-23 (.589) at home and are winners in its last six OT contests at the Events Center. The Buffaloes moved to 10-5 in double overtime games. It was the first double overtime home game since a 112-103 win over South Dakota State on Dec. 15, 2017

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November 9th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs struggle (again), needing two overtimes to defeat Northern Colorado, 90-88

From CUBuffs.com …  It took two overtime periods, but Colorado finally gave head coach Tad Boyle his 300th victory as the Buffaloes head coach Friday with a 90-88 win over Northern Colorado at the CU Events Center.

The Buffs improved to 2-0 while UNC fell to 1-1.

The Buffs trailed by six midway through the second half but fought back to take a six-point lead with just more than a minute remaining in regulation.

The Bears, though, rallied to force overtime, hitting a 3-pointer with just a half-second left on the clock to tie the game at 67-67. The Buffs couldn’t get the potential game winner to go down in the final seconds of the first extra period but finally came up with some key defensive stops and crucial free throws in the final minute of the second overtime to collect the win.

Elijah Malone led CU with 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Javon Ruffin and Julian Hammond III each chipped in 12 points, Trevor Baskin had nine points and nine rebounds and Assane Diop had a career-high 10 rebounds.

The Buffs were once again plagued by turnovers, committing 21 miscues that led to 20 UNC points while finishing with just nine assists.

Isaiah Hawthorne led the Bears with 19 points, including two of UNC’s 13 3-pointers.

“Good win,” Boyle said. “It wasn’t easy. I told the team I’d rather win ugly than lose pretty. I have to tip my hat to Northern Colorado … We had opportunities to close it out a couple times but we couldn’t get a stop. Like I said, a good win but we have to get better.”

Boyle is in his 15th season in Boulder, where he has accumulated a 300-183 mark. His  overall head coaching record is 356-249.

“It means I’ve been here a long time and we’ve had a lot of good players,” Boyle said. “It means I’ve had a lot of good assistant coaches. But I know when I wake up tomorrow I’ll be thinking of how we get to 301.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 8th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle looks for win No. 300 as Buffs take on Northern Colorado

… Tip-off: 7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … KOA radio … Listen Online: Sirius XM 383 … 

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado is 1-0 after its season-opening 76-56 win over Eastern Washington on Nov. 4 at the CU Events Center.

The Buffaloes rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to collect their ninth-straight season-opening win. Colorado trailed 27-10 at the 6:44 mark of the first half but was able to cut the margin to six at halftime thanks to a 10-2 run over the last 3:30 of the period. The Buffaloes then took over in the second half, outscoring the Eagles 51-25.

The 17-point deficit tied for the Buffaloes’ eighth-best comeback since 1947. Colorado had overcome a 17-point deficit on three other occasions, with one being another game against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, 2016. The Buffaloes trailed 19-2 right out of the gate in that contest before fighting back for a 76-68 victory.

GRAND GRAD DEBUTS: Colorado’s three graduate transfers, spanning all levels of collegiate basketball, had successful debuts as Buffaloes on opening night.

Trevor Baskin, an NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, played a key role in Colorado’s comeback win with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 22 minutes.

Elijah Malone, the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner as the best small college player in the nation, made his Division I debut with seven rebounds, four points and two blocks in just under 13 minutes.

Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Northern Colorado opened the 2024-25 season with a 75-55 home win over Colorado College on Nov. 4. The Bears shot 45.8 percent from the field and dominated the class, outrebounding the NCAA Division III Tigers 48-27.

Junior guard Langston Reynolds led all scorers with 21 points hitting 7 of 11 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Graduate guard Jaron Rillie grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. Junior forward Brock Wisne just missed a double-double with 15 points, on 7 of 9 shooting, with nine rebounds. Junior guard Marcell McCreary added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

THE SERIES: This will be the 43rd meeting between Colorado and Northern Colorado in a series that dates back to a 35-20 Buffaloes win on Jan. 25, 1918. Colorado holds a 24-18 edge in the series and has won the last 12. All 18 of UNC’s wins in the series came in the 1920s and 1930s when the schools were rivals in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Head coach Tad Boyle is 6-0 against UNC, the program he coached from 2006-10.

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November 5th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs rally for 76-56 season-opening win over Eastern Washington (down 27-10 in first half) 

Related … “Halftime lineup shuffle pays off for CU Buffs” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com …  Colorado overcame a 17-point first-half deficit Monday night to take control in the second half and collect a 76-56 win over Eastern Washington in the Buffaloes’ season opener at the CU Events Center.

Colorado improved to 13-2 in season openers under head coach Tad Boyle and 15-0 in home openers in the Boyle era.

But this one didn’t come easily. The Buffs were plagued by turnovers and poor shooting early and trailed, 27-10, with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.

But Colorado shaved the deficit to six points, 31-25, at the break, then slowly erased the deficit in the second half. The Buffs took their first lead of the game, 48-47, with just under 10 minutes to play, then cranked up the pressure with a 17-2 run to take control down the stretch and collect the win.

Colorado put four players in double figures, led by 13 points from freshman Sebastian Rancik, who was 4-for-5 from long distance. Javon Ruffin and Trevor Baskin each tallied 12 and Andrej Jakimovski added 11.

Nic McClain led EWU with 16.

The Buffs had 13 turnovers in the first half but just five after the break. After shooting just 33 percent in the first half, CU shot 56 percent after the break to finish the game 27-for-59 (45.8 percent).

Colorado held the Eagles to 36 percent shooting (21-for-58) and the Buffs also held a commanding 45-28 edge on the boards. Jakiovski and Elijah Malone each had seven rebounds for CU while Julian Hammond III led CU with four assists.

Even though the Buffs ended up winning by 20, Boyle was less than pleased with the overall effort.

“We obviously weren’t ready to play out of the gate tonight for whatever reason, and that’s very unusual for a team like this,” Boyle said. “We turned that thing over like it was nobody’s business and then started feeling sorry for ourselves … Eastern Washington was the better coached team and they played better than us. Thank God they got tired and they were playing at altitude. Otherwise it would have been a loss for us, but our guys finally woke up defensively. We got some stops, strung some stuff together and  got out in transition.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 4th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Can’t tell the players without a scorecard

From the Daily Camera … The Buffs’ three graduate transfers — Elijah Malone, Trevor Baskin and Andrej Jakimovski — are all but certain to make their CU debuts against Eastern Washington. Buffs fans might also get a glimpse of the team’s three true freshmen (Sebastian Rancik, Felix Kossaras, Andrew Crawford) in addition to redshirt freshman Courtney Anderson, whose preseason has been limited by a groin injury.

“This will be a work in progress,” Boyle said. “Again, we’ve got a lot of depth on this team. I had individual meetings with all these guys (last week) and talked to each player about kind of where I see them now and today. Now, where they are now and today might be completely different than where they are two weeks from now, or a month from now. What I want the freshmen to do is just come to work every day and learn and grow and get better. I don’t know how much they’ll play early. We’ll see.

“Now, I’m going to try and play 10 guys, maybe 11, on Monday. But we’ll see. I may get down to eight.”

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The CU men’s basketball team opens its 2024-25 season Monday night with a home date against Eastern Washington at the CU Events Center (7 p.m., ESPN+). Both teams sport overhauled rosters, Eastern Washington even more so than the Buffs.

The Eagles won the regular season crown in the Big Sky Conference last year before getting upset in the league tournament, but former coach David Riley parlayed that success into his new job as the leader at Washington State. Eastern Washington turned to veteran coach Dan Monson, best known for his time at Gonzaga who also is coming off a 17-year run at Long Beach State, which fired Monson last spring despite leading Long Beach to the Big West tournament championship and the NCAA Tournament.

… Read full story here …

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November 3rd

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle hopes to play ten players in opener (in search of a starting five)

From the Daily Camera … There are a whole bunch of lost points for Colorado to recover from last year’s high-scoring squad.

But the Buffaloes lost the bulk of their rebounding total, too.

With opening night for the 15th season under head coach Tad Boyle closing in for the CU men’s basketball team, plenty of questions remain for a new-look team that makes its season debut on Monday at home against Eastern Washington (7 p.m., ESPN+).

Boyle said he’s still uncertain who will fill the starting lineup and the top spots off the bench, although he also indicated he hopes to play up to 10 players in the opener. On a team with an abundance of question marks, Boyle expects to base the bulk of his personnel decisions on defense and rebounding, as he has throughout his CU tenure.

“I think this is a team, that we’ve got a lot of different guys that can start a game,” Boyle said following Friday’s practice. “To me, the question is who is going to finish the game. To me, that’s what I’m battling and considering, the finishers and not the starters. Quite frankly, I don’t think it matters. We don’t have that one dude, when he’s on the floor his team wins. We’ve had that in the past. We don’t have that with this team. The strength of this team is our depth, our ability to play together. It’s going to be different guys on different nights.”

While Colorado lost nearly 89% of the production that led to the second-highest point total in program history (2,935) there is a confidence the versatile Buffs will score enough points to compete. Boyle might be a little less confident in filling the holes on the glass.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 2nd

… CU in the Arena … 

Julian Hammond III and Javon Ruffin represent the old guard for new look CU

From the Daily Camera … It has been nearly four years since the Colorado men’s basketball team signed the most highly-regarded recruiting class in program history.

The group certainly has enjoyed its moments, thanks mostly to KJ Simpson. Yet as a unit the group has suffered significant attrition, and the five players signed in November of 2020 have collectively brought mixed reviews to Boulder.

Julian Hammond III and Javon Ruffin still have an opportunity to script the final chapters for the 2021 class.

That pair of senior guards, along with graduate transfer Andrej Jakimovski, represented the Buffaloes on Wednesday at the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball media day. Hammond and Ruffin have been productive when on the floor, but both have battled injury setbacks. This year, with the rest of their recruiting classmates now long gone, Hammond and Ruffin will be tasked with leading the way for a new-look Buffs rotation that will be thin on Division I experience beyond the trio that made the trip to Kansas City.

“I haven’t gotten a ton of opportunities to show what I can do, but I’m proud to be part of that class,” Ruffin said. “I think us being here, in this era, shows who we are. We’re loyal to where we came from. That’s the biggest part of being part of this class. There’s not many four-year guys left.”

Simpson put together one of the greatest seasons in program history last year before getting selected by Charlotte in the second round of this year’s NBA Draft. But that counts as the most significant, and nearly solitary, achievement by the 2021 class, which was ranked as the top group in the Pac-12 and 13th nationally by 247Sports.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 1st 

… CU in the Arena … 

Associated Press preseason poll: Five Big 12 teams in Top Ten (new record)

From USA Today … If the initial Associated Press poll is to be believed, the 2024-25 college basketball season could prove to be a monster season for fans of Big 12 men’s basketball.

The conference boasts not only the No. 1 overall team in the preseason rankings, released Monday afternoon, but also three of the top five teams and five of the top 10 teams. Led by coach Bill Self, the Kansas Jayhawks were the top-ranked team. Houston (No. 4) and Iowa State (No. 5) joined Kansas in the top five, while Baylor (No. 8) and newcomer Arizona (No. 10) also seem poised to make noise.

No. 20 Cincinnati was the other Big 12 team ranked in the top 25, while Texas Tech, Kansas State, BYU and Arizona State were all good enough to garner votes.

The Jayhawks were picked to win the 16-team Big 12 in the preseason poll released last week by coaches, while graduate center Hunter Dickinson was named the conference’s preseason player of the year. Kansas basketball also opened the 2023-24 season ranked No. 1 overall, but finished 23-11 and lost in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

The Big 12 tied the SEC with eight total bids in the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament, also a conference record. A ninth team, Oklahoma, was among the tournament’s “First Four out.” The Sooners and Texas ― which also qualified last season ― have since moved to the SEC.

Last season, the Big 12 had a tournament-high five teams reach the second round, but had only two teams reach the Sweet 16 and none in the Elite Eight. Houston and Iowa State reached the Sweet 16, as did Arizona, but it was in the Pac-12 last season.

1. Kansas (30)
2. Alabama (14)
3. UConn (11)
4. Houston (4)
5. Iowa State
6. Gonzaga (1)
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. North Carolina
10. Arizona
11. Auburn
12. Tennessee
13. Texas A&M
14. Purdue
15. Creighton
16. Arkansas
17. Indiana
18. Marquette
19. Texas
20. Cincinnati
21. Florida
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Ole Miss
25. Rutgers

Others receiving votes: Illinois 92, St. John’s 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas State 30, Michigan State 29, Ohio State 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese State 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi State 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Arkansas-Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona State 2, San Diego State 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.

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October 31st 

… CU in the Arena … 

CU picked 15th in Big 12 preseason poll

Press release from the Big 12 … Kansas was selected as the favorite in the Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll, marking the 20th time in 28 seasons the Jayhawks have sat atop the preseason poll. KU’s Hunter Dickinson was voted as Preseason Player of the Year by the Conference’s head coaches for the second consecutive year.

Baylor’s Jeremy Roach and K-State’s Coleman Hawkins shared Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year honors. The Bears’ VJ Edgecombe was Preseason Freshman of the Year.

The Jayhawks enter the season as the preseason favorite for the second consecutive year and were closely followed by Houston, who has ranked second in the preseason poll in both of its seasons in the Big 12. Iowa State, Baylor and Arizona rounded out the top five.

All awards were voted on by the league’s 16 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

Preseason Big 12 Poll

1. Kansas (9 first-place votes) – 215 points
2. Houston (5) – 211
3. Iowa State (1) – 194
4. Baylor – 185
5. Arizona (1) – 179
6. Cincinnati – 140
7. Texas Tech – 135
8. Kansas State – 133
9. BYU – 116
10. TCU – 90
11. UCF – 83
12. Arizona State – 64
13. West Virginia – 62
14. Oklahoma State – 46
15. Colorado – 37
16. Utah – 30

Tags: Andrej Jakimovski, Assane Diop, Elijah Malone, Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola, Ian Inman, Isaiah Johnson, Jalin Holland, Javon Ruffin, Josiah Sanders, Julian Hammond, Julian Hammond III, Trevor Baskin
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