No. 2 Arizona, which has clinched the Massive 12 regular-season title, will attempt to guard towards a letdown at Boulder, Colo., on Saturday evening when the Wildcats play the Buffaloes.
Colorado (17-13, 7-10 Massive 12) has gained three of its previous 4 video games, with the victories coming towards lower-tier Massive 12 groups Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Utah.
Arizona (28-2, 15-2) has gained 5 consecutive video games, together with victories towards ranked opponents BYU, Houston, Kansas and Iowa State.
“We’re excited to play at Colorado,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd mentioned. “I’ve went up there with a very good group earlier than and obtained smacked. I understand how robust it’s to play there, so belief me, it is obtained my full consideration.
“Clearly after that we get a number of days off, after which we’ll see how that Massive 12 event shakes out. In order that’s form of subsequent on the horizon, that’ll be our focus.”
In Lloyd’s first season at Arizona in 2021-22, the Wildcats had been ranked No. 2 after they misplaced 79-63 in Boulder.
Colorado will play for positioning in subsequent week’s Massive 12 event, which it might want to win to earn an NCAA Event berth.
The Buffaloes, 13-4 at residence this season, will rejoice Senior Night time.
They rely closely on the scoring of freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, who averages 16.6 factors per recreation.
A freshman counterpart at Arizona, Brayden Burries, leads the Wildcats at 15.5 factors a recreation.
The inside size of Colorado’s Sebastian Rancik (6-foot-11, 220 kilos) and Bangot Dak (7 toes, 203) will go towards Arizona’s frontcourt of Motiejus Krivas (7-2 and 260) and Tobe Awaka (6-8, 255).
The Wildcats lead the Massive 12 in rebounding at 43.2 a recreation whereas Colorado is thirteenth at 34.4.
Awaka averages 9.6 rebounds a recreation and Krivas 8.2. Dak is at 6.5 a recreation and Rancik 5.6.
“Arizona is excellent, well-coached, they usually play exhausting,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle mentioned. “Our execution needs to be higher. We won’t give away possessions on offense and fail to rebound on protection. The possession is rarely over till you get that board.”
Dak achieved his fifth profession double-double with a career-high 22 factors and 10 rebounds within the Buffaloes’ 92-78 win at Utah on Tuesday.
Johnson additionally had 22 factors, placing him at 498 factors, 14 from Alec Burks’ Colorado freshman scoring report set in 2009-10.
Reserve middle Elijah Malone is the lone Colorado senior who might be honored on Senior Night time.
Arizona celebrated its seniors on Monday throughout its final residence recreation of the season, a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State.
Awaka was one of many seniors honored, in addition to Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Evan Nelson and Jackson Francois.
Awaka talked about Arizona will keep centered whereas getting ready to face Colorado after a net-cutting celebration for the Massive 12 regular-season title following the victory over the Cyclones.
“Clearly, we get a hoop, we get to chop nets down, we get to do it on our residence ground, however do not get drunk off the sensation,” Awaka mentioned. “You continue to need the large one, however this is likely one of the milestones you’ve got been wanting ahead to because the starting of the season.
“I believe we should always give ourselves a pat on the again, however do not get caught within the second.”
–Discipline Degree Media
