Collectively, Colorado typically has loved a bonus on the boards.
And but, individually, CU males’s basketball coach Tad Boyle believes there stays loads of room for enchancment.
Because the Buffs proceed to work via last exams whereas making ready for Thursday’s house date towards North Alabama (6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Community), the rebounding query that confronted the crew going into the season has maybe been answered.
Regardless of dropping Pac-12 main rebounder Jabari Walker along with Evan Battey, the Buffs’ second-leading rebounder, CU has acquitted itself properly on the glass via the season’s first 10 video games. The Buffs (5-5) have outrebounded the opposition in seven of these video games, they usually start the week ranked fourth within the Pac-12 in common rebounding margin at plus-5.4.
In two of the three video games during which CU was outrebounded, the deficit was solely a lone rebound.
Junior faculty switch J’Vonne Hadley has given the Buffs an enormous increase on the glass, averaging 7.5 per recreation. Improved rebounding totals from KJ Simpson and Lawson Lovering have saved CU aggressive on the boards, and Boyle nonetheless is making an attempt to faucet into the upper ceilings, rebounding-wise, from starters like Tristan da Silva and Nique Clifford.
The 6-foot-9 Da Silva is averaging 4.0 rebounds per recreation and has averaged 4.8 previously 5 video games since a November streak that includes solely 5 whole rebounds in three video games. Clifford averaged 4.6 rebounds final yr however has averaged solely 3.8 up to now this season.
“I might take a look at guys like Tristan and Nique,” Boyle mentioned. “I believe J’Vonne Hadley has been our most constant rebounder. Lawson, Tristan, Nique and even Luke (O’Brien), who’s actually lively on the offensive glass, I need our guys to be egocentric defensive rebounders and egocentric offensive rebounders. That’s an space the place they will actually differentiate themselves.
“That’s the place I really feel (good) a few man like J’Vonne Hadley. I really feel like I’ve to have him on the ground. He competes. He performs laborious. He’s not looking his pictures. He’s not seeking to rating. Simply seeking to make performs to assist win video games. I might say at this level, I’m comparatively happy with our rebounding. I believe our protection nonetheless must get higher, extra constant. We’re making strides. We’re shut in each these areas.”
Sidelined
Boyle confirmed what has maybe changed into the plain by saying freshmen RJ Smith and Joe Hurlburt are unlikely to see any taking part in time in an effort to redshirt and protect the season of eligibility.
“I don’t need to say there’s not any state of affairs (during which they’d play), however the chance is just not superb,” Boyle mentioned. “We’ve talked to them about redshirting. That’s the plan.”
Boyle additionally mentioned walk-on freshman Harrison Carrington is ticketed for a redshirt as properly, just like the method the Buffs took final season with walk-on Amondo Miller. Miller, from Valor Christian, made his taking part in debut for the Buffs within the waning moments of final week’s rout of Colorado State.
Notable
Within the newest AP high 25 launched on Monday, Arizona moved up one spot to No. 9 after its spectacular win towards Indiana. UCLA moved up three spots to No. 16. Arizona State unofficially was ranked at No. 30 because the fifth crew amongst others receiving votes, whereas Utah acquired 12 factors within the vote…Thursday marks CU’s first matchup towards North Alabama…CU ranks seventh in total defensive subject purpose share (.414) and sixth in defensive 3-point share (.312).