Buffs Host California Wednesday

Game 28 - California, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 6:02 p.m. MT
TV: Pac-12 Network (Jacob Tobey, Mike Montgomery)
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/483972

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 18-9 overall and tied for fourth place in the Pac-12 Conference at 9-7, one game out of the third spot. The Buffaloes have won their last two and are coming off an 89-65 triumph over Utah on Feb. 24.

Colorado has been spectacular at home, winning 14 of 15 contests. The Buffaloes have averaged 85.4 points while shooting 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range. Colorado has outscored the opposition by 16.9 points per game at the CU Events Center while enjoying a rebounding margin of plus-8.7.

Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 10 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are seventh in the nation in 3-point percentage (.394), eighth in overall shooting (.496) and 10th from the line (789).

Colorado is the only program in NCAA Division I in the nation's top 10 of all three categories (through games of Feb. 26). Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.5, 18th), free throws made (16.8 mpg, 30th), scoring (80.6 ppg, 34th), assists (16.0, 36th) and defensive rebounds (27.3 drpg, 42nd).

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

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: All-American candidate KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.6 points, 4.6 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 6.3 per contest, while still pacing the Buffaloes at 19.3 points and 4.6 assists.

Simpson earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors on Feb. 26, after recording 28 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in the win over Utah. He hit 10-of-15 shots from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, while going a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Simpson recorded his 16th 20-point game of the season, the most by a Buffalo since Alec Burks had 24 20-point games in 2010-11. He moved into 20th on Colorado's single-season scoring list with 528 points.

Simpson is one of two major conference players averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game joining Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. He is one of five 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 (.884) and 3-point shooting (.458), second in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1), third in scoring and steals, ninth in minutes (33.7 mpg), 10th in defensive rebounds (4.6 drpg), 15th in overall shooting and 17th in overall rebounding.

Senior forward Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg), field goals made (129), and 3-pointers (42) while ranking third in steals (25) and fourth in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Da Silva had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds against Utah.

He averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebounds 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 (.826), 10th in scoring, 12th in minutes (33.0 mpg), 16th in 3-point shooting (.375) and 20th in rebounds.

McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game while shooting a team-best 59.0 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 has made 15 of 19 field goal attempts the last three games (.789).

Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 11.7 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals (31), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and shooting (.561).

Hadley just missed a second-straight double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds against Utah. He logged 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 is second in the Pac-12 in conference games at 88.3 percent, hitting 53 of 60. 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, 11th in minutes (33.1 mpg), 12th in overall rebounding and 13th in defensive boards (4.6 drpg).

Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.0 per game. He had 13 points, hitting 4-of-5 from the field in the home win over Utah.

Lampkin has a team-best seventh double-doubles, 13 in his career adding his six at TCU. In all he has nine double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes.

On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also third in offensive rebounds (2.4 orpg), eighth in field goal percentage (.552) and 13th 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 eighth 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 (19) 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 GOLDEN BEARS: California is 13-15 overall and in sixth place in the Pac-12 at 9-8. The Golden Bears have won three-straight and coming off a home sweep of the Oregon schools last week. California averages 74.9 points per game while shooting 42.7 percent from the field. The Golden Bears are second in the Pac-12 in 3-pointers at 8.8 made per game while ranking eighth in percentage (.345). Defensively, Cal allows 75.8 points per game while opponents shoot 44.4 percent from the field.

Guard Jaylon Tyson leads California at 20.1 points and 3.3 assists per game while grabbing 7.0 rebounds per contest and shooting 48 percent from the field. Forward Fardaws Aimaq leads the Pac-12 and ranks fifth in the nation in rebounding at 11.3 per game. He is second on the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game and his 18 double-doubles on the season lead the Pac-12 and rank fifth nationally. Guard Jalen Cone averages 13.5 points and has a team-best 80 3-point field goals made.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 42nd meeting between Colorado and California with the Buffaloes holding a 22-19 lead. California won the season's first meeting, 82-78, in Berkeley on Jan. 10. The Buffaloes hold a 14-2 advantage in Boulder and have won the last six.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tristan da Silva

J'Vonne Hadley

Julian Hammond III

Luke O'Brien

KJ Simpson

Cody Williams