Buffs Notes: CU Still Has Strong RPI; Scott Update

BOULDER — With perhaps their most disappointing week of the season now in the rearview mirror, Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes returned to work Monday to prepare for a pair of home games this week.

Colorado plays host to Washington State at 8 p.m. Thursday and to Washington in a noon game Saturday. Both games will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

After watching film of Saturday's 60-56 loss to Oregon State, Boyle admitted Monday to being “even more frustrated, even more disappointed, even more ticked off than I was the other other night. It was a winnable game that we didn't win.”

But, if there was any good news on Monday, it was that the Buffs were still boasting a solid NCAA RPI, despite losses to Oregon and OSU. Colorado checked in at No. 26 in the latest official rankings, a number that figures positively on their NCAA Tournament resume´.

“It's the barometer, at least the way I understand, that the (NCAA Selection) committee uses,” Boyle said. “I don't necessarily want our players watching every day, and we don't talk about it with our guys. But certainly I'm aware of it and our staff is aware of it.”

As of Monday, the Buffs had a 7-7 record against top-100 RPI teams, including three wins against top-50 squads: Oregon, Cal and Oregon State. CU also boasted a No. 33 strength of schedule rating, another important selection metric.

But what Boyle and his staff also know is that the final seven games on their schedule — four at home and three on the road — could also have a significant impact on the Buffs' RPI. It's one reason winning at home is so important.

“Once league play starts, the non-league play is never going to change,” Boyle said. “Those variables are gone. Now it's just a matter of what you do in the league. It's why every single game has a lot of importance, especially as you get into February and you get closer to tournament time.”

Of the Buffs remaining seven games, three are against teams currently in the top 30 — USC, Utah and Arizona — and three more against teams in the top 75, Washington, UCLA and Arizona State. Every win the Buffs can muster against those teams will help their ranking.

While the Buffs are currently tied with Utah for fifth in the Pac-12, it's a conference that still has the nation's No. 2 RPI and one that currently has three teams (Oregon, Arizona and USC) ranked in the top 25.

National experts still see the Buffs as an NCAA Tournament team. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports still had the Buffs as a No. 6 seed in his weekly bracket prediction update while ESPN's Joe Lunardi had the Buffs at a No. 9 seed, down a spot from a week ago.

Palm, meanwhile, had eight Pac-12 teams in his latest bracket: Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon State, USC, Utah and Washington. Lunardi had seven Pac-12 teams in his projected bracket: Oregon, Arizona, Cal, Colorado, Utah, Washington and USC.

SCOTT UPDATE: CU big man Josh Scott, who missed the second half of the Oregon State game with an ankle injury, said Monday he planned to play Thursday vs. Washington State.

“In my mind, I'm playing Thursday,” Scott said. “I'll see how my body is, but it's not really a choice for me. It's a big game for us.”

Scott, though, may be more optimistic than realistic. Boyle was more guarded in his assessment, calling Scott's status “day to day. … It's better than it was yesterday.”

Scott missed eight games of last season's Pac-12 schedule with a back injury, but he's been healthy all of this season — until now.

“It's frustrating,” Scott said. “Obviously it being my senior year I don't want to miss any games, especially after last year. But right now, it's one of those things I want to get healthy for Thursday.”

If Scott can't play, it will mean more time for sophomore Tory Miller, who has had a solid stretch over the last couple of weeks. Miller played most of the second half against OSU, and finished with eight points, five rebounds and three blocks. Over the last seven games, he's averaging more than seven points and six rebounds per contest.

“He's become a very consistent piece of this team off the bench,” Boyle said. “Very consistent in his energy and his effort that he brings to the floor every single night. … With Josh's ankle, who knows what the prognosis is going to be as the week goes on, but Tory becomes more and more important.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu