Buffs Set For Matchup With Rival Rams

FORT COLLINS — Whenever Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes square off with Colorado State, they can be assured of one thing: they will get the Rams' best.

The No. 24 Buffs (7-2) are expecting nothing different Friday, when they travel to Fort Collins for a 6 p.m. matchup with CSU (7-5) at Moby Arena (CBSSN).

"We know how big this game is in the state," Boyle said after Thursday morning's practice. " And we know that certainly the last three, four years we've played them they've played literally their best game of the year … We have to be ready."

Indeed, even in down years the Rams have given the Buffs fits over the last few seasons. CSU has won two of the last three — CU won, 86-80, in Boulder last season — and three of the last five. That streak includes a 72-63 Colorado State win in Fort Collins two years ago, a year in which CSU finished 11-21.

Friday's game will be just CU's second true road game of the season, and it is sure to be a raucous environment for the in-state rivalry.

"Our guys have been through it before," Boyle said. "It's just a matter of going out and getting it done. We have a veteran team. We know what we're in for."

Another thing the Buffs can count on is a steady performance from CSU big man Nico Carvacho. The 6-11 senior, who led the nation in rebounding last season, has averaged 12.3 points and 10 rebounds per game in three appearances against Colorado.

"He's a good player," Boyle said. "Not only can he rebound, but he can really score the ball over both shoulders. He's a load down there. It's going to be not just an individual thing to guard him, it's going to be a team thing."

Niko Medved's Rams have had an up-and-down season, but they do own a 74-64 road win over Loyola Marymount, a team CU struggled to beat at home just last week. They also beat Washington State, 79-69, and are coming off a 72-68 home win over South Dakota State on Tuesday.

But the biggest question for the Buffs might be how they bounce back from two straight losses. That includes a disappointing 79-76 home loss to Northern Iowa on Tuesday, a game in which CU's two fundamental building blocks — defense and rebounding — both came up short.

"We just didn't value every possession," Boyle said. "That was evident the last four minutes of the first half (an 8-0 UNI run) and it was evident the first three or four minutes the second half (an 11-0 Panthers run). Sometimes we fall asleep and we have too many empty possessions on offense and we don't have a sense of urgency on defense … We played well enough offensively to win that game, but we weren't near good enough defensively."

The 79 points by Northern Iowa were the most given up by the Buffs this season, and the game also marked the third straight time CU has allowed an opponent to shoot at least 46 percent from the field. That means they will also have a close eye on 6-6 CSU forward Adam Thistlewood, who has been a 45 percent shooter from 3-point range this year, including the go-ahead bucket in the final minute of Tuesday's win over SDSU.

Offensively, the Buffs are still trying to fix a problem that has plagued them for much of the young season — turnovers. CU is averaging more than 17 turnovers over the last four games.

"Turnovers have to come down and assists have to go up," Boyle said. "That's everybody."

Indeed, after averaging 13 assists per game in their first four contests, CU has been in single digits in assists in two of its last three games while the turnovers have crept up.

That includes point guard McKinley Wright IV, who had 20 assists and just eight turnovers in the first four games, but has seen those numbers flip to 14 assists and 15 turnovers in the last four.

"At times he is pressing," Boyle said. "The one thing I've really tried to impress upon McKinley is limiting his turnovers. It's a problem for our whole team."

Still, at 7-2 with four non-conference games remaining, the Buffs have a great opportunity to build momentum heading into the Jan. 2 Pac-12 opener against Oregon at home.

"We all have a job to do," Boyle said. "I have a job to do as a coach. I have to do a better job. Each player has to do better. We all have to do our jobs."

BUFFS BITS: Tyler Bey still leads CU in scoring (13.0 points), rebounding (11.0) and steals (2.2). Bey's 20 steals this year are already more than half of last year's season leader (Wright with 39) ... Sophomore forward Evan Battey is averaging 10 points and six rebounds over the last three games. Battey also leads the team in field goal percentage (.554) ... CU is still 32nd in the nation in scoring defense (60.6 points per game).

THE SERIES: Colorado holds a dominating 90-38 lead in the all-time series, but the two teams have split the last 10 matchups. CU holds a 36-28 edge in Fort Collins, with the Buffs' last win coming there in 2015 by an 88-77 score.

BROADCAST: The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz and Steve Lappas. The radio broadcast will be carried by 850 AM and 94.1 FM KOA with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke.

UP NEXT: Colorado returns home next Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup with Prairie View A&M.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu