Buffs Host Utah Saturday

Game 27 - Utah, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:10 p.m. MT
TV: Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson, Sed Bonner)
Watch Online: Pac-12 Now App, Pac-12.com
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Satellite: Sirius XM 373 & SXM App (Pac12)
Listen Online: CUBuffs.com
Live Statistics: http://statb.us/b/498948

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 17-9 overall and fifth place in the Pac-12 Conference at 8-7. The Buffaloes are one game out of that coveted top four position which receives a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament and two out of third.

Colorado is coming off a road split in Southern California last week. The Buffaloes suffered 64-60 setback at UCLA on Feb. 15, but rebounded with a thrilling come-from-behind 92-89 double overtime win at USC on Feb. 17, snapping a two-game skid and giving CU its second true road win of the season.

The Buffaloes return home to the friendly confines for the next three contests. Colorado has been spectacular at home, winning 13 of 14 contests. The Buffaloes have averaged 85.1 points while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range. Colorado has outscored the opposition by 16.4 points per game at the CU Events Center while enjoying a rebounding margin of plus-9.4.

Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 11 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are ninth in the nation in free throw percentage (.786) and 3-point accuracy (.390) while ranking 11th in overall field goal shooting (.494).

Colorado is the only program in NCAA Division I in the nation's top 11 of all three categories (through games of Feb. 22). Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.8, 16th), free throws made (16.8 mpg, 27th), assists (15.9, 40th), defensive rebounds (27.4 drpg, 40th) and scoring (80.3 ppg, 44th).

Colorado leads the Pac-12 in all three shooting categories as well as rebounding defense (29.9 rpg) while ranking second in rebound margin, third in scoring, scoring margin and defensive rebounds and fourth in overall rebounding (37.6 rpg).

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list member KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.2 points, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.6 rpg). He is Colorado's second-leading rebounder in Pac-12 games at 6.5 per contest, while still pacing the Buffaloes at 18.7 points and 4.7 assists.

Simpson had 30 points in the double-overtime win over USC, his fifth-career 30-point game. He drilled a career-high six 3-pointers in the win, the most by a Buffalo since Evan Battey had six at Utah on March 5, 2022. Simpson also grabbed nine rebounds in the game and dished out five assists.

Simpson's 30-point effort gave him exactly 500 points in 2023-24, becoming the 30th player in team history to reach that milestone.

Simpson is one of three major conference players averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game joining Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. and Maryland's Jahmir Young. He is one of six in all of NCAA Division I with those numbers.

Simpson leads all major conference players in rebounding during conference games (second for all games) for those listed at 6' 2" and under. He leads the Pac-12 in rebounding for all players listed at 6' 5" and under.

On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is first in free throw percentage (.881), second in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1), third in scoring and steals, fifth in 3-point percentage (.445), ninth in minutes (33.6 mpg), 11th in defensive boards (4.5 drpg), 15th in shooting (.488) and 16th in overall rebounds.

Senior forward Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), field goals made (125), and 3-pointers (40) while ranking third in steals (24) and fourth in rebounding (5.4 rpg). He averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebound on the Los Angeles swing.

Da Silva had three 3-pointers against UCLA marking the sixth time this season he's hit at least three in a game; just the second time in conference play.

On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks eighth in free throw percentage (.821), 10th in scoring, 11th in minutes (33.1 mpg), 19th in 3-point shooting (.370) and 20th in rebounding.

McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game while shooting a team-best 59.2 percent from the field. He had 18 points at UCLA leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the third time. Williams hit his first eight field goal attempts; finished 8-of-9 after missing a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer with the Bruins up by the final margin of four.

Williams had 14 points of 5 of 6 shooting at USC. Overall he made 13 of 15 field goal attempts last week (.867).

Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 11.4 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals (31), rebounding (5.9 rpg) and shooting (.553).

Hadley recorded his second career NCAA Division I double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds at USC. It was his fourth-career double-figure rebounding game.

Hadley saw a streak of 18 consecutive free throws made end at UCLA, but is still among in the elite in the Pac-12 in that category. He leads Pac-12 in conference games at 88.9 percent, hitting 48 of 54. Hadley made a career-best 8-for-8 against Arizona.

On the overall Pac-12 charts, he is sixth in free throw percentage (.844), seventh in field goal shooting, 12th in minutes (33.1 mpg), 13th in defensive boards (4.5 drpg) and 14th in overall rebounds.

Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.0 per game. Lampkin recorded his team-best seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Utah.

In all he has nine double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes. The Utah double-double was the 13th of his collegiate career, adding his six from TCU.

On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also third in offensive rebounds (2.5 orpg), eighth in field goal percentage (.545) and 15th in defensive boards (4.5 drpg).

Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 7.4 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 44. Hammond is ninth in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.400).

Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is third on the team in blocked shots with 11 and is fourth in steals (18) and fifth in rebounding. O'Brien had nine points and four rebounds at USC. His dunk with three seconds remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime.

ABOUT THE UTES: Utah is 16-10 overall and seventh in the Pac-12 at 7-8. The Utes gained a split in Southern California last week, falling at USC 68-64 on Feb. 15, but picking up a thrilling 70-69 victory at UCLA on Feb. 18, snapping a three-game skid. The Utes average 78.3 points while shooting 46.5 percent from the field. Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 in 3-pointers with 8.7 made per game. Defensively, Utah allows 72.8 points while opponents shoot 42.2 percent. Utah is the second-best rebounding team in the Pac-12, grabbing 39.5 per contest.

Fifth-year senior center Branden Carlson leads Utah at 16.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Senior guard Gabe Madsen averages 12.8 points and leads the team with 69 3-point field goals. Senior guard Deivon Smith averages 11.6 points and 6.2 assists per game.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 61st meeting between Colorado and Utah with the Buffaloes holding a 33-27 series lead. Utah took a 73-68 decision in Salt Lake City on Feb. 3. Colorado has 22-7 series lead in Boulder.

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Players Mentioned

Tristan da Silva

J'Vonne Hadley

Julian Hammond III

Luke O'Brien

KJ Simpson

Cody Williams