Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Set For Challenge From Bears Big Men
February 06, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes face a very big challenge Wednesday when they play host to the Cal Bears in a 9 p.m. game at the Coors Events Center (ESPNU).
That's "big" in the very literal sense. Not only do the Bears have 7-foot-1, 267-pound center Kingsley Okoroh up front, he is joined on the front line by 6-foot-11, 225-pound Marcus Lee. The pair, along with 6-7 forward Justice Sueing, are the main reason Cal leads the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds, averaging 14.4 offensive boards per game — nearly five more than any other team in the league.
"When the original shot goes up, that's when the game begins for Colorado," Boyle said Tuesday afternoon. "That's what Cal does — they're leading our league in offensive rebounds, so we have to limit them to one shot as best we can."
Wednesday's game is the second of a three-game homestand for the 13-10 Buffs (5-6 Pac-12), who are still aiming at a top-four conference finish and first-round Pac-12 tourney bye. For the Bears (8-16, 2-9), it's a chance to win two games in a row — something they haven't done since mid-December.
"Okoroh has been a beast against us," Boyle said. "You cannot let him catch it inside that circle. He's blocked shots against us, he catches it deep and dunks it. We have to have a great job of post defense and help-side. We have to protect the paint against these guys. These guys are great at getting the ball inside, they're great at driving the ball. Their perimeter guys really drive it and attack the rim. We're going to have to protect the paint and we have to rebound."
The job of protecting the paint will go to CU's inside trio of 7-0 freshman Dallas Walton, 6-10 freshman Lucas Siewert and 6-7 freshman Tyler Bey. Walton in particular will be expected to protect his turf.
"He just has to play intelligently," Boyle said of Walton. "He cannot get in a wrestling match with Okoroh. If he gets in a wrestling match, he's going to lose. He has to play really smart, he has to play post defense with his brain and his feet, which we talk about every day — and we have to try to get stops and run."
That transition game, Boyle said, will be a key for the Buffs.
"We need to get Okoroh running up and down the floor because we're playing at altitude," he said. "We have to tire him out and the way you tire big guys out is make them run. The only way we're going to make him run is getting stops and getting out in transition. Dallas needs to understand where his advantages are and play to those — and understand what his disadvantages are and do his best to overcome those."
Walton, challenged by Boyle to improve his rebounding, has steadily done just that. He is averaging five boards per game over the last four games, while scoring more than six points per game. He is also leading the team in blocked shots, averaging 1.5 per game in conference play — fifth-best in the Pac-12.
"It's just taking on the challenge every day, taking on a new Pac-12 opponent," Walton said. "Finding ways to where they may be lacking whenever a shot goes up. … Finding ways to get around them and go get the rebound."
Walton has fared well against Pac-12 big men. He had 15 points against Arizona's Deandre Ayton in a win over the Wildcats in early January, and had five rebounds and played solid defense against Utah's David Collette in the Buffs' win over Utah last week.
But the combination of Okoroh and Lee provides a new challenge.
"Cal's big men are big bodied, heavy, but maybe slower — that's where I have a speed advantage," Walton said. "Use my quickness, quick feet. Even though I'm big I can move my feet pretty well so I'll use that to my advantage."
The Bears have three players averaging double-digit scoring, led by Sueing (14.1 ppg). Lee, who played three years at Kentucky before transferring to Cal for his senior season, averages 12.6 per game.
"Marcus Lee is a lot more like Dallas," Boyle said. "He's tall and slender — a legit 6-11, he's got great length. Kentucky, last time I checked, recruits pretty good players out of high school and they recruited him out of high school. … He's a guy that is a good scorer on the block, has a good left hand, a good right hand. That will be a challenge for us."
CAL STRUGGLES: While the Bears are very good on the offensive boards, they have struggled in almost every other category this year. Cal is last in the league in scoring offense, 10th in scoring defense, last in scoring margin, last in free throw percentage and last in shooting percentage.
But, as Boyle warned his players, the Bears ended their nine-game losing streak last weekend with a win over Oregon State — the same Oregon State team that handily beat Colorado, 76-57, in their Pac-12 opener.
SERIES: Cal holds a narrow 15-14 edge in the all-time series, with the series tied at 6-6 since Colorado joined the Pac-12. CU has won 10 of 12 all-time meetings in Boulder, including a 54-46 win in the regular season finale last season. Boyle is 7-6 as a head coach vs. the Bears while Cal coach Wyking Jones, in his first year as the helm, has never faced the Buffs.
BROADCAST: ESPNU will televise the game with Drew Fellios and Sean Harrington calling the action. KOA 850 AM radio will broadcast the game with Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke.
UP NEXT: The Buffs finish their three-game homestand Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Stanford. Next week, Colorado hits the road for games at Washington State (Feb. 15) and Washington (Feb. 17).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
