Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Head To Oregon State Looking To Snap Skid
February 20, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
CORVALLIS, Ore. — There's nothing wrong with the Colorado Buffaloes that a road win won't go a long way in fixing.
Tad Boyle's Buffs get that chance for some healing away from home Saturday when they travel to Oregon State for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Beavers at Gill Coliseum (ESPNU).
The 16-7 Buffs (10-6 Pac-12) are currently towing a two-game losing streak after a loss at Oregon on Thursday — the first time this year they have suffered consecutive losses. But a win Saturday over the Beavers (11-10, 7-8) would still give them a 2-2 record to wrap up four straight games on the road, a relatively acceptable if not exactly desirable outcome.
It would also provide a little feel-good momentum heading into next week's two-game home stand that will see USC and UCLA pay visits to the CU Events Center to wrap up the regular season.
But the Buffaloes aren't looking ahead to anything past Saturday night's matchup. While everyone in their peripheral sphere is anxious to draw comparisons to a season-ending five-game skid a year ago, the Buffs are simply looking to get over a hump that saw them come oh-so-close at Oregon on Thursday before finally dropping a 60-56 decision.
Boyle believes his team can find the winning formula if they bring the same competitiveness to the arena on Saturday.
"The belief I have in this team is unwavering," Boyle said after the loss to the Ducks. "It was confirmed tonight, even though we didn't win the game. We can take some good things out of it. We're never going to be satisfied with a loss, that's for sure. We just have to regroup and come out with that same kind of fight on Saturday."
It is yet one more matchup for the Buffs against a team they have already beaten this season — but those rematches haven't turned out so well for Colorado lately. CU beat Utah early in the year, then lost in the return game, and it was the same with Cal and Oregon.
It's a trend the Buffs no doubt need to reverse.
In their first meeting this year, the Buffs took advantage of a tired Oregon State team playing its third game in six days and rolled to a 78-49 win in Boulder.
But the Beavers have been a different team at home this season. OSU has posted a 10-4 record at Gill Coliseum this year, including a 74-56 win over Utah on Thursday. The Beavers also beat USC on their home floor earlier this season, and won at Oregon.
"We're going to get Oregon State's best shot, there's no question in my mind," Boyle said. "They're going to be loaded for bear and we better get our hard hats on."
Boyle has done his best to make sure his team isn't focusing on anything other than Saturday's game. But there's no doubt last year's rough finishing stretch is on their minds.
"It's a must-win times three," said senior D'Shawn Schwartz. "At this point of the year, we remember what happened last year and we want to make sure that doesn't happen again. And we can do that starting on Saturday."
THE SERIES: This will be the 27th meeting between Colorado and Oregon State with the Buffaloes holding a 17-9 series edge. Oregon State holds a 6-4 advantage in Corvallis.
BROADCAST: The game will be televised on ESPNU with Dave Feldman and Corey Williams. KOA 850 AM and FM 94.1 will carry the radio broadcast with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
