Junior point guard KJ Simpson of the Colorado Buffaloes is SRA’s Pac-12 Player of the Week following his standout performance against the rival Utah Utes, which kept the Buffaloes’ NCAA tournament hopes alive. In a crucial showdown at the CU Events Center last Saturday, Simpson led the Buffaloes to a commanding 89-65 victory in Boulder, Colorado. The win propelled the Buffaloes (18-9, 9-7 Pac-12) into a tie for 4th place in the Pac-12 alongside UCLA (14-13, 9-7 Pac-12).
Simpson’s stellar performance saw him tally 28 points on 10-15 shooting, including an impressive 5-8 from three-point range. Additionally, he contributed 4 rebounds and 3 assists while committing just 1 turnover. This marks the second consecutive exceptional display by Simpson, who recently notched 30 points in a double-overtime thriller against the USC Trojans.
Photo Cred: CU
Throughout the season, Simpson has maintained an impressive stat line, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Notably, his shooting has significantly improved, boasting a 49.6% overall field goal percentage, a 45.8% success rate from beyond the arc, and an 88.4% accuracy from the free-throw line. This marks a notable improvement from last year’s shooting percentages of 39.6%, 27.6%, and 81.7%, respectively.
Simpson’s consistent scoring prowess has seen him eclipse the 20-point mark on 16 occasions this season, placing him squarely in contention for prestigious accolades such as the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award for College Basketball Player of the Year. Looking ahead, the Buffaloes will continue their final home stand of the regular season as they prepare to face California on the Pac-12 Network next Wednesday at 6 P.M. MT.
