With the NCAA tournament set to kick off next Tuesday in Dayton with the First Four, Colorado is feeling the pressure of tournament play early. Following a loss at UCLA on Feb. 7, the Buffaloes’ hopes for an at-large bid were in serious jeopardy, necessitating a winning streak to remain in contention. The Buffaloes rose to the challenge, clinching six consecutive victories, including three crucial road games, positioning themselves well for NCAA tournament consideration ahead of a matchup against Utah at 9:30 p.m. on FS1 in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas.
Photo Cred: Utah
The Utes (19-13, 9-11 Pac-12) faltered towards the end of the season, going 3-6 and suffering losses to both Oregon schools. This late stumble landed them as the no. 6 seed going into the tournament, where they faced the no. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils (14-17, 8-12 Pac-12) in Wednesday’s final first-round game. Utah swiftly handled the Sun Devils, securing a commanding 90-57 victory after establishing a 21-10 lead with 12:13 remaining in the first half.
Point guard Deivon Smith nearly achieved his fourth triple-double of the season, tallying 15 points on 6-8 shooting, ten rebounds and nine assists. Guard Cole Bajema contributed 22 points, shooting an impressive 6-9 from beyond the arc, while guard Gabe Madsen added 10 points on 5-8 shooting overall. The Buffaloes (22-9, 13-7 Pac-12) have been propelled by standout performances, particularly from star point guard KJ Simpson, during their recent six-game winning streak to close the regular season.
Photo Cred: Buff Zone
Simpson delivered double-digit scoring in all six wins, including four games with at least 22 points. Senior forward Tristan Da Silva also finished the season on a high note, achieving at least 22 points in three of the final four games. Senior guard J’Vonne Hadley has emerged as a key player for the Buffaloes, showcasing some of his best basketball of the season in recent games. In a critical matchup against the Oregon Ducks last Thursday. Hadley shined, sinking all four of his three-point attempts in the second half of the pivotal 79-75 road victory.
He finished the game with an impressive 20 points and 12 rebounds. Hadley has emerged as a significant three-point threat for the Buffaloes, boasting 50 percent shooting accuracy from long range this season, a notable improvement from not attempting a single three-pointer in 19 games last season. Additionally, he has raised his free throw percentage from 55.8% to 83.6%. In positive news for the Buffaloes, freshman forward Cody Williams participated in practice on Monday and could potentially return from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for the last five games.
In their regular-season matchups, Colorado and Utah split victories, each winning on their home court. In the Buffaloes’ 89-65 victory over the Utes in Boulder on Feb. 24, Simpson and Hadley combined for an impressive 48 points. Simpson has proven effective against the Utes this season, scoring 25 points with nine rebounds in the loss at Utah. However, Utah’s leading scorer, Branden Carlson, struggled in both games against the Buffaloes, scoring 11 points on 5-18 shooting.
A victory for Colorado could solidify their spot in the tournament, as they are widely considered one of the last four teams in, needing another quality win for assurance. A win against the Utes would count as a quad one victory for the Buffaloes, marking their third of the season. Conversely, the Utes, plagued by several poor losses down the stretch, must win the Pac-12 tournament to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament.
