Losing streak snapped, Buffs now eye resume building win over Iowa
It took two overtimes to get the job done, but Colorado managed to sidestep South Dakota State three days ago at Coors Events Center, prevailing 112-103.
Now they’ve got four days to prepare for another huge test – a neutral court battle against Iowa Friday night at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. ( 7 p.m., Big Ten Network).
It's a Power 5 vs. Power 5 matchup, giving the Buffaloes an opportunity to grab an important resume building win to bolster their postseason aspirations.
“Iowa is a very good team,” freshman point guard McKInely Wright I told reporters following the win over SDSU. “We just have to come in against Iowa, which will be like a road game for us over there in South Dakota, (and play well). (Coach Tad Boyle’s) message is just that we have to get better this week in practice. We’re going to be back at it Monday through Friday.”
Three nights after a dreadful shooting performance in a home loss to San Diego, the Buffs connected on 54.1 percent of their field goal attempts against SDSU, more than doubling their shooting percentage from the previous game.
Boyle would prefer the Buffs attain a measure of consistency.
“We need to hopefully become a little more consistent (shooting the basketball) and hopefully this week will allow our guys to get into the gym and really work on it,” Boyle said. “Hopefully, this win was a step in the right direction for us offensively. We have a lot of guys that can score. We saw that (vs. SDSU). Hopefully, we can unleash the offensive juggernaut more often.”
Wright became the fourth different Colorado freshman to score 30+ points in a game joining Chauncey Billups, Emmett Lewis and Richard Roby. Billups scored a freshman-record 33 points at Colorado State on Dec. 6, 1995 and had four total during his rookie campaign.
“My teammates do a great job in having confidence in me and telling me to be aggressive,” Wright said after the Buffs snapped a 3-game losing streak. “Coach drew up a couple plays for me to get to the rim. I attack and try to find teammates if they’re open. If not, I try to finish or get to the line. It’s just confidence from myself and this whole team and coaching staff.”
Wright has scored double figures in each of his first 11 games, becoming the first Buffs player in nearly four years to register a points-assists double-double as he added 11 assists to his line along with 9 rebounds (meaning he fell one rebound short of a rare triple-double). Askia Booker was the last CU to perform the feat on Feb. 13, 2014.
Early in his career, McKinley has demonstrated a keen sense of knowing when to shoot and when to dish.
“That’s what great point guards do,” Boyle said. “They figure out when they’re open and they can shoot it and when they’re not open and they make a play for somebody else. You don’t have to be a point guard to do that. You just have to be a basketball player. The game tells you what to do. You don’t have to decide.
“Some players get into trouble because it’s predetermined in their mind what they’re going to do when they’re driving or coming off a screen. That should be dictated by the defense. McKinley has that innate ability to make those decisions. More often than not, he makes good decisions with the basketball. I feel very comfortable with the ball in his hands.”
Boyle acknowledged it has been a while since he trusted a freshman as much as Wright.
“Josh Scott was pretty special, but the difference is the position they play,” Boyle said. “McKinley is that guard you give the ball and say, ‘here it is.’ He’s pretty special.”
Tyler Bey scored a career high 12 points against South Dakota State, doubling his previous high of 6 at Colorado State on Dec. 2, and tied his career high in rebounds with 9. He also did a good job on the defensive end as the Buffs got key stops and key times.
“Tyler Bey was terrific defensively down the stretch,” Boyle said. “He made his open shots, he made his free throws, he took care of the ball and he made good decisions. Tyler has great length and great athleticism.
NEXT FIVE GAMES:
Fri. Dec. 22 vs. Iowa (at Sioux Falls, SD), 7 p.m. (Big 10 Network)
Fri. Dec. 29 at Oregon State, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)*
Sun., Dec. 31 at Oregon, 8 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)*
Thu. Jan. 4 ARIZONA STATE, 6:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)*
Sat. Jan. 6 ARIZONA, Noon (Pac-12 Networks)*
(All Times Mountain)
* Pac-12 Game
