Quick break
Why the Buffs received: CU outrebounded Washington 49-31 and held the Huskies to a .385 mark from the ground.
Three stars:
CU’s KJ Simpson: Posted his first double-double of the season and second of his profession with 21 factors and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Simpson additionally had seven assists and three steals.
CU’s Eddie Lampkin Jr.: Completed together with his third consecutive double-double and his fourth of the season with 17 factors and 12 rebounds.
UW’s Keion Brooks Jr.: Scored 15 of his team-high 20 factors within the second half and went 4-for-8 on 3-pointers.
Up subsequent: CU completes the primary homestand of the Pac-12 schedule in opposition to Washington State on Sunday (midday, Pac-12 Community).
When Colorado all of a sudden discovered itself with out freshman standout Cody Williams forward of one of many largest nonconference video games of the season earlier this month, the Buffaloes responded by toppling nationally-ranked Miami away from dwelling.
When the Buffs all of a sudden had been with out senior chief Tristan da Silva for a key matchup within the Pac-12 Convention opener, they did the identical. CU was capable of reply an enormous second-half cost by Washington with considered one of its personal down the stretch, pulling away late for a 73-69 win on the CU Occasions Heart on Friday night time.
Da Silva suffered an injured ankle at observe on Thursday, and the Buffs additionally performed with out freshman reserve Bangot Dak, who has been battling an sickness. CU additionally as soon as once more performed with out Williams, who missed his fourth consecutive sport on account of an injured left wrist, and reserve guard RJ Smith, who missed his fifth straight sport on account of a decrease leg problem.
Boyle stated afterward that Smith is completed for the season.
“We for certain missed these guys on the market, however it’s simply next-man up at that time,” stated CU level guard KJ Simpson. “Our workforce, with our depth, all people is able to going on the market, and we belief all people on the ground. It simply goes to indicate how a lot this workforce actually needs to win.”
The personnel points compelled all 5 of CU’s starters to play at the very least 29 minutes, with Simpson falling simply 49 seconds in need of taking part in your complete sport.
The Buffs shot .441, the low mark in eight dwelling video games this season, and completed with extra turnovers (15) than assists (14) for simply the third time this yr (the primary time at dwelling). But the shorthanded Buffs had been capable of lean closely on the Tad Boyle-era program pillars of protection and rebounding to prevail.
CU held Washington to a .385 mark, together with .281 within the first half, and outrebounded the Huskies 49-31. UW’s prime two scorers, Keion Brooks Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler, completed with 20 and 17 factors, respectively, however they went a mixed 14-for-38 from the ground.
“I knew we had sufficient expertise in our lineup, in that locker room, to win this sport,” Boyle stated. “However I additionally knew our margin for error with Tristan going out, and already being shorthanded with not having RJ and never having Cody, you retain shedding high quality gamers out of your lineup and your margin for error goes down considerably. I believe you noticed that tonight.
“The excellent news is, we didn’t play our greatest and we discovered a solution to win this sport. That’s what good groups do. That’s what high-character groups do. That’s what groups with toughness do. And we beat a high quality workforce, a proficient workforce, in Washington.”
