Buffs Seek To Extend Win Streak At Cal

STANFORD, Calif. — It's been awhile since Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes have played a Pac-12 road game with some confidence, momentum and a road win streak in their pockets.

Sunday afternoon, the 13-10 Buffs (3-7 Pac-12) have the opportunity to add to all of those when they face Cal in a 2:30 p.m. game at Haas Pavilion (ESPNU).

The Buffs are coming off an 81-74 win at Stanford on Thursday, a victory that extended CU's current win streak to a modest three games and ended a 10-game Pac-12 road losing streak.

But maybe most importantly, it gave the Buffs another boost of confidence, something that hadn't exactly been in great supply before the beginning of the three-game win streak.

"We've got a little mojo now and I think our guys are starting to believe," Boyle said after the win at Stanford. "But it's about the next game."

The Bears (16-6, 7-3) no doubt pose a more hefty challenge than the Cardinal. Currently sitting in fourth place in the Pac-12 standings, Cuonzo Martin's team has won six of its last seven, including Thursday night's double-overtime win over Utah. The Bears boast one of the nation's best big men in 6-foot-11 sophomore Ivan Rabb (15.5 points, 10.9 rebounds per game) and a capable guard in 6-6 senior Jabari Bird (14.8 ppg, 40 3-pointers this season). Cal also has two other 7-footers available in junior Kingsley Okoroh and junior Kameron Rooks, both of whom have given the Buffs problems in the past.

The Buffs will be aiming to continue to play the kind of defense that helped them to a win over then-No. 10 Oregon and made the difference down the stretch in the win at Stanford. In those games, the Buffs produced key stops when absolutely necessary, something they failed to do in their seven-game losing streak — in particular, four games in which they had the lead in the final minute but couldn't close the deal.

The Buffs will also need to continue their recent success on the offensive end. Colorado has scored at least 80 points in four of its last five games, but will be sorely tested to hit that number against the Bears. Cal is second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of just 63 points per game and they have held opponents under 60 points in four of their last six contests.

"They're a terrific defensive team," Boyle said. "We can't turn it over 23 times on Sunday."

Indeed, the one area in which the Buffs struggled mightily against Stanford was taking care of the ball. Colorado's 23 turnovers in the game — many of which were unforced errors — led to 23 Stanford points and made the game closer than it could have been.

The Buffs will also continue to look for a boost from their bench, in particularly junior forward Tory Miller and freshman guard Bryce Peters. Miller had 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the win over the Cardinal while Peters had 13 points — including a 3-for-4 night from 3-point range.

Miller has been particularly effective in Pac-12 play, shooting a red-hot 65 percent from the field in conference games (28-of-43).

"Every time he catches it down there I think he's going to score," Boyle said. "He's very efficient. I just expect it to go in every time. He's trying to do the right thing. That's what I appreciate about Tory is he's really coachable. I'm very proud of him."

One thing the Buffs likely won't see again Sunday is a scoreless game from junior George King, the first time since his freshman year that he went without a point. King is third on the team in scoring, averaging more than 11 per game, and second in rebounding, averaging seven boards per game. He had also scored 37 points in the two games prior to Stanford.

One thing the Buffs are almost assured of seeing today is a much bigger crowd than they saw at Stanford, where the announced crowd was just 3,849. The Bears have been averaging 9,169 for home games this year, and had 9,246 in the house for their win over Utah.

"Hopefully we can take care of business on Sunday because it's not going to be easy," Boyle said. "Super Bowl Sunday — I hope all the Cal fans stay home and watch the Super Bowl."

THE SERIES: This will be the 28th meeting between Colorado and California with the Golden Bears holding a 14-13 edge. The teams split their series last year, each winning at home. The series is tied at 5-5 since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 in 2011-12. Cal is 11-1 against Colorado in Berkeley. Colorado's lone win in Berkeley was a 63-60 decision on Dec. 7, 2004. Tad Boyle is 6-5 against California as a head coach. Cuonzo Martin is 2-1 against Colorado as a head coach.

BROADCAST: The game will be televised by ESPNU with Roxy Bernstein and Corey Williams while Newsradio 850 AM & 94.1 FM will carry the radio broadcast with(Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke.

NEXT UP: The Buffs return home for a pair of games next week at the Coors Events Center, beginning with an 8 p.m. game Thursday vs. Washington, followed by a 6:30 p.m. game Sunday vs. Washington State.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu