Colorado
11-3,2-1Pac-12
Arizona
11-3,2-1Pac-12
Buffs Fall On Road To No. 10 Arizona
January 04, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
TUCSON, Ariz. — Colorado fell behind early Thursday and the shorthanded Buffaloes never recovered, dropping a 97-50 decision to 10th-ranked Arizona at the McKale Center.
Tad Boyle's Buffs, still without standouts Tristan da Silva (ankle) and Cody Williams (wrist), saw their six-game win streak come to an end and fell to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play. The Wildcats bounced back from a weekend loss to Stanford to improve to 11-3, 2-1.
This one got away from the Buffaloes early. Arizona used a 13-0 run to build a 23-6 lead six minutes in and three minutes later CU's deficit hit 20 when the 'Cats assumed a 31-11 lead. Arizona took a 50-23 edge into the break and the Buffs never mounted a serious threat in the second half as Arizona steadily built its lead, pushing it to 50 in the final seconds.
Javon Ruffin scored 11 for Colorado and KJ Simpson added 10 as the Buffs shot just 36 percent from the floor (20-for-55). Simpson, CU's leading scorer this season, shot 5-for-17 and had a career-high eight turnovers.
Pelle Larsson led four Wildcats in double figures with 18.
Arizona shot 56 percent (40-for-71), including 11-for-20 from 3-point range. Colorado hit just four of its 15 attempts from beyond the arc and the Buffaloes were dominated on the boards, 45-25, the first time this year Colorado has lost the rebound battle.
The Buffs also finished with 18 turnovers that led to 25 Arizona points, with the Wildcats cashing in 24 points on fast breaks.
"It was not our night in any facet of the game," Boyle said. "We had some really good looks offensively early that didn't go in and in our heads got down. Our key was to keep these guys out of transition and we didn't do a good job of that. We got our tails kicked on the glass and we obviously weren't very good offensively."
HOW IT HAPPENED: Turnovers and poor shooting hit Colorado hard in the first half.
After pulling to within 10-6 early, the Buffs came up empty on their next seven possessions, enabling the 'Cats to put together a 13-0 run.
Ruffin momentarily halted the surge with a 3-pointer, but the Wildcats answered with a 10-4 burst to push their cushion to 33-13 at the midway point of the half.
The Buffs didn't help their own cause, committing nine turnovers in the first half that led to 16 Arizona points, many coming in transition. Arizona tallied 14 fast break points in the half and Colorado trailed, 50-23, at the break.
Colorado's woes continued in the second half. Arizona quickly built its lead to 30 in the opening minutes and the Buffs never managed to make anything resembling a serious run for the remainder of the game. Arizona steadily built its lead, even with reserves in the game, and CU's deficit hit 50 in the final seconds.
"I have to take as much responsibility for this loss as our players because we got beaten in every facet of the game," Boyle said. "I know this team has confidence in each other and we can't lose that after a game like this. We still have to believe in each other and in the system."
Now, the Buffs have to figure out a way to bounce back in a hurry, as they head to surging Arizona State on Saturday.
"We have to look ourselves in the mirror — players, coaches, everybody," Boyle said. "Do we put this one behind us? Absolutely. But we don't ignore it. We watch a little film, flush it out of our system and then figure out a way to win on Saturday."
TURNING POINT: A 13-0 Arizona run early in the first half gave the 'Cats a 23-6 lead and the Buffs never pulled to within single digits again.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado's hopes for a big win were dashed quickly, but the Buffs have to put this one behind them quickly and rebound Saturday against the Sun Devils.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs shot just 36 percent from the floor (20-for-55) while Arizona shot 56 percent (40-for-71), including 11-for-20 from 3-point range … Colorado hit only four of its 15 attempts from beyond the arc … CU was dominated on the boards, 45-25.
NEXT UP: The Buffs continue their trip to the desert Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at Arizona State (ESPNU). Colorado then wraps up a three-game road trip next Wednesday with a 9 p.m. game at Cal (ESPNU) before returning home for a Jan. 13 (Saturday) game against USC, set to tip off at 8 p.m. at the CU Events Center (ESPN2).
