Colorado Buffaloes Game Preview/Open Thread

The Essentials

Date: Saturday, 2/17/18

Tip-Off Time: 5:00pm PST

TV: Pac-12 Network

Radio: KOMO 1000

Location: Seattle, Washington

Betting Line: Washington -4

Colorado 2017-18 Statistics:

Record: 15-11 (7-7)

Points For per Game: 72.6 ppg (196th)

Points Against per Game: 72.0 ppg (145th)

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 103.8 (200th)

Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 97.9 (45th)

Strength of Schedule: 69th

Colorado Key Players:

For more information on the Colorado starters check out what I said before their last matchup.

C- Dallas Walton, Fr. 7’0, 230: 5.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.1bpg, 49.1% FG, 71.9% FT

Conference Only Percentages: 45.9% 2pt, 50% 3pt, 70% FT

F- George King, Sr. 6’6, 225: 13.6ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.1apg, 46.3% FG, 40.8% 3pt, 74.3% FT

Conference Only Percentages: 45.8% 2pt, 44.4% 3pt (4th), 66.7% FT

F- Namon Wright, Jr. 6’5, 205: 10.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.2apg, 44.4% FG, 31.5% 3pt, 72.2% FT

Conference Only Percentages: 54.8% 2pt (20th), 33.3% 3pt, 69.6% FT

G- Dominique Collier, So. 6’2, 176: 7.1ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.5apg, 37.6% FG, 36.1% 3pt, 71.7% FT

Conference Only Percentages: 36.4% 2pt, 46.5% 3pt (2nd), 74.3% FT (20th)

G- McKinley Wright IV, Fr. 6’0, 185: 14.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 5.4apg, 44.6% FG, 30.7% 3pt, 77.3% FT

Conference Only Percentages: 44.6% 2pt, 19.4% 3pt, 77.6% FT (15th)

The Outlook

Colorado seemingly turned things around during a 3-game winning streak at home but the feel goods stopped in a hurry with a loss at Wazzu on Thursday night. Both teams come into this matchup in desperation mode so we’ll see who is better able to adjust.

The Buffs lost SG Deleon Brown to a broken hand since the last time they faced off with the Huskies which means we’ll see more of Dominique Collier who is shooting over 45% from deep in conference play. It also likely means more of freshman Tyler Bey who set career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds during the game in Boulder.

These teams are somewhat mirror images of one another. Washington is 1st in conference play in defensive efficiency (yes, still) and Colorado is 2nd. On the flip side Colorado is 10th in offensive efficiency in conference play and Washington is 11th. Both teams are much better on defense and so whichever team is able to find some consistency scoring the ball is going to win the game.

Colorado is 4-8 in games not in Boulder this season with the lone road victory coming at UCLA plus a trio of neutrals against standouts Drake, Quinnipiac, and Mercer... It’s hard to see them coming into what should be a raucous selllout due to the Isaiah Thomas jersey commemoration ceremony and stealing a win here. We’ve been inching closer and closer to the must-win moniker but we’ve finally arrived here. Every single regular season game the rest of the way is a must-win in order to keep the NCAA dream alive. The Huskies get it done here and send IT’s jersey out in style.

Prediction

Washington Huskies- 65, Colorado Buffaloes- 55

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