Issues will get more durable for the Colorado males’s basketball group within the very close to future. By the tip of the week, to be particular.
But for a gap act, the Buffaloes made a stable first impression.
Colorado acquired its one hundred and twentieth season of males’s basketball began with an intensive all-around efficiency, topping UC Riverside 82-66 on Monday on the CU Occasions Heart.
It was CU’s seventh consecutive win in a season opener and gave head coach Tad Boyle, in his thirteenth season with the Buffs, his 255th win, inching nearer to Sox Walseth’s program document of 261.
“First video games are by no means straightforward. You by no means know what fairly to count on out of your group,” Boyle mentioned. “Riverside is a extremely good opponent. Anyone that noticed that recreation noticed they’ve acquired some guards which can be actually, actually good. We did a extremely good job of guarding the 3-point line, as a result of they’ve acquired some shooters that we didn’t let get going tonight. I believe that was a giant a part of the sport.”
Regardless of the comparatively snug remaining rating, Boyle can have loads of materials to evaluate earlier than the Buffs embark on a two-week, five-game highway journey later this week.
Measurement might be a problem for CU this season, and Riverside managed to seize 15 offensive rebounds, together with 9 within the first half. CU dedicated a not-too-gaudy 13 turnovers, with a couple of occurring late with the end result determined, however having seven of these 13 charged to the beginning backcourt of KJ Simpson and Nique Clifford is one thing that should change on the highway.
Offensively, the Buffs shot .469 general, and after lacking their first 4 3-point makes an attempt the Buffs went 6-for-9 from the arc the remainder of the way in which. CU tried 26 free throws however made solely 16 (61.5%).
But as Boyle famous, CU’s perimeter protection was very good, holding Riverside to a 4-for-21 mark on 3-pointers. The Buffs additionally used their superior depth to their benefit, pushing the tempo for a 14-6 edge on quick break factors, whereas the CU bench outscored the Highlanders reserves 32-19.
“If you happen to take a look at our roster, it’s no secret that at this stage we’re a little bit under-sized, however we’ve the athleticism and the ability to again it up,” mentioned Yale graduate switch Jalen Gabbidon, who led the bench effort with 12 factors in his CU debut. “That’s one in all our strengths is that we’re quick. One by means of 18, we will all get out. We work on that in apply. We push the ball arduous. That was a giant level of emphasis. We’re at altitude. We’re going to run, we’re going to push the ball, we’re going to play an thrilling recreation.”
4 gamers scored in double figures for the Buffs, who acquired a powerful exhibiting from junior school switch J’Vonne Hadley in his CU debut. Hadley scored a team-high 16 factors, going 6-for-12 from the ground with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, one blocked shot and no turnovers in additional than 23 minutes. Simpson completed with 14 factors with three assists, three rebounds and two steals.
The Buffs jumped to a 10-3 lead however the Highlanders stayed shut early and ultimately took a 15-14 lead halfway by means of the primary half. CU responded by scoring the subsequent 14 factors, finally placing collectively a 25-5 run on the way in which to a 46-28 lead at halftime.
“I believe with this group, the stability and the depth, it is perhaps completely different guys on completely different nights,” Boyle mentioned. “And that’s one factor I’ve actually tried to impress upon the fellows. Tonight may not have been your night time. You may not have gotten the minutes or the pictures. However the subsequent recreation is perhaps. This isn’t going to be a group the place we’ve to rely upon one particular man to go get us X-amount of factors. We’ve acquired a number of completely different guys on this group that may rating the ball in several methods.”
Snapshot: CU Buffs vs. UC Riverside
Turning level: The Highlanders stayed shut early and really led 15-14 halfway by means of the primary half, however the Buffs took management by answering with a 25-5 run.
Buff of the sport: J’Vonne Hadley. The junior school switch continued to showcase the all-around play he displayed throughout CU’s exhibition with towards Nebraska, ending his official Buffs debut with 16 factors, eight rebounds and three assists.
What’s subsequent?: The Buffs start a demanding two-week, five-game highway journey at Grambling State on Friday night time (6 p.m. MT, ESPN+) as a part of the Pac-12’s scheduling settlement with the SWAC.
Colorado 82, UC Riverside 66UC RIVERSIDE (0-1)Olbrich 2-9 0-0 4, Martinez 2-4 1-1 5, Cameron 4-10 1-2 11, Pullin 8-16 1-4 17, Tattersall 4-11 1-2 10, Owens 5-10 0-0 10, Salaridze 2-3 0-1 4, Hartwell 1-7 0-0 2, Turner 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 29-72 4-10 66.COLORADO (1-0)da Silva 4-8 2-4 12, Lovering 1-7 2-2 4, Clifford 1-3 1-3 4, Hadley 6-12 4-5 16, Simpson 5-10 3-5 14, Hammond 3-5 0-0 6, Gabbidon 4-5 4-6 12, O’Brien 1-4 0-0 3, Ruffin 3-5 0-1 7, Wright 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 30-64 16-26 82.
Halftime — Colorado 46-28. 3-point area objectives — UC Riverside 4-21 (Cameron 2-6, Turner 1-2, Tattersall 1-4, Hartwell 0-1, Pullin 0-1, Salaridze 0-1, Martinez 0-2, Olbrich 0-2, Owens 0-2), Colorado 6-13 (da Silva 2-2, Ruffin 1-1, Clifford 1-2, O’Brien 1-2, Simpson 1-2, Gabbidon 0-1, Hadley 0-1, Hammond 0-1, Wright 0-1). Rebounds — UC Riverside 44 (Olbrich 10), Colorado 43 (Hadley 8). Assists — UC Riverside 7 (Cameron 2), Colorado 15 (Hadley, Simpson 3). Complete fouls — UC Riverside 22, Colorado 12. A — 5,388.