Colorado University Athletics
Thursday, December 29
Stanford, Calif.
9:00 PM
Colorado
at
Stanford
Nique Clifford
Photo by: DC
Buffs Resume Pac-12 Play With Bay Area Swing
December 28, 2022 | Men's Basketball
THE SEASON: Colorado is 8-5 overall and riding a season-best four-game winning streak. The Buffaloes defeated Southern Utah 86-78 on Dec. 21 to end the nonconference portion of their schedule at 8-3. The victory over the Thunderbirds gave head coach Tad Boyle his 262nd win at Colorado, breaking a tie with Sox Walseth for the program's all-time mark.
The Buffaloes began their 20-game Pac-12 Conference schedule four weeks ago, dropping consecutive games to Arizona State at home, 60-59 on Dec. 1, and at Washington, 73-63 on Dec. 4, to open 0-2 in league action for the first time in four years.
During the current four-game winning streak - all at home - the Buffaloes are averaging 87.8 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field (135-256). Colorado had a season-low seven turnovers against Southern Utah and is averaging just 9.0 turnovers over the last four games while being plus-44 overall on the boards (+11.0 pg).
Colorado had 31 field goals against Southern Utah, hitting 30-plus field goals for the fourth-straight game and sixth time this season. The Buffaloes have won 15-straight when hitting that mark dating back to the 2020-21 season. In the Pac-12 era, Colorado is 57-7, when making 30 or more field goals.
Colorado had 12 steals against Southern Utah, its third double-figure steal total of the season. The Buffaloes had just one double-figure steal game in each of the last two seasons (2020-21 & '21-22).
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds (12.0 orpg) while ranking second in steals (8.4 spg), third in scoring (76.4 ppg) and turnover margin (+0.6), fourth in overall rebounding (39.9 rpg), defensive rebounds (27.9 drpg) and rebound margin (+6.1) and fifth in scoring margin (+7.2), field goal percentage (.458) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1).
Sophomore KJ Simpson leads Colorado at 17.2 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He also tops the Buffaloes in field goals (78), 3-pointers (25) and free throws made (43).
Simpson, who has scored in double-figures in all 13 games, had a game-high 21 points in the win over Southern Utah. It was his fourth career 20-point game, all coming this season. He set career and team season-highs with 11 free throws made and 13 attempted. Simpson added four assists against the Thunderbirds and has a 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio the last four games (17:5).
On the Pac-12 charts Simpson is third in scoring, seventh in steals and assists, ninth in free throw percentage (.768), 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and 18th in 3-point shooting (.362).
Junior forward Tristan da Silva is averaging 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. Da Silva recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds against Southern Utah. He is averaging 23.7 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last three games.
The 20-point effort against Southern Utah was the fifth of his career and third straight. He's the first Buff to score 20-plus in three-straight games since Derrick White did in his final three games of the 2016-17 season (two Pac-12 Tournament, one NIT).
Da Silva scored 26 points against Northern Colorado, his second-straight game eclipsing his previous career high. He had multiple career highs against North Alabama, scoring 25 points on 11 of 18 shooting along with nine rebounds and three steals.
Da Silva is the first CU player since George King to record back-to-back games of 25 or more points. King had 25 in consecutive games against Mercer and Air Force Nov. 19 & 26, 2017.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva is ninth in steals (1.3 spg), 12th in scoring, 15th in field goal percentage and defensive rebounds (4.2 drpg) and 17th in 3-point shooting (.364).
Junior J'Vonne Hadley leads the Buffaloes and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rebounding (7.4 rpg). Hadley tops CU in field goal shooting at 53.7 percent while averaging 9.8 points per game.
Hadley just missed a double-double against Northern Colorado with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds. It was his second 9-9 game in three outings (CSU).
Hadley is second in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds (3.2 orpg) while ranking 12th in field goal percentage and steals and 14th in defensive rebounds (4.2 drpg).
Graduate senior Jalen Gabbidon is averaging 6.5 points while ranking third on the team in steals with 13. Gabbidon had eight points and tied his CU-high with five rebounds against North Alabama.
Sophomore Lawson Lovering leads Colorado in blocks (14) while ranking fourth in rebounding (4.3 rpg) and assists (16). Lovering tied his career-best and team season-high with three blocks against Northern Colorado. He ranks 11th in the Pac-12 in blocks at 1.2 per game.
Nique Clifford is averaging 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while ranking second on the team in assists with 24. Clifford had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and a team-high two blocks against Southern Utah. He had 13 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the field against Colorado State along with a pair of blocked shots. He had a season-high eight rebounds against Northern Colorado.
Luke O'Brien is averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. O'Brien had 11 points and six rebounds against North Alabama. Along with pitching in 10 points against Colorado State, O'Brien scored in double-figures in back-to-back games, a mark he hit just once in his first 52 collegiate games.
Javon Ruffin made his second career start in the win over Southern Utah, finishing with seven points and three rebounds. Julian Hammond III is coming off back-to-back 11-point games against Southern Utah and Northern Colorado shooting 60 percent in that span (9-15).
ABOUT THE CARDINAL: Stanford is 5-7 overall and 0-2 in the Pac-12. The Cardinal have won two of their last three with the only loss coming against then-ranked No. 7 ranked Texas, 72-62, on a neutral court. Stanford averages 68.2 points while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. Defensively, the Cardinal allow 63.8 points on 42.6 shooting. Stanford sports the third-best scoring defense, 3-point defense (.306) and rebound defense (31.3 rpg) in the Pac-12.
Senior forward Spencer Jones leads the Cardinal at 10.8 points and 1.4 blocks per game. Graduate senior Michael Jones averages 10.5 points and 1.0 steal per game. Sophomore forward Harrison Ingram tops Stanford in assists (36) while averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. Senior forward James Keefe leads the Cardinal in rebounding at 5.3 per game while averaging 6.5 points on 69.8 percent from the floor.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 29th meeting between Colorado and Stanford with the Buffaloes holding a 17-11 series edge. The Buffaloes have won four-straight and 14 of the last 16 over the Cardinal. The series is tied 6-6 in Stanford with the Buffaloes winning the last two.
BOYLE MILESTONE: Head coach Tad Boyle, in his 13th season, has 262 wins at Colorado the most in program history.
Boyle-led teams own nine of the 13 20-win seasons in team history, the top five single-season win totals and six of the top seven. With a record of 261-160 at CU, his 62.1 winning percentage is second all-time just behind Forrest "Frosty" Cox at 62.3 from 1936-50.
Boyle has 110 Pac-12 regular season wins, tying California's Ben Braun (1997-08) for 19th in conference history.
NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 118-37 (.761) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including a 71-20 mark (.780) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.
Colorado is 88-7 (.926) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 6-1 mark in postseason action.
The 11 nonconference opponents Colorado has played have combined to win 65.2 percent of their games through Dec. 26. Add the Buffaloes' Pac-12 games with Washington and Arizona State, Colorado has an average opponent NET rank of 116 - the 11th best mark in the nation.
CU Nonconference Opponents (through Dec. 26)
Opponent (CU's Result) W-L (Conf.) NET Rk
UC Riverside (W, 82-66) 7-5 (0-0 Big West) 119
at Grambling State (L, 74-83) 6-5 (0-0 SWAC) 128
vs. Tennessee (W, 78-66) 10-2 (0-0 SEC) 4
vs. UMass (L, 63-66) 9-3 (0-0 A-10) 108
vs. Texas A&M (W, 103-75) 6-5 (0-0 SEC) 87
vs. Boise State (L, 55-68) 10-3 (0-0 MWC) 39
Yale (W, 65-62) 10-3 (0-0 Ivy) 45
Colorado State (W, 93-65) 8-5 (0-0 MWC) 79
North Alabama (W, 84-60) 8-5 (0-0 ASUN) 270
Northern Colorado (W, 88-77) 5-7 (0-0 Big Sky) 199
Southern Utah (W, 86-78) 8-5 (0-0 WAC)
Total 90-48 (.652)
LEADERS OF THE PAC: Colorado has the third-most wins (85) among Pac-12 teams since February 2019. Colorado was 12-4 over the final two months of the 2018-19 season, culminating in a spot in the NIT Quarterfinals. The Buffaloes were 21-11 in 2019-20, well in line for an NCAA Tournament bid before the season was shut down on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Colorado was 23-9 in 2020-21, tying for the third best win total in team history and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Buffaloes were 21-12 in 2021-22, logging their fourth-straight 20-win season.
Pac-12 Overall Records Since Feb. 1, 2019 (through Dec. 27)
W L Pct.
Arizona 86 32 .729
USC 87 36 .707
Oregon 84 39 .683
UCLA 84 39 .683
Colorado 85 41 .675
Arizona State 64 50 .561
Stanford 60 54 .526
Washington State 59 61 .492
Utah 55 57 .491
Washington 56 62 .475
Oregon State 53 65 .449
California 38 78 .328
SUCCESS ON THE ROAD: Colorado has a 35-30 record in games away from Boulder since February 2019; 18-22 on the road and 17-8 at neutral sites. The Buffaloes are 2-4 away from home this season. Colorado was 9-6 away from home in 2021-22; 6-4 in true road games and 3-2 at neutral sites.
Colorado is 11-10 over its last 21 Pac-12 road games (since the beginning of the 2020-21 season). The Buffaloes have won at least one game during each of its last seven multi-contest Pac-12 road trips. Colorado hasn't been "swept" on a conference road trip since falling at California and Stanford at the end of the 2019-20 season. The Buffaloes did lose consecutive games at Washington and Washington State in 2021-22, but that was a three-game road trip that began with a win at Oregon.
Colorado's 6-4 record on the road in the Pac-12 last year marked its first winning conference road record since 1963-64, when the Buffaloes were 4-3 in the Big Eight Conference. Colorado also had its first overall winning road record since the 1968-69 Big Eight championship team was 6-5.
The Buffaloes began their 20-game Pac-12 Conference schedule four weeks ago, dropping consecutive games to Arizona State at home, 60-59 on Dec. 1, and at Washington, 73-63 on Dec. 4, to open 0-2 in league action for the first time in four years.
During the current four-game winning streak - all at home - the Buffaloes are averaging 87.8 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field (135-256). Colorado had a season-low seven turnovers against Southern Utah and is averaging just 9.0 turnovers over the last four games while being plus-44 overall on the boards (+11.0 pg).
Colorado had 31 field goals against Southern Utah, hitting 30-plus field goals for the fourth-straight game and sixth time this season. The Buffaloes have won 15-straight when hitting that mark dating back to the 2020-21 season. In the Pac-12 era, Colorado is 57-7, when making 30 or more field goals.
Colorado had 12 steals against Southern Utah, its third double-figure steal total of the season. The Buffaloes had just one double-figure steal game in each of the last two seasons (2020-21 & '21-22).
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds (12.0 orpg) while ranking second in steals (8.4 spg), third in scoring (76.4 ppg) and turnover margin (+0.6), fourth in overall rebounding (39.9 rpg), defensive rebounds (27.9 drpg) and rebound margin (+6.1) and fifth in scoring margin (+7.2), field goal percentage (.458) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1).
Sophomore KJ Simpson leads Colorado at 17.2 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He also tops the Buffaloes in field goals (78), 3-pointers (25) and free throws made (43).
Simpson, who has scored in double-figures in all 13 games, had a game-high 21 points in the win over Southern Utah. It was his fourth career 20-point game, all coming this season. He set career and team season-highs with 11 free throws made and 13 attempted. Simpson added four assists against the Thunderbirds and has a 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio the last four games (17:5).
On the Pac-12 charts Simpson is third in scoring, seventh in steals and assists, ninth in free throw percentage (.768), 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and 18th in 3-point shooting (.362).
Junior forward Tristan da Silva is averaging 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. Da Silva recorded his first career double-double with 20 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds against Southern Utah. He is averaging 23.7 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last three games.
The 20-point effort against Southern Utah was the fifth of his career and third straight. He's the first Buff to score 20-plus in three-straight games since Derrick White did in his final three games of the 2016-17 season (two Pac-12 Tournament, one NIT).
Da Silva scored 26 points against Northern Colorado, his second-straight game eclipsing his previous career high. He had multiple career highs against North Alabama, scoring 25 points on 11 of 18 shooting along with nine rebounds and three steals.
Da Silva is the first CU player since George King to record back-to-back games of 25 or more points. King had 25 in consecutive games against Mercer and Air Force Nov. 19 & 26, 2017.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva is ninth in steals (1.3 spg), 12th in scoring, 15th in field goal percentage and defensive rebounds (4.2 drpg) and 17th in 3-point shooting (.364).
Junior J'Vonne Hadley leads the Buffaloes and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rebounding (7.4 rpg). Hadley tops CU in field goal shooting at 53.7 percent while averaging 9.8 points per game.
Hadley just missed a double-double against Northern Colorado with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds. It was his second 9-9 game in three outings (CSU).
Hadley is second in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds (3.2 orpg) while ranking 12th in field goal percentage and steals and 14th in defensive rebounds (4.2 drpg).
Graduate senior Jalen Gabbidon is averaging 6.5 points while ranking third on the team in steals with 13. Gabbidon had eight points and tied his CU-high with five rebounds against North Alabama.
Sophomore Lawson Lovering leads Colorado in blocks (14) while ranking fourth in rebounding (4.3 rpg) and assists (16). Lovering tied his career-best and team season-high with three blocks against Northern Colorado. He ranks 11th in the Pac-12 in blocks at 1.2 per game.
Nique Clifford is averaging 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while ranking second on the team in assists with 24. Clifford had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and a team-high two blocks against Southern Utah. He had 13 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the field against Colorado State along with a pair of blocked shots. He had a season-high eight rebounds against Northern Colorado.
Luke O'Brien is averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. O'Brien had 11 points and six rebounds against North Alabama. Along with pitching in 10 points against Colorado State, O'Brien scored in double-figures in back-to-back games, a mark he hit just once in his first 52 collegiate games.
Javon Ruffin made his second career start in the win over Southern Utah, finishing with seven points and three rebounds. Julian Hammond III is coming off back-to-back 11-point games against Southern Utah and Northern Colorado shooting 60 percent in that span (9-15).
ABOUT THE CARDINAL: Stanford is 5-7 overall and 0-2 in the Pac-12. The Cardinal have won two of their last three with the only loss coming against then-ranked No. 7 ranked Texas, 72-62, on a neutral court. Stanford averages 68.2 points while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. Defensively, the Cardinal allow 63.8 points on 42.6 shooting. Stanford sports the third-best scoring defense, 3-point defense (.306) and rebound defense (31.3 rpg) in the Pac-12.
Senior forward Spencer Jones leads the Cardinal at 10.8 points and 1.4 blocks per game. Graduate senior Michael Jones averages 10.5 points and 1.0 steal per game. Sophomore forward Harrison Ingram tops Stanford in assists (36) while averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. Senior forward James Keefe leads the Cardinal in rebounding at 5.3 per game while averaging 6.5 points on 69.8 percent from the floor.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 29th meeting between Colorado and Stanford with the Buffaloes holding a 17-11 series edge. The Buffaloes have won four-straight and 14 of the last 16 over the Cardinal. The series is tied 6-6 in Stanford with the Buffaloes winning the last two.
BOYLE MILESTONE: Head coach Tad Boyle, in his 13th season, has 262 wins at Colorado the most in program history.
Boyle-led teams own nine of the 13 20-win seasons in team history, the top five single-season win totals and six of the top seven. With a record of 261-160 at CU, his 62.1 winning percentage is second all-time just behind Forrest "Frosty" Cox at 62.3 from 1936-50.
Boyle has 110 Pac-12 regular season wins, tying California's Ben Braun (1997-08) for 19th in conference history.
NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 118-37 (.761) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including a 71-20 mark (.780) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.
Colorado is 88-7 (.926) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 6-1 mark in postseason action.
The 11 nonconference opponents Colorado has played have combined to win 65.2 percent of their games through Dec. 26. Add the Buffaloes' Pac-12 games with Washington and Arizona State, Colorado has an average opponent NET rank of 116 - the 11th best mark in the nation.
CU Nonconference Opponents (through Dec. 26)
Opponent (CU's Result) W-L (Conf.) NET Rk
UC Riverside (W, 82-66) 7-5 (0-0 Big West) 119
at Grambling State (L, 74-83) 6-5 (0-0 SWAC) 128
vs. Tennessee (W, 78-66) 10-2 (0-0 SEC) 4
vs. UMass (L, 63-66) 9-3 (0-0 A-10) 108
vs. Texas A&M (W, 103-75) 6-5 (0-0 SEC) 87
vs. Boise State (L, 55-68) 10-3 (0-0 MWC) 39
Yale (W, 65-62) 10-3 (0-0 Ivy) 45
Colorado State (W, 93-65) 8-5 (0-0 MWC) 79
North Alabama (W, 84-60) 8-5 (0-0 ASUN) 270
Northern Colorado (W, 88-77) 5-7 (0-0 Big Sky) 199
Southern Utah (W, 86-78) 8-5 (0-0 WAC)
Total 90-48 (.652)
LEADERS OF THE PAC: Colorado has the third-most wins (85) among Pac-12 teams since February 2019. Colorado was 12-4 over the final two months of the 2018-19 season, culminating in a spot in the NIT Quarterfinals. The Buffaloes were 21-11 in 2019-20, well in line for an NCAA Tournament bid before the season was shut down on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Colorado was 23-9 in 2020-21, tying for the third best win total in team history and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Buffaloes were 21-12 in 2021-22, logging their fourth-straight 20-win season.
Pac-12 Overall Records Since Feb. 1, 2019 (through Dec. 27)
W L Pct.
Arizona 86 32 .729
USC 87 36 .707
Oregon 84 39 .683
UCLA 84 39 .683
Colorado 85 41 .675
Arizona State 64 50 .561
Stanford 60 54 .526
Washington State 59 61 .492
Utah 55 57 .491
Washington 56 62 .475
Oregon State 53 65 .449
California 38 78 .328
SUCCESS ON THE ROAD: Colorado has a 35-30 record in games away from Boulder since February 2019; 18-22 on the road and 17-8 at neutral sites. The Buffaloes are 2-4 away from home this season. Colorado was 9-6 away from home in 2021-22; 6-4 in true road games and 3-2 at neutral sites.
Colorado is 11-10 over its last 21 Pac-12 road games (since the beginning of the 2020-21 season). The Buffaloes have won at least one game during each of its last seven multi-contest Pac-12 road trips. Colorado hasn't been "swept" on a conference road trip since falling at California and Stanford at the end of the 2019-20 season. The Buffaloes did lose consecutive games at Washington and Washington State in 2021-22, but that was a three-game road trip that began with a win at Oregon.
Colorado's 6-4 record on the road in the Pac-12 last year marked its first winning conference road record since 1963-64, when the Buffaloes were 4-3 in the Big Eight Conference. Colorado also had its first overall winning road record since the 1968-69 Big Eight championship team was 6-5.
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