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Games thread- MEN'S bball ends regular season on the road @ Oregon (Thursday, 3/7/24, 7:00 PM MT; ESPN2) & OSU (Saturday, 3:00 PM MT; Pac-12 Networks)

AztecBuff

AztecBuff

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Men's basketball (20-7 overall; 11-7 in Pac 12 play) ends their regular season with a big*** road trip to the Beaver State. 1st off they'll face off against the Oregon Ducks (19-10, 11-7) this coming Thursday night, after which they head up the road a bit to face the Oregon State Beavers (OSU; 12-17, 4-14) Saturday afternoon.

(***Currently In a tie for 3rd in conference play with a 2 game lead over the Utes and Bruins, both CU and Oregon can clinch a 1st round bye in the conference tourney with one win over the weekend (per https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball/standings). I'd assume, with a win already in hand over Oregon in Boulder, the Buffs can clinch the #3 seed with a win over the Ducks tomorrow. There is no chance for either team to move to #2 seed as 2nd place WSU sits 2-1/2 games up (@ 14-5) heading into their last game tomorrow night against their in-state rival.

Also wanted to note the regular season conference title and #1 seed at the Pac 12 Tourney is still not finalized, as the Cougars are only 1/2 game behind Arizona, and I assume hold the tie-breaker over the Wildcats after beating them twice (both times by 3 points) during the regular season. Arizona ends their regular season visiting the L.A. schools.)

Thursday's game is scheduled to be shown on ESPN2, while Saturday's is on the Pac 12 Networks. (Further info and links for media options available near the bottom of this post.)

Note- In the NET Rankings as I type this (for games through 3/4/24), CU is at #30, while the Ducks are #64 and Beavers #162.

Go Buffs!!!

(Preview(s) not available as I type this.)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Links with more info on the upcoming opponents:

Oregon :
Roster - https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats - https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24
Schedule - https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Their preview article - https://goducks.com/news/2024/3/5/mens-basketball-hosts-colorado-thursday

OSU :
Roster - https://osubeavers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats - https://osubeavers.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24
Schedule - https://osubeavers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Their preview article - Not available as I type this.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Media links:

Live video :
Vs. Oregon - Game is scheduled to be shown on ESPN2. For anyone with a subscription that includes access to that channel, I assume it will also be viewable on the ESPN app and/ or at https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8347397d-7e02-4a0e-a6ec-108aec74f3c6 . (If for any reason that specific link doesn't work, access to all ESPN streams can be found at https://www.espn.com/watch/ .)
Vs. OSU - Game is scheduled to be shown on the Pac 12 National, Mountain and Oregon channels. For anyone with a subscription to any service that includes access to any Pac 12 Network channel, I'm guessing the game will also be viewable on the Pac 12 App, or through a link at https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball/event/2024/03/09/colorado-oregon-state .

Live audio - The games will usually be available on 850 AM and 94.1 FM in the Denver/ Boulder area and maybe other stations in the Buff radio network. In addition, free audio streams for the games will be available at:
Vs. Oregon (Pre-game coverage should begin at 6:30 PM MT) - https://cubuffs.com/watch/?Live=2927&type=Live
Vs. OSU (Pre-game coverage should begin at 2:30 PM MT) - https://cubuffs.com/watch/?Live=2928&type=Live

Link to link to live stats (All games) - http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=colo
For specific games (If blank, not available as I type this.):
Oregon - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=498955
OSU - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=486663&vislive=colo

Game notes: (Note- Left empty for games that don't have any as I type this.)
Vs. Oregon - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2024/3/6/CU_Game_Notes_at_Oregon.pdf
Vs. OSU -
 
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Interesting comments from Tad about the need for our D to improve. The 2 Ds could make the difference during this stretch run.

“We’ve got two different lineups that we play. We play the lineup with Eddie Lampkin as a big guy, usually matching up against their big. And then we play a small lineup when Eddie’s out of the game, and there we’ve got to do a little bit more switching, a little bit more double-teaming in the post. We’ve worked on both those lineups in practice and I think we’re getting better defensively. It’s still not the strength of this team. The strength of this team is offense — moving the ball and sharing the ball and shooting the ball. At some point, we’re going to have to rely on getting stops. It might be Thursday night.”
 
Gotta be honest. Looking at these two games with my head and not my heart, I believe Oregon smacks us tomorrow night. Then we play desperate Saturday and squeak out a win against OSU.
 
Da Lama said:
Gotta be honest. Looking at these two games with my head and not my heart, I believe Oregon smacks us tomorrow night. Then we play desperate Saturday and squeak out a win against OSU.
Click to expand...

I expect two close games.
 
Tomorrow is biggest game in CU hoops for the last 3-4 years, right? Win and we're firmly on the right side of the bubble. Lose, and we basically have to get to the P12 finals to feel optimistic on Selection Sunday.
 
seattlebuff said:
Tomorrow is biggest game in CU hoops for the last 3-4 years, right? Win and we're firmly on the right side of the bubble. Lose, and we basically have to get to the P12 finals to feel optimistic on Selection Sunday.
Click to expand...
Saw a rumor that Dana might be done in Eugene after this season. Hopefully that means they're a bit off their game playing out the regular season.
 
Buffnik said:
Saw a rumor that Dana might be done in Eugene after this season. Hopefully that means they're a bit off their game playing out the regular season.
Click to expand...
Or they’ll play their hearts out for him. Likely that.
 
Preview for tomorrow's game - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/3/6/mens-basketball-boyles-buffs-set-for-critical-game-at-oregon

"

Boyle's Buffs Set For Critical Game At Oregon​

By: Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor

BOULDER — With two regular season games remaining and then the Pac-12 tournament, the Colorado men's basketball team has some work to do if the Buffaloes want to hear their name called on NCAA Selection Sunday.

Of course, the Buffs could guarantee themselves an NCAA tourney berth by running the table at next week's conference tournament and earning the automatic bid that goes with a tourney title.

But short of that, the Buffs need to collect some wins to improve their resumé — and there may be no better opportunity to burnish their qualifications than Thursday night's game at Oregon (7 p.m., ESPN2).

After that, the Buffs wrap up the regular season at Oregon State on Saturday in a 3 p.m. game (Pac-12 Network).

The Buffs (20-9 overall, 11-7 Pac-12) are currently tied with the Ducks (19-10, 11-7) for third in the Pac-12 standings. The top four teams in the standings earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

But of equal importance is CU's current NCAA Tournament status. Colorado is perched squarely on the tourney bubble, with a handful of bracket predictions having the Buffs in the field and others with CU on the outside of the party looking in.

Colorado's overall NET ranking — a critical evaluation metric for the NCAA Selection Committee — currently sits at 31, a solid number. The Ducks, meanwhile, are at 64. A win over Oregon on Thursday would give CU another much-needed Quad 1 win.

But Boyle and the Buffs aren't spending time studying bracketology.

Rather, they are taking aim at going into Eugene and collecting a road win — something that hasn't come easily this year for CU. The Buffs are just 2-7 in true road games this season.

"I just want to go out and play as well as we can," Boyle said. "We know that Oregon's a good team. They're a talented team that can really get out in transition and put points up. The best way to guard them is to not let them get out in transition. Get set and lock in. If we do that, we'll have a chance."

The Buffs won their first meeting with the Ducks this year, an 86-70 win in Boulder in mid-January. Freshman Cody Williams scored a career-high 23 points in the victory as the Buffs outscored UO 30-13 over the final 11 minutes.

The Ducks, 12-2 at home this year, are coming off a 103-83 loss at Arizona. Dana Altman's squad has experienced an injury-plagued, up-and-down season, but they are particularly dangerous on their home floor. Oregon boasts five players averaging double figures, led by guard Jermaine Couisinard (15.5 points per game) and big man N'Faly Dante (14.9 ppg).

The Ducks are also among the Pac-12's top teams in forcing turnovers and they are particularly adept in that area on their home floor.

"We have to take care of the ball, not let them turn us over and get out in transition," Boyle said. "When they get out in transition at home they get the crowd into it, start making threes and get dunks."

The Buffs will take a four-game win streak with them to Eugene, a streak that has seen them play some of their best offensive ball of the season. CU has scored at least 80 points in each of their last four games — and perhaps most importantly, has averaged less than nine turnovers per game over the last three contests.

The catalyst for the Buffs in their recent streak has been guard KJ Simpson, who has averaged more than 26 points and nearly six assists per game in the stretch.

For the year, Simpson is averaging 19.9 points per game (second in the Pac-12) and 4.79 assists (second) while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor, including .462 from 3-point range (tops in the Pac-12).

It all adds up to what Boyle said is the best season by any Buff he's ever coached.

"Askia (Booker) could really score the ball," Boyle said. "Derrick White could obviously score, was a great defensive player and a good shot blocker. Obviously a phenomenal player. But KJ is doing offensively, defensively, rebounding the ball, distributing the ball and he's a great leader. He's led this team emotionally and verbally. When you put all those things in a pot, from that standpoint I think everything he's brought to this team is the best year of any player I've coached in a long, long time."

But the Buffs will need more than Simpson to get a win at Oregon.

The good news is that senior forward Tristan da Silva might be playing his best basketball of the season. Da Silva is coming off a 27-point, 11-rebound effort in Colorado's win over Stanford, and he's shot 18-for-31 in his last two games.

The Buffs still aren't sure if they will have the service of Williams against the Ducks. The freshman standout, who has been hampered by injuries for much of the season, has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
"
 
video games GIF
 
Aside: Tad on KJ
I'm surprised how much he thought of Ski.

“I think he’s had the best year of anybody I’ve coached since I’ve been at Colorado,” Boyle said. “Askia (Booker) could really score the ball. Derrick White could obviously score the ball and a great defensive player. Is a good shot-blocker. Obviously, a phenomenal player. KJ is doing it offensively. He’s doing it defensively. He’s rebounding the ball. He’s distributing the ball. And he’s a great leader. He’s led this team emotionally and verbally.

“From that standpoint, everything that he’s brought this team, it’s the best of any player I’ve coached in a long, long time. Devon Beitzel at (Northern Colorado) was pretty close. Terrific player. But at Colorado, I give the nod to KJ.”
 
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