Colorado Begins Road Trip At Oregon Thursday

THE SEASON: Colorado is 12-9 overall and 4-6 in the Pac-12 Conference after splitting a home series with the Washington schools last week. The Buffaloes dropped a 75-72 decision to Washington on Jan. 19 and bounced back with a last-second, 58-55, win over Washington State on Jan. 22. The win snapped a three-game skid as the Buffaloes improved to 9-2 at home on the season. Overall Colorado has won eight of its last 12.

Colorado was held under 60 points for the fourth time this season, but first in a win. The Buffaloes shot an even 50 percent from the field hitting 21 of 42. The last time Colorado shot at least 50 percent in a game, but was held under 60 points was Feb. 23, 2008, in a 60-53 loss at Missouri (shot 51.1 percent, 24-47).

The 42 field goal attempts were a season-low and fewest since shooting 41 against Stanford on Feb. 8, 2020; an 81-74 win at the CU Events Center. The Buffaloes were 30 of 40 from the line in that game.

The Buffaloes held Washington State, the top 3-point shooting team in the Pac-12 entering the game (8.8 made per game, .364), to a 25.0 shooting percent from that range (4-16).

On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Colorado is second in steals (8.1) and rebounding margin (+5.3), third in offensive rebounds (11.6 orpg), defensive rebounds (+26.7 drpg) and turnover margin (+0.2), fourth in scoring (72.2 ppg) and rebounding (38.3 rpg) and fifth in shooting (.449) scoring margin (+5.7).

Sophomore KJ Simpson leads Colorado at 17.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. He also tops the Buffaloes in 3-pointers (33) and free throws made (70). Simpson's numbers have stayed steady during league games, averaging 16.6 points with a team-best 32 assists.

Simpson hit the decisive shot against Washington State, breaking a 55-all tie on a 3-point field goal with four seconds remaining. That 3-pointer snapped a personal 0 for 10 slump from downtown. He has scored in double figures in 19 of his 20 games in 2022-23. The lone single-digit scoring effort was six against Oregon State, but in that game he tied a career and team-season high with six assists and grabbed seven rebounds.

On the Pac-12 charts Simpson is second in scoring, seventh in assists and steals (1.4 spg), eighth in free throw percentage (.787) and 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).

Junior forward Tristan da Silva is averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. He leads the team in shooting and ranks second in the other three categories.

Da Silva had 27 points on 11 of 13 shooting against Washington State. He recorded his sixth 20-point game of the season and the seventh of his career. Da Silva hit his first nine shots of the game, rebounding from an 8 for 21 showing against Washington. By making his last two attempts against Washington, he made 11 straight over two games, tying for the third-most consecutive field goals made by a Colorado player and most since Andre Roberson made 11-straight during the 2012 Pac-12 Tournament.

Da Silva's 11 field goals made tied his career-high, hitting that mark for the third time this season. His 84.6 percentage from the field ties CU's second-best single-game performance with at least 10 field goals made since the 1996-97. Marcus Hall was 11 of 13 against Missouri on Jan. 26, 2008, in Boulder. The top performance is David Harrison's school record 10 for 10 against Baylor on Jan. 31, 2004. His percentage under those same parameters, is the second-best in the Pac-12 this season trailing Utah's Branden Carlson three days earlier against the same Washington State team (11 for 12, .917).

On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva is eighth in scoring, ninth in steals, 10th in shooting, 12th in 3-point percentage (.371) and 15th in defensive rebounds (3.9 drpg).

Junior J'Vonne Hadley leads the Buffaloes in rebounding (6.3 rpg) while ranking second on the team in shooting (.519) and third in steals (24) and scoring at 8.5 points per game. Hadley had 10 rebounds, matching a personal-best, and a career-high four steals at UCLA.

On the Pac-12 charts, he is fifth in offensive boards (2.5 orpg), 10th in steals (1.3 spg), 12th in shooting and 13th overall rebounds.

Sophomore Lawson Lovering leads Colorado in blocks (20) while ranking third in rebounding (4.5 rpg). Lovering recorded his first double-double with a career-high 13 points and a team season-high 14 rebounds at USC. He had just eight points and seven rebounds in the previous three games combined. He has made 18 of 29 (.621) from the field in conference play.

Lovering is 11th in the Pac-12 in blocks at 1.1 per game.

Nique Clifford is averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while ranking third on the team in assists with 34. Clifford had 12 points, and four rebounds in the home win over Oregon.

Julian Hammond III is averaging 6.6 points and is second on the team in assists with 41. He scored a personal-high 18 points against Washington, leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time in his career. Hammond was a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line, both career-highs, and the team's season-best for free throws made without a miss.

The 18-points against Washington was his fourth game scoring in double-figures this season, all coming in the last 10 games. Hammond had a team season-best 16-straight free throws made end with his first attempt against Washington State.

Luke O'Brien is averaging 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He had eight points, six rebounds and a season-high three steals against Washington. He was 4 of 6 from the field against the Huskies and is shooting 49 percent overall the last seven games (25-51).

O'Brien leads Colorado in rebounding in Pac-12 play at 5.7 per game, which also ranks 14th on the league leaderboard. He had a career-high 11 in the home win over Oregon.

Javon Ruffin is averaging 5.8 points and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.365) and third in 3-pointers made (19). He had 11 points and was a career-best 7 of 7 from the free throw line at UCLA. Combined with his 12-point effort at USC, he scored in double-figures for the fourth time and first time in consecutive outings. Ruffin is 13th in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage.

ABOUT THE DUCKS: Oregon is 11-9 overall and 5-4 in the Pac-12 after splitting on the road at the Bay Area schools last week. The Ducks average 70.2 points while shooting 44.8 percent from the field. Defensively, the Ducks allow 66.3 points while opponents shoot 41.6 percent.

Will Richardson leads Oregon at 14.0 points, 5.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He is second in the Pac-12 in assists and third in steals. N'Fale Dante averages 13.2 points and leads the Ducks in field goal shooting (.620) and rebounding (7.6 rpg). Jermaine Cousinard averages 13.7 points and is hitting 46.3 percent from the field. Former Buffalo Keeshawn Barthelemy has returned to action after missing the game in Boulder with an injury. He is averaging 8.4 points and 2.0 assists over eight contests.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 28th meeting between Colorado and Oregon with the Buffaloes holding a 16-11 series lead. Colorado won the first matchup of the season, a 68-41 decision at the CU Events Center. Last year, the Buffaloes snapped a six-game losing skid in Eugene, with an 82-78 triumph on Jan. 25. Oregon holds a 9-3 edge over the Buffaloes in Eugene.

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Players Mentioned

Keeshawn Barthelemy

Nique Clifford

Tristan da Silva

J'Vonne Hadley

Julian Hammond III

Lawson Lovering

Luke O'Brien

Javon Ruffin

KJ Simpson