Colorado University Athletics
Boyle's Buffs Return Home for Two, Sport Top-25 RPI
January 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — With another road win in their pocket and a top-25 NCAA RPI ranking in hand, Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes returned home and began preparations Monday for a pair of home games this week.
The Buffs, coming off a road split in Washington that improved their overall record to 15-5 and their Pac-12 mark to 4-3, play host to Stanford on Wednesday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks) and Cal on Sunday (3 p.m., Fox Sports 1).
The Buffs find themselves in the midst of a Pac-12 logjam that has eight teams within one game of the conference lead. Oregon and Washington lead the league with 5-2 conference marks, followed by six teams — Colorado, USC, Cal, Arizona, Utah and Stanford — all with 4-3 records.
It's an indication of just how strong the Pac-12 is. As of Monday morning, the NCAA RPI had eight teams in the top 50 — including Colorado at No. 23 — and 11 in the top 72. The eight teams in the top 50 are the most of any conference in the nation, and CBSSports.com rated the Pac-12 as the No. 2 league in the nation, trailing only the Big 12.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports called the Pac-12 the "most balanced conference in college basketball."
The Pac-12 regular season champion could finish with a league record of 12-6. Most balanced conference in college basketball. Not close.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 25, 2016
No doubt, the crowd at the top of the conference standings will start to sort itself out as the weeks wear on. The conference season hits its halfway mark at the end of the week, and with two games against two of the other schools with 4-3 records, it's a good opportunity for the Buffs to get a little separation from the pack.
Both of CU's opponents this week are currently ranked in the nation's top 50 RPI.
One thing that is holding to form in the Pac-12 thus far this season is the home-court advantage. Home teams are currently 28-14 in conference games, and just five teams — Colorado being one of them — have more than one conference road win. Four teams, meanwhile, have yet to pick up a road victory.
“We have to win at home,” Boyle said after Saturday night's win over Washington State. “We've got to show up and play with great energy and great pride and great toughness and take care of our home court.”
CURRENT RPI: As of Monday morning, here's how Pac-12 teams were ranked in the NCAA RPI:
6. Oregon
17. Utah
23. Colorado
24. USC
29. Arizona
38. Cal
43. Oregon State
50. Stanford
51. UCLA
66. Arizona State
72. Washington
167. Washington State
IN THE POLLS: For the first time since late December, the Buffs received a vote in the Associated Press top 25 poll Monday. Arizona checked in at No. 18; Oregon moved back into the rankings at No. 23; and USC and Utah also received votes. In the coaches' poll, Arizona was No. 15 and Oregon 24th, with USC, Cal, Washington, Utah and Oregon State all receiving at least one vote.
CONFERENCE LEADERS: CU's Josh Scott continues to hold a place in the conference leaders in both scoring and rebounding. For all games, Scott is second in scoring (17.5 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (9.8). In conference games, the CU senior is ninth in scoring (15.9 ppg) and tied for second in rebounding (10.6).
CU's Tre'Shaun Fletcher, meanwhile, leads the Pac-12 in conference games in free throw shooting percentage at .938; Dominique Collier is eighth in 3-point percentage (.476); and the Buffs lead in conference game free throw percentage (.765). CU is also second in conference games rebounding margin, averaging 6.7 more boards per game than their opponents.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
