Buffaloes Close Out Nonconference With Utah Tech

Game 11 - Utah Tech, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 5:02 p.m. MT
TV: Pac-12 Network (Drew Goodman, Matt Muehlebach)
Watch Online: Pac-12 Now App, Pac-12.com
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Satellite: Sirius XM 388 & SXM App (978)
Listen Online: CUBuffs.com
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/483970

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 8-2 overall having won three-straight and four of its last five after a 90-68 win over Northern Colorado on Dec. 15. The Buffaloes will close out the nonconference portion of their schedule Thursday vs. Utah Tech.

Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 13 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are third in the nation in overall shooting at 52.1 percent, seventh from the line (.792) and 13th in 3-point accuracy (.398). Colorado is the only program in the nation ranked in the top 10 of field goal and free throw percentage and the only one in the top 13 of all three categories (through games of Dec. 19). The Buffaloes lead the Pac-12 Conference in all three as well.

The Buffaloes dipped below 50 percent shooting for the first time in five games against Northern Colorado, although still a healthy 49.3 percent. Colorado has shot at least 50 percent in seven of 10 games this season. The Buffaloes shot 50 percent seven times in 35 games last season (6-1).

It was the first time Colorado had shot 50-percent or better in four-straight games since Jan. 5-16, 2010. Over the last five games the Buffaloes are averaging 87.8 points while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor.

Colorado is 100-8 in the Tad Boyle era (since 2010-11) when shooting at least 50 percent.

The Buffaloes also sport top 40 marks nationally in assists (19.3 apg; 8th), rebound margin (+10.3, 16th), scoring margin (+16.2, 22nd) and scoring offense (85.0 ppg, 23rd).

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Junior KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.6 points, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game while ranking fourth in rebounding (4.4 rpg). He had a team-high 21 points against Northern Colorado, marking his sixth 20-point game of the season and the 13th of his career. Simpson also grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded a team season-high five steals.

On the season, Simpson is shooting 57.8 from the field, 45.9 percent from 3-point range and 91.8 percent from the free throw line. He is the only player in the country shooting at least 55-45-90 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game). Only one other player is at the coveted 50-40-90, that is Marquette guard Tyler Kolek (54.0-43.2-91.7).

Over the last five games, Simpson has shot 69.2 percent from the field (36-52), including 8 of his last 12 from 3-point range (.750).

Simpson has made 45 of 49 from the line (.918) leading the Buffaloes in all three categories. He has made his last 18 from the free throw line.

On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is second in free throw percentage, third in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1), fourth in steals and 3-point percentage and sixth in assists.

Nationally he is 27th in free throw percentage, 28th in scoring, 32nd in assist-to-turnover ratio, 48th in overall shooting and 65th in steals.

Senior Tristan da Silva is averaging 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while hitting 54 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.

Da Silva was named Pac-12 Player of the Week on Dec. 11 after his fantastic effort against Miami. He had 22 points, 10 rebounds, a career-high nine assists and a pair of steals against the Hurricanes. It was his third career double-double and first this season, missing a triple-double by a single assist. He had a season-best nine field goals made which matched the team's season-high.

Da Silva had a game-high 22 points in the win over Pepperdine, sporting a "perfect game" in the process. He was 5 of 5 from the field, including 2 of 2 from beyond the arc, and 10 of 10 from the free throw line. He's the only Colorado player since 1951-52 with at least five field goals and 10 free throws without a miss. Since the 1996-97 season, da Silva is the only Pac-12 player with those numbers and only one of 12 nationally. Da Silva had a 6 for 6 game from the field against Oregon State in 2020-21, but went 3 for 4 from the line finishing with 15 points.

On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks fourth in free throw percentage (.865) and 11th in scoring and 3-point percentage (.400).

Da Silva has made his last 16 free throws and 29 of his last 30. Da Silva and Simpson - Colorado's top two free throw shooters by number of attempts have combined to make 89.5 percent from the line (77-86) on the season.

Freshman Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game while shooting a team-best 62.3 percent from the field. Over his last four games Williams is averaging 17.8 points while shooting 68.3 percent from the field (28-41). He has missed the last two games with a wrist injury.

Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 10 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 23. He had 10 points and grabbed a career-best six rebounds against Northern Colorado.

Hammond is fifth in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting at 45.7 percent and 15th in overall shooting at 53.7 percent. He is shooting 59 percent from the field over the last five games (20-34).

Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 9.9 points per game while ranking second on the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and steals (14) and third in free throws made and attempted (25-32, .781). He had 15 points on 6 of 9 from the field with five rebounds and a career-high six assists against Northern Colorado.

On the Pac-12 charts, Hadley is seventh in field goal percentage (.587), 12th in steals (1.4 spg) and 13th in rebounding.

Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.2 per game. Lampkin had 10 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best six assists against Northern Colorado.

The UNC double-double was his second of the season and eighth overall in his collegiate career. In all he has four double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes, including two in the last three games.

On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also sixth in defensive rebounds (5.2 drpg) and 14th in offensive boards (2.0 orpg).

Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He leads the team in blocked shots with six and ranks fourth in steals (nine) and fifth in rebounding.

O'Brien made a career-high four 3-point field goals and matched his personal best with 14 points against Northern Colorado. He had 13 points hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the win over Miami. O'Brien has hit 7 of his last 12 from 3-point range after starting the season 3 of 14. He is 17th in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.385).

ABOUT THE TRAILBLAZERS: Utah Tech is 5-6 overall and off to a 2-0 start in the Western Athletic Conference. The Trailblazers have lost their last three. This will be the ninth road contest in 12 outings for Utah Tech, with an even 4-4 mark through the first eight. The Trailblazers average 69.2 points while shooting 43.7 percent from the field. Defensively, Utah Tech allows 73.0 points, holding opponents to 42 percent from the field.

Junior forward Tanner Christensen leads Utah Tech at 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. Junior guard David Elliott is averaging 11.6 points and shooting 50 percent in five games off the bench. Junior guard Noa Gonsalves is averaging 10.5 points and has a team-best 18 3-point field goals.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and Utah Tech. The Trailblazers, formerly known as Dixie State, are in their fourth year of transitioning to NCAA Division I. Colorado is 14-9 against current WAC teams, including a 1-1 mark last season.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tristan da Silva

J'Vonne Hadley

Julian Hammond III

Luke O'Brien

KJ Simpson

Cody Williams