BOULDER _ Tad Boyle wasn’t pleased seeing Nique Clifford get shut out on the boards final week in opposition to USC and advised him so.
Clifford agreed. And got down to do one thing about it.
The versatile wing from Colorado Springs responded with two of the highest rebounding video games of his profession in addition to posting his first double-double throughout Saturday’s victory in opposition to Utah within the common season finale.
In some ways, Clifford’s season personally has served as a microcosm for the complete Buffs staff. There have been tantalizing glimpses of potential. Simply not practically sufficient of them.
Given the postgame announcement that place to begin guard KJ Simpson will miss the Pac-12 Convention match after contracting mono, a continued resurgence from Clifford could be essential to the Buffs’ efforts to maintain their season alive this week in Las Vegas. Ninth-seeded CU will tip off the convention match in opposition to Washington within the opening sport of the primary spherical on Wednesday at T-Cellular Area (1 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Community).
“A couple of video games in the past I had zero rebounds and that was one thing the coaches pressured to me. I’ve bought to be a greater rebounder,” Clifford stated. “I agreed with them. I’ve bought to be higher on the boards. I took that personally…As a collective group, we’ve bought to be a staff that rebounds. Particularly going into this match.”
Clifford spent a lot of final season as CU’s second-leading rebounder whereas posting a .400 capturing proportion from 3-point vary (.453 total). He has struggled on each fronts this season, and his zero-rebound outing in 29 minutes throughout a Feb. 23 loss in opposition to USC dropped his season rebounding common to three.4 per sport (down from 4.6 final yr). His 0-for-3 mark that night time from the arc dropped his season 3-point proportion to .270.
Clifford nonetheless couldn’t discover the vary three days later in opposition to UCLA (1-for-7 total, 1-for-3 3-pointers), however he matched a career-high for the fourth time with 9 rebounds. Clifford was even higher in opposition to Utah, going 5-for-8 total and 2-for-3 from the arc whereas ending with 14 factors and a career-best 11 rebounds. Clifford suffered three turnovers within the first four-plus minutes however didn’t have one other the remainder of the best way.
“He was terrific (in opposition to Utah) rebounding the basketball for us. And he made some performs off the dribble,” Boyle stated. “Nique’s getting higher. Particularly with KJ being out now, Nique’s an essential issue. Nique was terrific, defensively and rebounding the basketball for us.”
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