Colorado 1/15 9:00 ESPN+

[Bearcats96]

This is no doubt a critical game for CWM and the Bearcats, but lets not pretend like the sky is falling. The loss to KSU was a close loss on the road, the other 3 were all top 10 teams at one point this season. There are still 16 games left in conference play, and frankly this UC team is good enough that 12-14 wins isn't out of the question. The only 2 I don't see us being a factor in is 1) at ISU and 2) at Houston. We've had some poor performances, but that doesn't mean this team doesn't belong. 12-8 in conference and 22-9 overall gets us back to the tourney, IMO. Get this W on Wednesday, get some confidence back, and go on a win streak. The next 9 are very winnable games (none currently ranked).

[leeraymond]

The Colorado game should be an indicator as to how bad UC is. Both teams are 0-4 in the conference. CU is in last place at 16 and UC is right in front at 15. Remember that UC was picked to finish no lower than 6th. Man, did somebody get that one wrong. At any rate, I HONESTLY do NOT see a win here for UC. Here are the reasons why: 1) CU is scoring 68.5 points/g in the conference. UC is only scoring 55 points/g. CU is shooting it at 43.8 %, UC is shooting at 37.9%. CU hits about 15.3 free throws/g, UC makes only about 5.8 free throws/g. That is a difference of 9.5 more free throws made/g. Likewise, CU is shooting the 3-ball at a slightly higher average, 29% to 26%. These numbers suggest that UC again is in trouble.

Defensively, UC may have a slight chance. CU gives up about 78.3 points/g, UC gives up about 66 points/g. Also, UC is holding teams to 26% from three. CU is holding teams to 35.7% from three. Likewise, UC has a slight rebounding edge at 36/g to 34/g. UC has an edge when it comes to the offensive boards 13/g to 10/g. UC turns the ball over less than CU 13/g to 17/g.

UC has some of the most dismal conference stats in the BIG 12. UC has to be the worst offensive team in the BIG 12. After Saturday's game, UC now has a negative 10.5 scoring margin. Think about this for a second, UC gave up only 54 points and LOST by 14 to Kansas.

I read that Mitchell gave a very passionate speech last week to the team. He stressed that there is a lot more basketball still left to play and that the team must continue to work hard and continue to fight. In life, once you hit the absolute bottom, if you fight hard enough you can only go up. Let's hope that UC basketball hit the absolute bottom with the Kansas loss. Let's also hope that UC basketball will NOT drop below the bottom.

[bearcat1518]

Still makes no sense University of Colorado goes by CU

Same! Googled and found this:

“Around 1924-25 “CU” became the official abbreviation, presumably to distinguish Colorado from the University of California. Coincidentally, other schools in the Big 12 Conference also use this reverse acronym. For example, the Universities of Kansas and Oklahoma are known as KU and OU, respectively.”

[GoBearcats31]

Ken Pom: UC 38, Colorado 86
NET: UC 41, Colorado 84
T-Rank: UC 44, Colorado 88

Knowing very little about CU, objectively this seems to be one of the more winnable road games the rest of the way (though all metrics say CU is better than Kansas State)

Top players:
- Julian Hammond III, 6'2 senior guard averaging 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists (41.4% from three, 93.5% FT)
- Andrej Jakimovski, 6'8 senior forward averaging 11.1 points, 4.8 rebounds (grad transfer after four years at Washington State)
- Elijah Malone, 6'10 268 lb. senior big averaging 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds (two-time NAIA All-American prior to transferring to DI/Colorado)
- Trevor Baskin, 6'9 senior forward averaging 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds (transferred in from DII)

Team shoots 77.2% from the FT line

[GoBearcats31]

Still makes no sense University of Colorado goes by CU

[Carthage World]

Colorado made a game of it in the second half after going down 14 but couldn't make shots over the final few minutes to give themselves a shot at winning. It was very reminiscent of a UC performance. Their starting center (whose their third-leading scorer) also missed the second half with a back injury. Colorado had no defensive answer for WVU's guards.

Colorado had 3 players get drafted from last year's team and then had the remaining 3 players from their top 6 transfer out. Their rotation this year is made up of guys who were deep bench players last year, a 5th-year transfer from Washington St, a few D2 transfers, and 1-2 true freshmen. They don't have a true alpha in the squad. I'm confident saying they are the least talented team in the Big 12. They're going to look like NKU after the stretch we just had against Arizona, Baylor, and Kansas.

Nonetheless, they're going to see Wednesday as a winnable game and are certainly capable of beating us in a rock fight.

[swilsonsp4]

WV started the second half on fire, particularly Javon Smalls, who hit three quick treys to start the second half. However, CO kept chipping away, using a hard full-court man press to wear the Mountaineers, who are short-handed, down. The Buffaloes had multiple chances to take the lead, but couldn't score on those opportunities.

Eventually, between Small (26) and Joseph Yesefu (18), WV pulled away for a 68-60 win.