Buffs Set For Pac-12 Showdown At Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. — Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes have won big games at home and big games on the road this season. They have, in fact, won more games after 24 contests than any team in CU history and they currently sit atop the Pac-12 standings.

But the stage and stakes get bigger this week when the No. 16/15 Buffs (19-5 overall, 8-3 Pac-12) head to the Pacific Northwest for a pair of Pac-12 games, beginning with Thursday night's showdown with No. 17/18 Oregon (18-6, 7-4).

Tipoff for the nationally televised affair (ESPN) at Matthew Knight Arena is set for 7 p.m. (MT).

"We're confident on the road and we've proven we can win on the road," Boyle said Wednesday afternoon. "We've won seven games away from the (CU) Events Center … This is a team that competes. The hardest thing to do in college basketball is win on the road and this team has proven they can do it."

Dana Altman's Ducks, however, have proven to be particularly formidable on their home court this season, where they are 12-0 thus far.

"We're playing a team that is undefeated at home, a team that's well-coached and a team that's a game behind us in the standings," Boyle said. "It should be a heck of a challenge and an opportunity."

The Buffs won the first game between the two teams this year, 74-65, in their Pac-12 opener in early January. Colorado accomplished the feat against then-No. 4 Oregon by limiting turnovers (eight) and forcing the Ducks into a 3-for-18 night from 3-point range — their worst night from beyond the arc in Pac-12 play this season.

But this will be a different Oregon team in a variety of ways. The Ducks aren't expected to have the services of talented freshman big man N'Faly Dante (knee), while sophomore big man Francis Okoro is just returning from a funeral in his home country of Nigeria and may not see extended minutes.

But the Ducks have also seen some increased production in conference play from their leading scorers. Point guard Payton Pritchard 20.64 points per game in league games and fellow guard Chris Duarte is scoring at a 16.45 clip. On the boards, Duarte and 6-7 senior Shakur Juiston combine to average 13 rebounds per game.

"You don't go into Oregon and expect them to beat themselves," Boyle said. "They're not going to do that. You have to go in there and beat them."

Oregon has not been a kind place to the Buffs in the past, particularly since CU joined the Pac-12. The Ducks have won the last four against CU on their home floor, where Colorado has struggled to tune out what is almost always an intimidating home crowd. In CU's last game at Oregon — two seasons ago — the Buffs committed 20 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Ducks in a 77-62 loss.

Still, the Buffs are riding a three-game win streak while Oregon has lost two in a row. Thus, while the Ducks have spent much of the season ranked ahead of CU — and were the preseason pick to win the conference title — it is the Buffs who are now in the role of the "hunted."

"We are finally the underdog so we have to come out and play with a chip on our shoulder," Oregon sophomore guard Will Richardson told the Eugene Register-Guard on Wednesday. "To win the Pac-12, this is a must-win game."

But the Buffs also know the opportunity that awaits them on this trip — they play at Oregon State on Saturday — and it's one they don't want to squander.

"It's a great opportunity to just keep going forward," said CU forward Tyler Bey. "We're trying to win the ring. That's what's on our mind — win the Pac-12 championship and go to the NCAA Tournament."

The key matchup of the night will be between CU junior point guard McKinley Wright IV and Oregon's Pritchard. In their first meeting, Wright finished with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Pritchard tallied 21 points, three assists and six rebounds. The biggest difference may have been shooting percentage — Wright was an efficient 6-for-11 while Pritchard was 8-for-18.

"I know how much that matchup means to both of them," Boyle said. "I know McKinley respects Peyton Pritchard's game, but I also know he's he relishes the opportunity to play against him. I don't want to speak for Pritchard, but my guess is he's the same."

BOYLE ON TUCKER: CU's coach said he was clearly surprised by the departure of football coach Mel Tucker, but also said he believed the Buffs would move forward.

"Obviously I'm disappointed because I thought Mel did a terrific job in the short time that he was here," Boyle said. "He energized the fan base and Buff Nation and built a culture where we obviously recruited well. So as a Colorado football fan, I'm disappointed. But I'll say this — the program's in good shape. We've got a great leader in (athletic director) Rick George. Rick George went out and found Mel Tucker. He's going to go find a mentor, a really good football coach. And so I don't worry about the future of CU football. It's in. It's in good hands. We've got great leadership on our campus."

Boyle, in his 10th year at Colorado, also touched on the qualities that are important for finding a coach at CU.

"But you know, commitment and loyalty are words that you can't talk about," he said. "Those are things you have to demonstrate and exhibit in your actions. I think that's what we need, is somebody who is totally loyal and committed … Loyalty is a two-way street. It has to be exhibited in tough times. We all know that college athletics is a business."

Boyle said there's no doubt Tucker had his reasons for taking an offer from Michigan State. But Boyle, who has had interest from several other schools during his tenure, said it is a personal decision.

"From a commitment level, I can only speak for myself," he said. "I'm 100 percent committed to this university and loyal to this university and I would expect the same thing in return in tough times. Maybe that's a pipedream. Over the course of time, things kind of work their way out. If you have a skid of three or four bad seasons in a row, you're probably out, and that's the reality. We know that. But the one thing I've seen from this administration is they're not quick to pull the trigger in that regard. To me, that's what makes Colorado special because what I've seen is that loyalty and commitment is a two-way street. But you have to have both parties on board with that."

TIPOFF: Thursday's game is set to begin at 7 p.m. (MT) at the Matthew Knight Arena.

THE SERIES: Colorado holds an all-time 12-8 lead in the series, including victories in the last two (both in Boulder). Oregon holds a 7-2 edge in Eugene, including wins in the last four.

BROADCAST: The game will be televised by ESPN with Dave Pasch, Bill Walton and Mark Jackson. 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 wrap up their road trip with an 8 p.m. game Saturday at Oregon State (FS1), then return to Boulder next week for their final two home games of the year when they host USC on Thursday (7 p.m.) and UCLA the following Saturday (2 p.m.).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

Players Mentioned

Tyler Bey

McKinley Wright IV

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