Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Gear For One Of Nation's Toughest Conferences
December 31, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes open Pac-12 play Friday night at Cal, it will be the start of an 18-game trek that will take them through one of the toughest and deepest conferences in the nation.
That, at least, is what the computers are saying. The latest CBSSports.Com Conference RPI has the Pac-12 ranked as the No. 2 league in the land, trailing only the Big 12.
You won't find any conference coaches disagreeing with the assessment.
“I think the league is better than it's been since we've been in it, from top to bottom,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said Wednesday.
“It's the deepest conference we've competed in as a coaching staff,” Arizona head coach Sean Miller said earlier this week.
“There's not just depth, there's quality depth in this conference,” Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said.
“If you look at it from top to bottom, there's not an easy team,” Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said.
Get the idea? As Boyle said Wednesday, just before he and his Buffs departed for California for their first conference games of the season (at Cal on Friday; at Stanford on Sunday), “Every team that steps on the floor is going to be ready. We all know it's anybody's game.”
Indeed, the latest official NCAA RPI has 10 Pac-12 teams ranked in the top 68 in the nation, led by Oregon (18), Colorado (19) and Utah (27). No other conference has more teams in the top 100 RPI, with the Big Ten and ACC also having 10 in the top 100.
The rest in the top 68 include Arizona State (30), Oregon State (36), Southern California (40), Arizona (43), UCLA (61), Cal (62) and Stanford (68); with Washington (145) and Washington State (182) rounding out the conference.
Overall, the Pac-12 had the nation's second-best winning percentage in non-conference play as of Monday (.779), trailing only the Big 12. The conference also had a 36-29 record against RPI top 100 opponents, a 13-11 record against Power 5 teams and a 30-24 mark against teams that advanced to either the NCAA or NIT tournaments last season.
Here's a quick look at each team as the conference heads into Pac-12 play:
ARIZONA (12-1): The Wildcats' biggest win thus far was a 68-63 win at Gonzaga; their only loss was a 69-65 defeat to Providence on a neutral court. They've been without senior big man Kaleb Tarczewski for much of the season (foot injury), but they're hoping he'll be back in time for Pac-12 play. Senior forward Ryan Anderson leads the team in points (15.5) and rebounds (10.3). Arizona has the longest active home court win streak at 47. They open Pac-12 play Sunday at Arizona State.
ARIZONA STATE (10-3): The Sun Devils' resume includes road wins over Creighton and UNLV. ASU has four players averaging double-figure scoring, led by sophomore guard Tra Holder (14.5 ppg), followed by junior forward Savon Goodman (12.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg). They open Pac-12 play Sunday at home against Arizona.
CALIFORNIA (10-3): The Bears own wins over Davidson and Wyoming, but one of their most impressive performances might have been a 63-62 loss in overtime at No. 5 Virginia. The Bears have four players averaging double figures, led by senior guard Tyrone Wallace (15.5 ppg). The Bears also have a pair of outstanding freshmen in guard Jaylen Brown (14.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and forward Ivan Rabb (12.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg). The Bears open Pac-12 play Friday at home vs. Colorado.
COLORADO (11-2): The Buffs strung together an 11-game win streak in non-conference, including wins over Auburn, Colorado State and BYU, play before falling to SMU. Senior forward Josh Scott leads CU in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg), and he and Utah's Jakob Poeltl are the only players in the league in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage (.623) and blocks (1.8). Junior guard Josh Fortune is in the top three on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg), rebounding (4.5 rpg) and assists (3.2 apg). The Buffs, second in the Pac-12 and ninth in the nation in rebound margin (11.5), open Pac-12 play Friday at Cal.
OREGON (11-2): The Ducks' resume includes wins over Baylor and Valparaiso and losses to Boise State and UNLV. Sophomore forward Dillon Brooks leads the team in scoring (16.2 ppg) while freshman guard Tyler Dorsey is adding 15.0 ppg and junior forward Chris Boucher is averaging 8.7 rebounds. The Ducks open Pac-12 play Sunday at Oregon State.
OREGON STATE (9-2): The Beavers' wins include Tulsa and Nevada, with losses to Kansas and Valparaiso. Senior guard Gary Payton II leads OSU in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounds (8.2 rpg) and assists (5.0). The Beavers open Pac-12 play at home Sunday vs. Oregon.
STANFORD (7-4): Stanford has won four of its last five, and has wins over DePaul and Arkansas, and the Cardinal's losses include defeats to Texas and SMU. Senior forward Rosco Allen (13.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and senior forward Reid Travis (12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) lead the Cardinal. Stanford opens Pac-12 play Friday at home vs. Utah.
USC (11-2): The Trojans, picked to finish 10th in the preseason media poll, have wins over Wichita State and New Mexico on their resume, with their losses coming to Monmouth and Xavier. Winners of six straight, they open Pac-12 play Friday at Washington State.
UCLA (9-4): The Bruins have one of the conference's biggest wins, a home victory over Kentucky. They also have wins over UNLV and Gonzaga, and losses to Kansas, Monmouth and North Carolina. Junior guard Bryce Alford, son of coach Steve Alford, leads the Bruins in scoring (16.5 ppg) while senior forward Tony Parker is averaging 13.8 points and 10.3 rebounds. The Bruins open Pac-12 play Friday at Washington.
UTAH (11-2): The Utes own another of the Pac-12's marquee wins, an overtime victory over Duke. They also have wins over San Diego State and BYU, with losses to Wichita State and Miami. Sophomore forward Jakob Poeltl leads the team in scoring (17.8 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg) and senior forward Jordan Loveridge adds 12.9 ppg. The Utes open Pac-12 play Friday at Stanford.
WASHINGTON (8-4): The Huskies own a win — and a loss — against Texas. They also beat TCU and lost to UC Santa Barbara, Gonzaga and Oakland. Senior guard Andrew Andrews leads the team in scoring (19.3 ppg) and four Huskies are averaging at least six rebounds per game. Washington opens Pac-12 play at home Friday vs. UCLA.
WASHINGTON STATE (8-4): The Cougars' wins include New Mexico and UTEP; their losses include Gonzaga, Oklahoma and Idaho. Junior forward Josh Hawkinson is averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds; junior forward Ike Iroegbu is adding 13.8 points. The Cougars open Pac-12 play Friday at home vs. USC.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
