Barrington Hargress is ready to play simply his second sport with the Colorado Buffaloes. But he already is crossing paths with a really acquainted face.
Coming off a season-opening win in opposition to Montana State, the CU males’s basketball crew will host Jap Washington in sport No. 2 on Saturday afternoon on the CU Occasions Heart. Anticipated to start out in opposition to CU is Eagles guard Isaiah Moses, who was Hargress’ backcourt mate for 2 seasons at UC Riverside.
The switch portal broke up what had been a dynamic duo at Riverside. Whereas Hargress landed at CU to take over the purpose guard spot, Moses joined Jap Washington and has been the Eagles’ main scorer via video games.
“It’s superb. I lived with him my redshirt freshman 12 months (2023-24) once we lastly received to see the ground,” Hargress stated. “It was actually cool to see him out right here, see him doing properly. I’ve at all times wished properly for him, and we’ve at all times performed good collectively. That’s my man. I do know him rather well. I’m excited for him, and I’m excited for the blokes to see him.”
Hargress’ operating mate the previous two years, Moses averaged 12.0 factors final 12 months whereas Hargress led the Large West Convention at 20.2 factors per sport. Moses has shot simply .367 (11-for-30) via the primary two video games, however he visits CU with an Eagles crew whose 0-2 file is considerably misleading.
Jap Washington hasn’t performed at dwelling but and can accomplish that solely as soon as via the season’s first eight video games. The Eagles opened the season at No. 12 UCLA and battled the Bruins toe-to-toe, outscoring UCLA within the second half earlier than the upset bid fell quick in a six-point loss. Jap Washington shot .537 at UCLA, however the Eagles additionally suffered an eight-point loss at Loyola Marymount on Wednesday.
“Now we have the mantra, ‘You respect everyone. You concern no person.’ We’ve received to respect Jap Washington,” CU head coach Tad Boyle stated. “They’ve received coach (Dan Monson) who’s gained lots of video games in his profession. They’ve received hungry gamers who’re going to return in right here and let all of it hang around. They’ve received nothing to lose and every little thing to realize. So we’d higher be on-point. I need to see progress on each side of the ball.”
Boyle stated the Buffs predict reinforcements from their opening night time rotation, as freshman ahead Alon Michaeli is ready to make his CU debut. Signed over the summer season out of Israel, Michaeli was unavailable in opposition to Montana State because of an ankle damage. At 6-foot-9, 229 kilos, Michaeli is predicted so as to add a mix of measurement and talent to the Buffs’ frontcourt.
“Alon will play. He’s practiced this week,” Boyle stated. “He’s not favoring that ankle, so Alon will play. Which I feel will assist us on the entrance line. Seby (Rancik) performed 32 minutes (in opposition to Montana State), which might be too many simply because his ankle isn’t 100% but both.
“Large physique, toughness, rebounding, inside presence. He’s an excellent connector offensively when it comes to shifting the ball and having an IQ of what we need to get executed offensively. I feel he can assist us with our put up protection, which we struggled with.”
Jap Washington Eagles at CU Buffs males’s basketball
TIPOFF: Saturday, 2 p.m., CU Occasions Heart.
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM.
RECORDS: Jap Washington 0-2; Colorado 1-0.
COACHES: Jap Washington — Dan Monson, 2nd season (10-24, 455-420 total). Colorado — Tad Boyle, sixteenth season (313-204, 369-270 total).
KEY PLAYERS: Jap Washington — G Isaiah Moses, 6-0, R-Sr. (15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, .367 FG%); F Kiree Huie, 6-9, Gr. (11.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .600 FG%); G Johnny Radford, 6-1, Gr. (10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apg); F Alton Hamilton IV, 6-9, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .615 FG%); G Straton Rogers, 6-5, Gr. (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .800 FG%). Colorado (stats from opening win vs. Montana State) — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (24 pts, 6-for-9 FGs, 10-for-12 FTs); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (10 pts, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (12 pts, 9 rebounds, 5-for-8 FGs); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (13 pts, two assists, 3-for-9 FGs, 6-for-7 FTs); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (11 factors, three assists, 5-for-11 FGs).
NOTES: Isaiah Johnson’s 24 factors within the opener in opposition to Montana State marked essentially the most by a CU participant off the bench since Jabari Walker scored 24 factors within the Buffs’ rout of Georgetown within the first spherical of the 2021 NCAA Match. … The Buffs had 5 gamers rating in double-figures in opposition to Montana State, one thing CU didn’t obtain all of final season. The final time 5 Buffs scored a minimum of 10 factors was throughout a win in opposition to Florida within the 2024 NCAA Match. … Jap Washington’s Monson has led three completely different groups (Gonzaga, Minnesota and Lengthy Seashore State) to NCAA Match appearances. … Buffs assistant coach Invoice Grier labored as an assistant below Monson at Gonzaga. Boyle is also an in depth, longtime pal of Monson. … Colorado is 4-0 all-time in opposition to Jap Washington. All of these video games have been performed in Boulder. … CU’s season-opening five-game homestand continues subsequent Friday, Nov. 14, in opposition to Windfall and Friars head coach Kim English, a former CU assistant. … Jerry Schemmel as soon as once more will deal with the radio broadcast. Common radio analyst and former CU participant Scott Wilke once more will deal with analyst duties on the ESPN+ telecast alongside Thad Anderson, as common CU play-by-play man Mark Johnson can be dealing with the CU soccer sport.