Colorado
USC
Buffs Kickoff Homestand
January 08, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CU hosts first of three on Friday
BOULDER — After playing almost a full month away from the CU Events Center, the Colorado women's basketball is looking forward to a little home cooking. The Buffaloes return against Southern California on Friday, kicking off a three-game homestand.
Colorado (12-2, 1-2 Pac-12) started the conference season with three straight on the road. CU opened with a win at Utah, the team's 12 consecutive, before making the toughest trip in basketball last week at No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Oregon State.
"To open Pac-12 play on the road with a bunch of young players was a bit nerve-racking," head coach JR Payne recalled. "We had a great preseason. I think we feel really good about who we are and how we are playing."
The Buffs return home in the middle of a two-game losing streak, a situation this young team has not experienced this season.
"That Oregon game was a mental test for us," sophomore Peanut Tuitele explained. "Whether we were going to dwell [on the loss] and let that affect the entire season or fight back and get to what we are used to and that's playing Buffs basketball. That's who we are."
CU's 1-2 start to the conference season is still a confidence booster for this young squad. Colorado's first Pac-12 win didn't come until it's 12th attempt last season. Last year's Buffs started 0-11 in conference play until finally picking up an 81-76 win over Southern California.
"I think it's [CU's win at Utah] a huge confidence boost for us," Tuitele added. "Last year was depleting losing game after game but this year we know what we're capable of and we know what we're worth. This year, I think once we hit all cylinders and we're all connected we can be a scary team in the Pac-12."
A win against USC on Friday would match CU's conference win total from a year ago and would be a huge boost heading into Sunday against eighth-ranked UCLA.
"UCLA is one of the few teams is still undefeated and USC is really young," Payne noted. "They [USC] have a few McDonald's All-Americans as freshmen. They are talented but young. UCLA returns some really talented players and they are good."
Friday's game is set for a 7 p.m. MT start. The team is having a school supply drive and fans that donate supplies will receive a $5 general admission ticket to the Oregon State game (Jan. 30). Sunday is the first game of the basketball doubleheader. The Buffs will take on the Bruins at noon MT, before the men's game against Utah. It is the team's annual American Girl Doll Day.
All of Colorado's Pac-12 games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network this season. You can also catch the game on the Colorado Radio Network with the TuneIn app.
