Buffs Wrap Up Regular Season Saturday At Oregon State

Game 31 - Oregon State, Saturday, March 9, 2024
Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, Ore.
Tip: 3:02 p.m. MT
TV: Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson, 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 390 & SXM App (980)
Listen Online: CUBuffs.com
Live Statistics: https://statb.us/v/colo/486663

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 21-9 overall and in third place in the Pac-12 Conference at 12-7 following a 79-75 win at Oregon on Thursday. The Buffaloes have won five in a row in conference play, it's longest league streak since a five-game run from Feb. 5-19, 2022.

Colorado's 21 wins match the most in a regular season in team history. It's the fifth time the Buffaloes have reached that mark (1996-97, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2019-20, 2023-24). On Saturday, the 2023-24 edition of the Buffaloes will look to be the first to reach 22 wins in a regular season.

Colorado has clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament, matching its highest seed in the Pac-12 era (2020-21). The third-place finish will also match Colorado's best in the Pac-12 (2013-14, '20-21). At 12-7 in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes have won at least 12 conference games in three of the last four seasons.

Colorado has a winning record in conference play for the ninth time in 13 Pac-12 seasons. CU had nine seasons with winning conference records from 1963-64 through 2010-11 (9 winning, 36 losing, 3 at .500). Boyle has nine, Sox Walseth five and Ricardo Patton four.

Colorado is .500 or better in conference play for the 10th time in head coach Tad Boyle's 14 seasons. It's the ninth conference season in the Boyle era with double-figure wins.

20 WINS: Colorado has 14 20-win seasons in program history, 10 of which have come under head coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes have won 20 games by the close of the regular season nine times (1968-69, '96-97, 2012-13, '13-14, '15-16, '19-20, '20-21, '21-22 & '23-24). Boyle coached teams own the top five and six of the top seven single-season win totals in team history.

Most Wins In One Season:
1.         24 - 2011-12     8.         21 - 2023-24
            24 - 2010-11                 21 - 2021-22
3.         23 - 2020-21                 21 - 2019-20
            23 - 2018-19                 21 - 2012-13
            23 - 2013-14                 21 - 1968-69
6.         22 - 2015-16     13.       20 - 2005-06
            22 - 1996-97                 20 - 2002-03

Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 14 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are fifth in the nation in overall shooting (.499), sixth in 3-point percentage (.400) and 14th from the free throw line (.779).

Colorado is one of only two programs in NCAA Division I in the nation's top 14 of all three categories, joining Indiana State (through games of March 5). Colorado also sports top 40 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.8, 16th), assists (16.1, 31st), scoring (80.8 ppg, 32nd), defensive rebounds (27.4 drpg, 39th) and fouls (15.0, 39th).

Colorado leads the Pac-12 in all three shooting categories as well as rebounding defense (29.6 rpg) while ranking second in scoring, scoring margin (+8.2) and rebound margin, third in scoring defense (72.6 ppg), 3-point defense (.328) and defensive rebounds (27.4 drpg) and fourth in assists and overall rebounds (37.5 rpg).

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: All-America candidate KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.8 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.6 rpg). He is Colorado's leader in all shooting made and attempted categories as well as defensive rebounds at 4.7 per game. Simpson is averaging 6.2 rebounds during Pac-12 play, ranking 12th on the conference charts.

Since being held to a season-low four points at UCLA, Simpson has been on a tear averaging 24.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists over the last five games. He is shooting 51.9 percent from the field (42-of-81) and 50.0 percent from 3-point range (18-of-36) in that span.

Simpson had 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the win over California, giving him three-straight games scoring least 27 points, the first Buffalo to do that in 30 years - since Donnie Boyce (29-28-46) from Feb. 26-March 5, 1994.

Simpson has 18 games with 20 or more points this season, the most by a Buffalo since Alec Burks had 24 20-point games in 2010-11. He has 594 points, ranking 11th in single-season scoring at Colorado.

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 six in all of NCAA Division I with those numbers.

Simpson is second among all major conference players in rebounding during conference games (third 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 during conference play (second in overall games).

On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is first in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2), second in scoring, 3-point percentage (.445) and assists, third in steals, fourth in free throw shooting (.871), sixth in minutes (34.3 mpg), ninth in defensive rebounds (4.7 drpg) and 16th in overall rebounding and shooting (.493).

Simpson has become and 'iron man' of sorts. He leads the Pac-12 in minutes played during league games (37.0 mpg). Simpson has played 100-straight minutes of game time (2 1/2 games) and has sat for a mere six seconds over the last three contests (played 119:54 of 120:00), subbing out for the closing :06 before halftime of the California game.

Senior forward Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring (16.4 ppg), field goals made (156), and 3-pointers (51) while ranking third in steals (31) and fourth in rebounding (5.4 rpg).

Da Silva had a team-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting in the win at Oregon. It was his third-straight 20-point game, seventh of the season and 20th of his career. Da Silva is averaging 23.7 points while shooting 56.3 percent the last three games (27-48).

He had season-highs with 27 points and 11 rebounds on Senior Day against Stanford. It was his second double-double of the season and fourth of his career. He set career-highs in 3-pointers made and attempted hitting on 5-of-10 beyond the arc.

On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks sixth in free throw percentage (.840), ninth in scoring, 11th in minutes (33.5 mpg), 15th in defensive rebounds (4.4 drpg) and 3-point percentage (.383) and 19th in rebounding.

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 in his last three games (.789).

Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 12.2 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals (32), rebounding (6.1 rpg) and shooting (.571).

Hadley had 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at Oregon, recording his third career double-double (all this season). He was a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range, setting personal bests for 3-pointers made and attempted. He had made just three in the previous six games combined. His four 3-pointers made is the most without a miss since Julian Hammond III went 4-for-4 against Washington on Jan. 9, 2022.

It was Hadley's third 20-point game of the season. He tied a season-best eight field goals made and is shooting 64.6 percent over the last five games (31-for-48).

Along with da Silva, who had 22 at Oregon, it marked the eighth time this season the Buffaloes have had two players score at least 20 points in a game and fourth in a row.

On the overall Pac-12 charts, he is sixth in field goal percentage, eighth in free throw accuracy (.827), ninth in rebounding and 10th in minutes (33.5 mpg) and defensive boards (4.5 drpg).

Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 6.9 per game. He had 11 points against Stanford, hitting 5-of-7 from the field.

Lampkin has a team-best seven 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 (.556) 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 ninth in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.400). He has missed the last four games with a knee injury.

Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is third on the team in blocked shots with 12 and is fourth in steals (21) 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 BEAVERS: Oregon State is 13-17 overall and in last place in the Pac-12 at 5-14. The Beavers have won two of three since a season-long seven-game losing streak snapped last week, including a 92-85 decision over Utah on March 7. Oregon State averages 69.7 points on 44.4 shooting. The Beavers are the second-best free throw shooting team in the Pac-12 at 74.1 percent. Defensively, Oregon State allows 72.9 points while opponents are shooting 44.5 percent from the floor. The Beavers are the top 3-point defense in the Pac-12, allowing 32.3 percent from long range.

Guard Jordan Pope leads Oregon State at 17.9 points and 3.4 assists per game. He also tops the Beavers in 3-pointers made (63) hitting 37 percent from long range. Forward Tyler Bilodeau averages 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. Dexter Akanno is OSU's third double-digit scorer at 10.6 points an outing.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 34th meeting between Colorado and Oregon State with the Buffaloes holding a 22-11 advantage. Colorado won the first meeting, 90-57 in Boulder on Jan. 20, and has won seven of the last nine meetings overall. Oregon State olds a 7-6 edge in Corvallis.

SEASON NUMBERS WATCH: KJ Simpson has scored 594 points this season, six points shy of becoming the 10th player in team history to reach 600 in one season and would be the first since Derrick White in 2016-17.

Colorado Season Points
Rk.       Player   Season Points
5.         Cliff Meely         1968-69            667
6.         Stevie Wise       1990-91            655
7.         Derrick White    2016-17            615
8.         Cory Higgins     2010-11            610
9.         Scott Wilke        1987-88            601
10.       Stevie Wise       1989-90            599
11.       KJ Simpson       2023-24            594

Along with his scoring efforts, Simpson is 13 in season assists at 145; 11 away from breaking into the top 10.

Colorado Season Assists
Rk.       Player   Season Assists
7.         McKinley Wright IV        2018-19            167
            Mike Reid          1985-86            167
9.         McKinley Wright 2019-20            159
10.       Mike Reid          1984-85            156
11.       Billy Law           1991-92            151
12.       Derrick White    2016-17            148
13.       KJ Simpson       2023-24            145

Simpson has 53 steals, the most by a Buffalo since Andre Roberson had 67 in 2012-13. He's currently tied for 16th on CU's single-season list, 10 outside the top 10.

Colorado Season Steals
Rk.       Player   Season Steals
9.         Chauncey Billups           1996-97            63
            Randy Robinson 1992-93            63
11.       Richard Roby    2005-06            62
12.       Cory Higgins     2009-10            60
13.       Donnie Boyce    1993-94            59
            Billy Law           1991-92            59
15.       Marcus Hall       2007-08            58
16.       KJ Simpson       2023-24            53
            Jose Winston    1998-99            53

SHARP-SHOOTING BUFFS: Colorado shot 55.2 percent from the field against Oregon (32-of-58) marking the 18th time the Buffaloes have shot 50 percent or better from the field this season, the most in one season in team history. Colorado is 16-2 this season, and 110-9 in the Tad Boyle era when shooting at least 50 percent.

Colorado's 55.2 percent at Oregon is its second best in a road Pac-12 game, trailing only a 55.8 percent performance (29-52) in an 80-71 loss at Arizona on Jan. 25, 2018.

The Buffaloes have shot at least 50 percent the last six games, the most consecutive games hitting at least 50 percent since the first seven games of the 1985-86 season. The Buffs are shooting 52.9 percent in that span (149-284).

The Buffaloes shot 52.2 percent at UCLA. It was the first time in the Pac-12 era where Colorado shot 50 percent or better in consecutive games on a conference road trip. In February 2022, the Buffaloes shot 50 percent twice on the same trip, 50 percent at Oregon State (Feb. 15) and 52.2 percent at Stanford (Feb. 19) with a sub-.500 game at California (Feb. 17) in between.

1,000-POINT CLUB: Tristan da Silva became the 39th member of Colorado's 1,000-point club after scoring 17 points in the win over Iona. He hit the 1,000-mark on a 3-pointer in the final two minutes of the first half (scored 14 of his 17 in the first period). He had 22 against California, becoming the 20th player in team history to reach 1,300.

KJ Simpson became the 40th member of the 1,000 point-club after scoring 23 at Arizona State on Jan. 6. After his 27-point performance against Cal, he moved into the top 25 on CU's all-time list.

The last time Colorado had two active players in the program's 1,000-point club was at the end of the 2020-21 season in McKinley Wright IV (1,857) and D'Shawn Schwartz (1,026), with Schwartz reaching that milestone during the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Colorado Career Points
Rk.       Player   Seasons            Points
13.       Michel Morandais          2000-04            1,428
14.       Stephan Pelle    1999-03            1,367
15.       Scott Wilke        1984-88            1,366
16.       Tristan da Silva 2020-pre           1,354
17.       Ken Charlton      1960-63            1,352
18.       David Harrison   2001-04            1,317
19.       Evan Battey       2018-22            1,316
20.       Jay Humphries 1980-84            1,306
21.       George King      2013-18            1,294
22.       Alec Burks         2009-11            1,291
23.       KJ Simpson       2021-pre           1,290

SIMPSON MOVING UP IN CAREER ASSISTS & STEALS: KJ Simpson dished out seven assists against Stanford moving into Colorado's career top 10.

Colorado Career Assists
Rk.       Player   Seasons            Assists
5.         Marcus Hall       2003-08            423
6.         Toney Ellis        1976-80            409
7.         Nate Tomlinson 2008-12            405
            Donnie Boyce    2008-12            405
9.         Stevie Wise       1987-91            377
10.       KJ Simpson       2021-pre           342

Simpson had four steals against California to catch Blair Wilson for 13th all-time and is 18 away from moving into the top 10.

Colorado Career Steals
Rk.       Player   Seasons            Steals
10.       McKinley Wright IV        2017-21            140
            Marcus Hall       2003-08            140
12.       Mike Reid          1982-85            137
13.       KJ Simpson       2021-pre           122

Tristan da Silva had a career-high five 3-pointers against Stanford and in the process entered the career top 10. His career percentage of 38.1 percent would be ninth on Colorado's career charts.

Colorado Career 3-Point FG Made
Rk.       Player   Season 3FG
5.         George King      2013-18            181
6.         Askia Booker     2011-15            170
7.         D'Shawn Schwartz         2017-21            156
8.         Marcus Hall       2003-08            152
9.         Lucas Siewert    2016-20            140
10.       Tristan da Silva 2020-pre           137

Buffs Wrap Up Regular Season Saturday At Oregon State

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Players Mentioned

Tristan da Silva

J'Vonne Hadley

Julian Hammond III

Luke O'Brien

KJ Simpson

Cody Williams