Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: Win Over Dayton Sets Standard For Boyle's Buffs
December 22, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Just a week ago, Colorado basketball fans were teetering on the edge of despair, despite the fact that their Buffaloes were 8-2 and ranked in the top 35 in the nation in the NCAA NET rankings.
But always the optimist, this corner wrote that there was no reason to succumb to "the sky is falling" attitude.
Now, just seven days later, the sky is once again blue and the future is rosy in the eyes of CU fans. The Buffs put together their best overall effort of the year Saturday and came home from Chicago with a 78-76 overtime win over Dayton, a team that started the day ranked 13th in the AP poll and 10th in the NET.
What changed in the span of barely a week?
Actually, not that much. The Buffs didn't shoot particularly well against the Flyers, which was nothing new. They entered the game shooting roughly 41 percent from the floor for the year and connected on just under 40 percent against Dayton.
But, the Buffs also did what they almost always do in other key areas. They rebounded, they played defense, they hit their free throws and — here's what was different — they took care of the ball, to the tune of just 10 turnovers.
Most of all, they adhered to another characteristic of Tad Boyle teams. They played with a measure of toughness that bothered the Flyers. The Buffs were the more physical team, especially inside, on both ends of the floor.
Simply, the Buffs finally played up to their abilities — particularly in clutch situations — which is something Boyle and CU fans have been waiting for. The result was a quality win, and a great sign of what this team is capable of accomplishing.
So what else did we learn?
— Colorado needs everyone contributing. Yes, McKinley Wright IV's 29-point, 10-rebound double-double was outstanding — but it was just one piece of the puzzle.
Truth is, the Buffs don't have one player who can lift the team on his shoulders if everyone else isn't playing well. The Buffs need Evan Battey to continue to be a force inside on both ends of the floor. They need D'Shawn Schwartz to continue his role as a knockdown shooter in clutch situations. They need Tyler Bey to be a defensive stopper, an offensive finisher and a rebounder in traffic.
But they also need efforts like they got from reserves Daylen Kountz (five points in a key 15-2 CU first-half run, along with three assists and just one turnover) and Shane Gatling (no points but a team-leading four assists and only one turnover, along with some good defense).
And, at some point, they will need Lucas Siewert, Maddox Daniels, Eli Parquet and Dallas Walton to contribute in critical situations. They will need everyone — and as Boyle has said, that's the beauty of this team. There are plenty of people who have the ability to step up.
— Battey is becoming more and more of an emotional leader for the Buffs. There's still no doubt Wright has the keys to this team. He is one of the nation's premier point guards on both ends of the floor and it's clear who runs the show.
But the Buffs are also feeding more and more off of Battey's energy, something both Boyle and Schwartz mentioned after the game.
"He just kept coming into the timeouts and saying, 'Match my energy,'" said Schwartz, whose clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime lifted Colorado to the win. "He was killing it out there every time. He's battling, screaming … That was huge for me personally. I love it."
Of course, Battey brings more to the table than emotion. His nine points and 12 rebounds — including eight offensive boards — were huge, as was his defensive effort. He's now had five double-digit scoring games and four games with at least nine rebounds.
What's become apparent is this: when the season started, there probably weren't many Pac-12 teams that had Battey circled as a key to CU's attack. That has no doubt changed.
— Speaking of Schwartz, he is becoming a premier scorer. The CU junior is shooting 46.3 percent (25-for-54) from 3-point range, and he's becoming more and more comfortable with the role in critical situations.
That is also opening up his inside game. One of Colorado's crucial baskets came in the final minute Saturday, when Schwartz took a pass on the perimeter, drew a defender and then drove to the hoop for a 75-74 CU lead.
It's another important piece of CU's arsenal that opponents will have to respect.
— This is becoming a mentally tough team. Experience and maturity have their dividends.
A week ago at Colorado State, the Buffs weathered a huge comeback by CSU in a hostile environment and had the poise necessary to regain control and collect the win.
Saturday, they came back from a 14-point deficit early, then gathered themselves again at the end of regulation when a late Dayton 3-pointer ostensibly gave the Flyers all the momentum heading into overtime.
Those are not situations this team likely would have survived a year ago. But these Buffs are a veteran group. They have learned not to flinch in tight situations — a trait that will no doubt pay off when they hit Pac-12 play.
— The Buffs can control turnovers. Saturday's 10 turnovers were the second-fewest of the season for CU, and in a one-possession game, it was no doubt critical. Every turnover is a potential four-point swing — a lost opportunity on the offensive end and an extra opportunity for the opponent.
After a rash of miscues in recent weeks, the Buffs made it a priority in their practices last week, and the extra work paid off. If they can continue the kind of focus they displayed Saturday, it will be a big plus in Pac-12 play.
— Saturday might be one of those games we look back on as a program-defining moment. There have been plenty of big wins in the Boyle era, including 17 wins over ranked opponents.
But given the circumstances, Saturday's win might be as big as any thus far. The Flyers were the highest-ranked team CU has beaten away from home in nearly 30 years, and while it was technically a neutral floor, Dayton fans far outnumbered the Buffs faithful in attendance.
Perhaps most importantly, it was a game the Buffs could have let get away early — but instead, they fought back and outplayed the Flyers for the final 35 minutes. That's an experience every player will remember, and because it came in a hostile environment, one from which they can draw strength. It means confidence in critical situations.
Now, the standard has been set. This team knows what it is capable of accomplishing, and the good news is the Buffs haven't hit their ceiling. They still have room to improve.
It will be fun to see if they can continue to meet — and exceed — that standard in conference play.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
