Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Set For Early Pac-12 Showdown With Ducks
January 01, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — With a successful non-conference slate in the rearview mirror, the Colorado Buffaloes begin Pac-12 play Thursday when they meet Oregon in a nationally televised 7 p.m. game at the CU Events Center (ESPN2).
"It's a new season," CU coach Tad Boyle said after his Buffs welcomed in the new year Wednesday morning with a brisk workout. "Zero and zero."
But while it is just one of 18 Pac-12 games — and the conference opener, at that — the matchup still has the feel of a much bigger showdown.
The Ducks, ranked fourth in the latest AP poll, were picked in the preseason to win the conference title. The Buffs, receiving votes in both polls, were picked second.
Neither team did anything in non-conference play to change people's minds. The Buffs picked up one top 25 win (No. 13 Dayton) en route to an 11-2 record; the Ducks picked up a pair (No. 13 Seton Hall, No. 5 Michigan). Oregon's only losses came against Gonzaga and North Carolina; the Buffs fell to Kansas and Northern Iowa.Â
Now, the Buffs have a chance to pick up another quality win — and just as important, maintain the home-court advantage that is so crucial when it comes to competing for a conference title. Dana Altman's Ducks, meanwhile, have an opportunity for a quality road win, and the chance to pick up Oregon's first-ever win in Boulder.
"Oregon is going to come in here with the eye of the tiger," said Boyle. "They are going to be loaded for bear and we have to be ready to meet the challenge."
It is an interesting matchup of different styles of two veteran coaches.
Boyle's Buffs are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 60.5 points per game. Dana Altman's Ducks are second in the conference in offense, averaging 80.3 points per game while shooting a league-leading 49.7 percent from the floor, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range (fifth-best in the nation).
The Buffs will be aiming to reduce that shooting percentage while also limiting the Ducks' second-possession shots. Also a key will be keeping turnovers to a minimum.
"That's critical because they feed off of turnovers and they feed off the second shot," Boyle said. "They get a lot of those threes off offensive rebounds and then kickouts. (Francis) Okoro gets about three offensive rebounds himself a game and he's looking to kick it out to those guys and they load up and shoot the ball. Limiting them to one shot is a huge, huge part of this game."
The Ducks have weapons everywhere on the floor, but they are most dangerous on the perimeter. Led by all-Pac-12 guard Payton Pritchard (18.5 points, 6.2 assists per game), the Ducks have a host of talented guards. Starters Chris Duarte (12.3) and Anthony Mathis (10.8) are also averaging double digits, as is reserve guard Will Richardson (10.3). Mathis, a transfer from New Mexico, hit the Buffs with 23 points last season on 7-for-10 shooting from 3-point range in a Colorado win over the Lobos.
"I think the strength of Oregon is in their perimeter players," Boyle said. "Their bigs are talented and athletic. They can play. But the strength of their team as you look at their scoring is their guards."
It means the Buffs will have to be at their best defensively and on the boards on both ends of the floor. That's one area the Buffs have excelled in thus far, with junior Tyler Bey second in the Pac-12 in rebounding (9.38) and Evan Battey 10th (7.08). Bey is first in the league in defensive rebounds while Battey is fifth on the offensive end.
"They're a good offensive rebounding team, I think we're a pretty good offensive rebounding team," Boyle said. "Defensive rebounding is not one of their strengths but offensive rebounding is. I think the battle of the boards is going to be critical in this game."Â
While Thursday's game is no doubt a big one, Boyle has also done his best to make sure his team understands the big picture.Â
"We just can't play play with too much emotion if that makes sense," Boyle said. "We have to play within ourselves at our pace and and understand it's about winning each possession. It's not about winning the game, it's about winning the possession. Oregon's a team that can go on runs offensively. Just understand it's a 40-minute game."
BUFFS VS. RANKED TEAMS: The last time CU welcomed a team ranked as high as the Ducks to Boulder was almost exactly two years ago, when No. 4 Arizona State visited the Events Center on Jan. 4, 2018. CU came away with a 90-81 win in overtime, then followed it up with an 80-77 win over No. 14 Arizona two days later.
The Ducks are the third ranked team CU will face this season. Colorado lost at No. 2 Kansas, then beat No. 13 Dayton.
In his 10 years in Boulder, Boyle's teams have collected 18 wins over ranked opponents, 29 percent of CU's all-time such wins (62). Last season, the Buffs did not play a ranked team, the first such season since 1980-81.
TIPOFF: The game is set for 7 p.m. at the CU Events Center.
THE SERIES: Colorado holds an 11-8 all-time edge. The Buffs are 8-0 against the Ducks in Boulder, including a 6-0 mark since joining the Pac-12. CU won the only meeting last year between the two teams, 73-51 in Boulder.
BROADCAST: The game will be televised by ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and Bill Walton. 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: The Buffs continue a three-game homestand with a 4 p.m. game Sunday against Oregon State. They conclude the homestand the following Sunday (Jan. 12) with a 4 p.m. game against Utah.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
