Colorado
10-4, 2-0Pac-12
Washington
8-6, 2-1Pac-12
Brooks: Buffs Measure Up (And More) Against Huskies
January 05, 2012 | Men's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - It came only two games into an 18-game Pac-12 Conference schedule, but it was a huge early test nonetheless - and the Colorado Buffaloes aced it. Â
CU overcame an erratic start Thursday night to dispose of Washington 87-69 at the Coors Events Center, winning for the fifth consecutive time and remaining unbeaten in the Pac-12.
"I thought that was a really good win for our program, for where we are right now . . . I have such respect for Lorenzo Romar and the Washington program and what they've done over the last 10 years . . . they've got good players," said Buffs coach Tad Boyle, who after his team's 40-point blowout of Utah last weekend in the conference opener had termed UW's upcoming visit a "measuring stick" for his program.
With that in mind, the Buffs measured up nicely, particularly in the areas of composing themselves after falling behind 7-0, overtaking the Huskies by halftime with determined defense, then never allowing their talented visitors back in the game.
Over the last several weeks, Boyle said, his message to the Buffs has centered on "pride and toughness . . . being proud of representing Colorado basketball, what we want it to represent, taking ownership in our program and playing with unbelievable toughness every night."
Did the Buffs do that Thursday? Ask the Huskies, who came to Boulder as the Pac-12's second-highest scoring team, averaging 80.6 points. The Buffs held them to their second-lowest total of the season.
"You've got to give credit to Colorado," Romar said. "They guarded us. We got out to a 14-5 lead and then they really clamped down defensively. They made shot after shot. They were very efficient offensively; they did a great job."
The Buffs (10-4, 2-0) got significant contributions from everyone who started or left the bench. Five CU players scored in double figures, topped by senior Carlon Brown's 18. Freshmen guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker added 13 and 12, respectively. Seniors Austin Dufault and Nate Tomlinson chipped in 13 and 11. And sophomore Andre Roberson got his conference-leading rebounding average (12) along with eight points.
But the Buffs' list of contributors kept going. Junior Sabatino Chen was instrumental in the first-half rally, hitting three twisting layups. Sophomore Jeremy Adams also had six points and five rebounds, playing what Boyle termed Adams' "best game as a Buff." Sophomore Shane Harris-Tunks didn't score, but made a pair of blocks and two steals against one of the Pac-12 most athletic teams.
The Huskies (8-6, 2-1) were led by Tony Wroten's 21. C.J. Wilcox (19) and Terrence Ross (13) were the only other UW players in double figures.
The Buffs controlled the opening tip then proceeded to lose control for their next three possessions, committing three consecutive turnovers that helped send the Huskies quickly up 7-0 and on their way to a 14-5 lead.
"I was telling everybody to relax and handle the pressure - that's what (the Huskies) do," Brown said. "It's nothing we haven't seen or been through in practice. Just calm down and play our game; we kind of played into their hands, speeding up and not taking care of the ball. Once those first five to seven minutes were behind us, we were able to show our true game and what we're made of."
It was the right stuff, but it took long enough to materialize.
CU didn't score until Brown hit a layup and was fouled just under 4 minutes into the game. Yet once the Buffs calmed themselves, their shoddy start was forgotten and forgiven by the crowd of 7,000-plus.
Trailing by nine, they launched a 7-0 run and closed to 14-12 on Dinwiddie's trey with 11:29 before the break. Chen hit the first of his three acrobatic layups to tie the score at 16-16, and CU took its first lead (19-16) on a three-point play by Adams.
"Our bench played great," Brown said. "'Sab' did his thing with his spin move. He's a hard guy to guard, and I'm sure they hadn't scouted him . . . then Jeremy and Shane had some big (plays). Hats off to them; we gave a lot of credit to them at halftime and after the game. I'm glad they were ready when their numbers were called."
Then it was Brown's turn again. After the Huskies had regained a one-point lead, Brown submitted an early season highlight reel entry. He beat the shot clock by passing to himself off the backboard, catching the ball and sinking a layup to push the Buffs back up by one, 23-22.
And over the first half's final 4:43, Brown scored eight of the last 11 points to help CU take a 40-30 halftime lead - its largest advantage of the opening half. Fortunately, CU's first half finish bore no resemblance to its start.
"We started the game a little frazzled," Boyle said. "But our defense created offense for us . . . we showed good heart and unbelievable toughness."
After hitting only two of their first seven shots, the Buffs finished the half shooting 47.1 percent (16-of-34) from the field, and the game at 49.1 (27-of-55). The Huskies, meanwhile, were held to 32.5 percent (13-of-40) in the first 20 minutes and finished at 37.5 (27-of-72).
CU didn't open the second half error-free, but at least through the miscues focus was never lost. The Huskies switched to a 2-3 zone less than 5 minutes into the half, but the Buffs stayed patient and got a stretch of six consecutive free throws - two each by Dinwiddie, Dufault and Roberson - to open a 14-point lead (57-43) with 12:34 remaining.
Boyle said UW going to the zone "really helped us . . . I don't know if they were tired or what." But Booker made the visitors pay. When the advantage went to 63-43 on back-to-back treys by Booker, the Huskies had two choices - one of them being to roll over.
They didn't, but it didn't matter.
CU maintained its composure, getting a third trey from Booker, one from Tomlinson and a transition layup from Dinwiddie to open a 22-point lead - 72-50 - with 7:11 to play.
UW never got closer than 17 points in the final 8:27, and CU's largest lead of the night was 24 points. If it was an advantage that perhaps surprised the Buffs, it undoubtedly served as a confidence builder.
"It was a big victory for us, a confidence boost," Roberson said. "I feel like we're a top contender in this league, and if we keep striving in practice we'll be where we want to be."
Brown, however, added perspective. "You can take confidence (from the win), but if we sit here and say, 'We beat Washington,' but we come out and lose Saturday, what does that mean? We have to take this win and be happy about it, but in this conference you turn around and play the next day. We'll come to work (Friday) and get ready for Saturday."
The Buffs conclude their eight-game home stand on Saturday (2 p.m., FSN) against Washington State, which lost 62-60 Thursday night in overtime at Utah. Tickets, with prices starting at $10, can be purchased at CUBuffs.com/tickets or by calling 303-49-BUFFS.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
