BOULDER— The last time the Colorado Buffaloes played the Seattle Redhawks they lost 72-65 in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitation, tonight the Buffs flipped the switch and pulled off a 67-56 victory.
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“Well that was the definition of winning ugly, right there, we were not very good offensively tonight on a lot of different levels but to figure out a way to win on a night when you’re not functioning offensively this early in the season is a testament to our guys will, their toughness and our defensively rebounding,” Tad Boyle on the win.
The Buffs got off to an extremely slow start, they were 3-of-9 from the field and 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. Four minutes into the game the Buffs found themselves down by four, it seemed as though they couldn't buy a basket.
“Credit to Seattle, we weren't making shots so I guess sometimes when you aren't making shots players seem to get in not a rhythm you could say their flow could be off so I just feel like we weren’t making shots, we kind of let that lead to our defense and that’s a mistake we shouldn't make,” Xavier Johnson on not having an offensively rhythm tonight.
“We watched some film on their 3-2 and we knew which ways we wanted to attack, I know that I personally missed a couple post feeds, we just have to keep attacking them inside-out and that’s what were trying to focus on,” Derrick White after the game.
Another thing that stalled the Buffs was their turnovers, they had five turnovers within the first nine minutes of the game. They ended the game with 19 total turnovers.
“Obviously we have to take care of the ball,” Boyle on turnovers. “We go from 10 turnovers which is a great number, manageable number on Friday to 19 tonight and we’re playing against the zone, we’re not getting pressed we’re not getting pressured we just turned the thing over like we have to be more consistent and mature with the ball.”
They also struggled to defend the three-point shot, the Redhawks ended the night 6-of-32.
Friday night the Buffs gave up 17 offensive rebounds, tonight they improved on that only allowing 10. Wesley Gordon had another spectacular night on the boards, finishing with 14 (6 offensively, 8 defensively).
“Wes is a good rebounder, it’s funny the other night against Sac State I didn't think he rebounded particularly well, he ends up with 12, tonight he ends up with 14, so Wes we know he is a good rebounder and he has a nose, for the ball but we need to get more guys, defensively we need more guys doing it and offensively we need to be more of a presence,” Boyle on Gordon’s rebounding.
“I knew in the zone that they wouldn't have any assigned box outs so I just really tried to get in there and make things happen,” Gordon on his rebounding.
Not only were the Buffs struggling defensively but they couldn't move the ball through Seattle’s zone defense, this was something the Buffs hadn’t seen yet in their first two games and it was easy to tell they struggled to find their rhythm.
“Throughout Colorado history we kind of struggle with zone, we’re so use to playing man, that’s what we practice mostly, as you can see, that’s not an excuse but we should probably practice more zone in the future, we just weren't efficient in the zone, we weren't making shots so we need to be able to score other ways,” Johnson on not getting through their zone defense.
They ended the first half, 0-of-8 from three, 10-of-29 on field goals and 11-of-17 from the free throw line and nine turnovers and they finished the game 19-of-53 on field goals, 3-of-18 from three and 26-of-41 from the free throw line.
Colorado had three players score in double figures White had himself a night racking up 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, Johnson finished the night with, 13 points, six rebounds and Gordon had 11 points.
Late in the game the Redhawks started the cut the Buffs lead at one point they were only down by three until Josh Fortune knocked down two clutch three-pointers.
“I do think you have to play with poise, you can panic and it’s easy to do in those situations and as a coach as frustrated as I was but man we have some of the turnovers we had tonight, my goodness I’m just shaking my head like wow,” Boyle on the final push.
Next 5 Games
Thursday, November 17th vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Monday, November 21st vs. Notre Dame (in New York)
Tuesday, November 22nd vs. Texas or Northwestern (in New York)
Sunday, November 27th vs. Wofford
Wednesday, November 29th vs. Colorado State
Highlights
