With Utah, Pac-12 Tourney On Horizon, Buffs Get Extra Time To Recharge
February 27, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — It comes simply by luck of the draw in the scheduling process, but a one-game week couldn't have come at a better time for the Colorado Buffaloes.
The 16-13 Buffs (8-9 Pac-12) will wrap up their regular season Saturday at Utah (18-10, 10-7) in a 5 p.m. game at the Huntsman Center (Pac-12 Mountain). It means a chance to give their bodies a little rest this week while recharging their mental batteries — perfect timing in light of the fact that they open the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas next Wednesday.
After Sunday's win over UCLA, which gave Colorado its first-ever two-game season sweep of the Bruins, the Buffs took Monday off. They were back in the gym Tuesday, but only for about 40 minutes.
"This is the time of year when less is more," head coach Tad Boyle said. "Finding that balance between not doing too much and not doing enough is critical. Stay sharp, stay fresh mentally and physically. This is the time of year for them to spend more time in the training room, in the weight room — not necessarily banging out sets and reps, but stretching and rehab and strengthening what their bodies need. Every player's a little bit different right now."
While they have designs on playing for several more weeks, the fact of the matter is the Buffs have basically been practicing and playing basketball since the first of last August, when they traveled to Italy for a four-game trip. Thus, the chance to recharge their minds and bodies is as important as time on the court.
"Our guys know our offensive sets, they know our philosophies, they know defensively what we're supposed to do," Boyle said. "Now it's maybe watching some film with them and keeping them sharp physically, mentally and emotionally."
Those in particular need of a little extra rest and rehab time are CU's freshmen, especially McKinley Wright IV, Tyler Bey and Dallas Walton, each of whom has logged substantial minutes this year. Wright leads the team in minutes played in Pac-12 play, averaging 32.6 minutes per game. Bey has been on the floor an average of 22.2 minutes per game in conference play with Walton right behind at 21.9.
"Their season is so much shorter at the high school level," Boyle said. "McKinley Wright, what he needs and what his body needs might be different than what D'Shawn Schwartz needs."
Wright has endured his share of bumps and bruises this year, but has played through the injuries. He said this week, with just one game, comes at a good time.
"For sure the longest season I've been a part of," Wright said. "My body, it's doing well. Obviously I've had some bumps and bruises over the course of the season. But pain is temporary and I've played through it. It's nothing too serious. Little ankle rolls, minor knee injuries — nothing major. … (But) it's a great week to get rehab and get tons of shots up, get a feel for the Utah team we got coming up at their place who's a very good team."
SALT LAKE DROUGHT: The Buffs' 67-55 win over Utah in Boulder in early February ended a seven-game losing streak to the Utes. But, the Buffs haven't won in Utah since 2012, the first year in the Pac-12 for both schools. Colorado won three games against the Utes that season, winning both regular season games, then beating them in the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament, their first of four straight wins en route to winning the tournament title.
TOURNAMENT SEEDING: While Colorado's final seeding in the Pac-12 tournament hasn't been decided yet, odds are they will finish as either the No. 8 or No. 9 seed. If they do finish eighth or ninth, they will play the first game of the tournament on Wednesday, March 7, at 1 p.m.
Currently eighth in the standings, the Buffs could technically move up into a tie for seventh with Washington or Oregon, but would lose the tiebreaker to both.
CU could also still finish 10th, but that would require not only a Colorado loss at Utah, but also several other scenarios, including an Oregon State sweep at Washington and Washington State this weekend. If the Buffs do finish 10th, they would open tournament play at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
