Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Scott Expects Bruising Battle With Rams
December 04, 2015 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Sunday afternoon, Colorado senior Josh Scott will square off for the fourth time in his career against rival Colorado State, the second time in Fort Collins (noon tipoff, ROOT Sports).
There will be no surprises. Scott, who's 2-1 against the Rams, knows what's ahead.
“I'm expecting to be bruised, but I expect to be doing some bruising myself,” Scott said Friday morning after practice. “Banged up, tired. In the end, that's just CU-CSU.”
Scott wouldn't have it any other way.
“I actually enjoy it,” Scott said. “It's how the game's supposed to be played in terms of a rivalry game. It's supposed to be tough and hard.”
Every Buff who was on floor — or bench — remembers last year's game, a 62-60 CSU win in Boulder. Scott suffered through one of the least-productive games of his career that night, finishing with just two points — both on free throws — on an 0-for-7 night from the field. CSU big man Tiel Daniels, who hounded Scott for most of last year's game, will be on the floor again, likely in the same role.
It's not a night Scott needs to be reminded of.
“I'm not a fan of CSU,” Scott said bluntly. “I won't pretend like I'm a fan of them, their fans, any of that sort of stuff. I know who lost last year. Do I plan on having a big night? Yes. Do I think our team's going to win? Yes. We felt the loss last year and no one wants to feel it again.”
But while he doesn't need to be reminded of their last meeting, Scott said he has heard about the game from plenty of people over the last year — even from a few CSU fans at the CU-CSU football game this season.
“You've just got to take it and think about this game,” Scott said. “We're going to remember every word you said, everything you did. It's a rivalry, can't blame them for it, but you definitely remember those times when you get to game time.”
The 6-1 Buffs have won two of the last three in the series, including the last meeting in Fort Collins, when Spencer Dinwiddie led a second-half comeback that produced a 67-62 win in 2013 in front of a raucous Moby Arena crowd.
The Buffs are expecting a similar atmosphere Sunday in front of what's expected to be a sold-out arena.
Scott, who is averaging 17.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season, said he's warned CU's newcomers what to expect.
“I told them to expect a physical game,” Scott said “This game year in and year out is always physical. It's about who's tougher, who has the will to rebound and make plays. I don't think they're going to understand the first five minutes until they see it, but it's a war zone.”
But, Scott added, he's not worried that the Buffs might shrink from the task at hand. The Buffs saw a vocal crowd in Auburn, where they recovered from a 15-point deficit to record a win. They also played in front of a highly partisan Iowa State crowd in their season opener, and cut a 14-point lead down to three in the second half before finally succumbing.
“I don't think this team is scared of adversity, worried about adversity,” Scott said. “It's going to hit, and this team is built to weather it.”
After a 5-0 start, the Rams have lost their last two. They let a 17-point lead against UTEP melt away last weekend and lost in double overtime before falling to Long Beach State on Thursday in Fort Collins.
Still, the Buffs are expecting to get the Rams' best shot.
“For us, it's a test of where we're at, probably the biggest game we've played since Auburn,” Scott said. “It's exciting. It's going to be a fun environment.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
