Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Viv Colyer, CU Athletics
Buffs Open Big Basketball Weekend Hosting Oregon Thursday
January 17, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Game 18 - Oregon, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 8:40 p.m. MT
TV: FS1 (Jenny Cavnar, Casey Jacobsen)
Watch Online: Fox Sports Go
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Satellite: Sirius XM 385 & SXM App (975)
Listen Online: CUBuffs.com
Live Statistics: https://statb.us/b/498949
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the Pac-12 Conference snapping a three-game skid with a 68-58 win over USC on Jan. 13. The Buffaloes improved to a perfect 10-0 at the CU Events Center this season and the win over the Trojans was the 500th at the facility in program history (500-190, .725).
In its 10 home games this season, Colorado is averaging 85.5 points and winning by a margin of nearly 19 per game. The Buffaloes are shooting 52.8 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent from 3-point range, while enjoying a plus-10.3 advantage on the boards.
Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 25 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are ninth in the nation in field goal percentage (.501), 14th from 3-point range (.390) and 25th at the line (.766).
Colorado is one of only four programs in the nation's top 25 of all three categories (through games of Jan. 16) along with Alabama, Indiana State and Miami (Fla.), the latter which the Buffaloes defeated in Brooklyn on Dec. 10. Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.7, 25th) and assists (17.0, 26th).
Against Washington State, Colorado shot exactly 50 percent (24 for 48), hitting at least that mark for the ninth time, the most in one season since the 2017-18 team had nine in 32 games. Colorado is 102-8 in the Tad Boyle era (since 2010-11) when shooting at least 50 percent.
As for rebounding, a program staple, the Buffaloes have outrebounded their opponent in 15 of 17 games this season with a margin of plus-7.7 per game. Colorado had a season-high 49 rebounds in the win over Washington.
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in overall shooting, 3-point and free throw percentage and ranks second in rebounding margin, third in scoring margin (+9.2) and fourth in scoring, rebounding (37.7 rpg) and assists.
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Wooden Award midseason top 25 watch list member KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.3 points, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game while ranking fourth in rebounding (4.9 rpg).
Simpson is shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from 3-point range and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. He is one of five players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game) and is the top scorer among those players at 19.3 per game.
On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is second in free throw percentage, third in scoring, 3-point percentage and steals, fourth in assists, sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0) and 15th in overall shooting.
Senior Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and assists (40). Da Silva had 20 points at California, hitting the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season. He returned to the lineup at Arizona State after missing the first three Pac-12 games with an injured ankle, scoring 17 points with three rebounds and three assists.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks ninth in scoring, 11th in free throw percentage (.813), 13th in overall shooting and 14th in defensive boards (4.3 drpg).
McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. He returned to the lineup at California after missing the previous seven games with a wrist injury, scoring 16 points with four rebounds, two assists and matching a personal best with two blocks. .
Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 10.6 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals (22) and rebounding (5.6 rpg). He had a team-high 15 points on 7 of 11 from the field against USC along with matching a season-high nine rebounds.
On the Pac-12 charts, Hadley is seventh in field goal percentage (.567), 13th in steals (1.3 spg), 14th in free throw shooting (.792) and 16th in rebounding.
Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.5 per game. Lampkin recorded his team-best fifth double-double of the season, with a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds at California.
In all he has seven double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes. The California double-double was the 11th of his collegiate career, adding his six from TCU.
On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also third in offensive rebounds (2.7 orpg), ninth in defensive boards (4.9 drpg) and 12th in field goal percentage (.534).
Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He leads the team in blocked shots with seven and is tied for third in steals (15) and is fifth in rebounding.
O'Brien had 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds against Washington, scoring in double-figures for the fourth-straight time, the longest span of his career. He had 18 points on eight field goals made against Utah Tech, both career-highs.
Sophomore guard Javon Ruffin has returned to the lineup for the Pac-12 season after missing the nonconference portion of the schedule recovering from offseason knee surgery. He was initially expected to miss the season, but his rehab went better than expected and began basketball activities Dec. 19.
Ruffin had 11 points and four rebounds at Arizona, leading Buffaloes in scoring for the first time in his career. It was his seventh-career double-figure scoring game and he matched a career-high with 10 field goal attempts.
Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 8.7 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 33. He is seventh in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.438).
ABOUT THE DUCKS: Oregon is 13-3 overall and leads the Pac-12 at 5-0. The Ducks have won their last six and nine of their last 10 overall. Oregon averages 78.8 points per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. Defensively, the Ducks allow 71.5 points while their opponents shoot 44.6 percent.
Freshman Jackson Shelstad leads Oregon at 14.6 points while shooting 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. Senior Jermaine Couisnard averages 13.9 points leading the Ducks in assists (41) and steals (30).
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 29th meeting between Colorado and Oregon with the Buffaloes holding a 16-12 series lead. The teams split the series last season, each winning at home. Colorado is 11-1 all-time against Oregon in Boulder.
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 8:40 p.m. MT
TV: FS1 (Jenny Cavnar, Casey Jacobsen)
Watch Online: Fox Sports Go
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Satellite: Sirius XM 385 & SXM App (975)
Listen Online: CUBuffs.com
Live Statistics: https://statb.us/b/498949
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the Pac-12 Conference snapping a three-game skid with a 68-58 win over USC on Jan. 13. The Buffaloes improved to a perfect 10-0 at the CU Events Center this season and the win over the Trojans was the 500th at the facility in program history (500-190, .725).
In its 10 home games this season, Colorado is averaging 85.5 points and winning by a margin of nearly 19 per game. The Buffaloes are shooting 52.8 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent from 3-point range, while enjoying a plus-10.3 advantage on the boards.
Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 25 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are ninth in the nation in field goal percentage (.501), 14th from 3-point range (.390) and 25th at the line (.766).
Colorado is one of only four programs in the nation's top 25 of all three categories (through games of Jan. 16) along with Alabama, Indiana State and Miami (Fla.), the latter which the Buffaloes defeated in Brooklyn on Dec. 10. Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.7, 25th) and assists (17.0, 26th).
Against Washington State, Colorado shot exactly 50 percent (24 for 48), hitting at least that mark for the ninth time, the most in one season since the 2017-18 team had nine in 32 games. Colorado is 102-8 in the Tad Boyle era (since 2010-11) when shooting at least 50 percent.
As for rebounding, a program staple, the Buffaloes have outrebounded their opponent in 15 of 17 games this season with a margin of plus-7.7 per game. Colorado had a season-high 49 rebounds in the win over Washington.
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in overall shooting, 3-point and free throw percentage and ranks second in rebounding margin, third in scoring margin (+9.2) and fourth in scoring, rebounding (37.7 rpg) and assists.
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Wooden Award midseason top 25 watch list member KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.3 points, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game while ranking fourth in rebounding (4.9 rpg).
Simpson is shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from 3-point range and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. He is one of five players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game) and is the top scorer among those players at 19.3 per game.
On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is second in free throw percentage, third in scoring, 3-point percentage and steals, fourth in assists, sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0) and 15th in overall shooting.
Senior Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and assists (40). Da Silva had 20 points at California, hitting the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season. He returned to the lineup at Arizona State after missing the first three Pac-12 games with an injured ankle, scoring 17 points with three rebounds and three assists.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks ninth in scoring, 11th in free throw percentage (.813), 13th in overall shooting and 14th in defensive boards (4.3 drpg).
McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. He returned to the lineup at California after missing the previous seven games with a wrist injury, scoring 16 points with four rebounds, two assists and matching a personal best with two blocks. .
Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 10.6 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals (22) and rebounding (5.6 rpg). He had a team-high 15 points on 7 of 11 from the field against USC along with matching a season-high nine rebounds.
On the Pac-12 charts, Hadley is seventh in field goal percentage (.567), 13th in steals (1.3 spg), 14th in free throw shooting (.792) and 16th in rebounding.
Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.5 per game. Lampkin recorded his team-best fifth double-double of the season, with a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds at California.
In all he has seven double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes. The California double-double was the 11th of his collegiate career, adding his six from TCU.
On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also third in offensive rebounds (2.7 orpg), ninth in defensive boards (4.9 drpg) and 12th in field goal percentage (.534).
Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He leads the team in blocked shots with seven and is tied for third in steals (15) and is fifth in rebounding.
O'Brien had 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds against Washington, scoring in double-figures for the fourth-straight time, the longest span of his career. He had 18 points on eight field goals made against Utah Tech, both career-highs.
Sophomore guard Javon Ruffin has returned to the lineup for the Pac-12 season after missing the nonconference portion of the schedule recovering from offseason knee surgery. He was initially expected to miss the season, but his rehab went better than expected and began basketball activities Dec. 19.
Ruffin had 11 points and four rebounds at Arizona, leading Buffaloes in scoring for the first time in his career. It was his seventh-career double-figure scoring game and he matched a career-high with 10 field goal attempts.
Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 8.7 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 33. He is seventh in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.438).
ABOUT THE DUCKS: Oregon is 13-3 overall and leads the Pac-12 at 5-0. The Ducks have won their last six and nine of their last 10 overall. Oregon averages 78.8 points per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. Defensively, the Ducks allow 71.5 points while their opponents shoot 44.6 percent.
Freshman Jackson Shelstad leads Oregon at 14.6 points while shooting 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. Senior Jermaine Couisnard averages 13.9 points leading the Ducks in assists (41) and steals (30).
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 29th meeting between Colorado and Oregon with the Buffaloes holding a 16-12 series lead. The teams split the series last season, each winning at home. Colorado is 11-1 all-time against Oregon in Boulder.
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