Buffs Return To Work, Begin Preparations For Utah
January 30, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Nobody has to remind Colorado coach Tad Boyle of the Buffs' current losing streak to Utah.
"Utah's had our number," Boyle said after Tuesday's practice. "A lot of it comes down to winning close games. It's not like they've routed us. They've beat us a couple times convincingly, but most of the games have come down to the wire. They've been the team that makes plays down the stretch and we haven't. To me that gets back to execution."
Colorado has lost its last seven matchups with the Utes, the longest losing streak against any Pac-12 team since CU entered the Pac-12 in the 2011-12 season. The skid includes the last three games in Boulder, with Colorado's last win in the series a 79-75 overtime win in 2014 at the Coors Events Center.
The 12-10 Buffs (4-6 Pac-12) have a chance to end that streak Friday when they play host to Utah (13-8, 5-5) in a 7 p.m. game at the Coors Events Center (FS1).
The Buffs have come close several times in the seven-game stretch. Last year, CU was within two points with 37 seconds left in the game in Boulder but couldn't completely close the gap and dropped an 86-81 decision.
Two years ago, the Utes took a 56-54 win in Boulder when Lorenzo Bonam hit a buzzer-beater over the outstretched arms of Josh Scott, and then claimed a 57-55 nailbiter in Salt Lake City.
This year, the Utes are another typical Larry Krystkowiak team — a defensive-minded, well-balanced bunch that doesn't make a lot of mistakes with the ball.
"Toughness, execution," Boyle said. "They are very efficient offensively, defensively they are tough minded. They switch it up like we've been switching it up, man and zone, keep you off balance. And they have some good players."
The Utes are also a good road team. They swept a road trip to the Oregon schools to open the Pac-12 season, then won at Arizona State last week before just missing a chance to knock off Arizona on the Wildcats' home floor. All three of their conference road wins have come at places where the Buffs have fallen short this year.
"They're a very tough team, they're a great road team — arguably the best road team in our league other than Arizona this year," Boyle said "They had a shot at the buzzer to beat Arizona. They beat Arizona State in overtime. They swept the Oregon schools. Utah's not afraid. They play at altitude just like we do, there's no advantage there. We have our hands full."
Because this is the designated "rivalry" game for the Buffs, it is their only game this week. They will have another one-game week the last week of the regular season when they travel to Utah.
The lighter schedule allowed Boyle to give his players what amounts to two days off, a rarity in the midst of the season. The Buffs flew back from Arizona State late Saturday night, took Sunday off and then had some light shooting and individual work on Monday.
But they were back to work Tuesday, working on what Boyle called a "back to the basics" day and they will implement their game plan for the Ute on Wednesday.
Friday's game is the first of three straight home affairs for CU, as Colorado closes the Pac-12 schedule with five of its last games at home. The Buffs host Cal and Stanford next week, a chance to move up from their current ninth place in the standings.
"Key stretch, no doubt," Boyle said. "And you can't win all of them unless you win the next one. That's all we have to concentrate on, is how do we beat Utah."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu