Colorado basketball is in flight mode soaring into a 3-0 winning streak capping off with another home win Monday night against UC Irvine (69-53).
In 2017, Tad Boyle brought on a swarm of freshmen; now in 2019, Colorado’s group of veterans are ranked No. 23 as of this morning- the first time The Buffs have reached AP’s list of Top 25 since January of 2014.
Colorado beat out The Anteaters who went 31-6 in the 2018-2019 season. Under 10th-year head coach Russell Turner, UC Irvine knocked out Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament.
Boyle said, “It makes you feel really good as a coach when your players kind of take that challenge and I thought our defensive intensity and awareness for 40 minutes was really good at night and we turn them over 22 times, we didn’t play our best offensive game by any means, but we did take care of the ball better.”
The last time Colorado beat UC Irvine in the now 8-0 series was in 2005 in Boulder.
Solid shot selection and disrupting passing lanes carried Colorado. However, CU found themselves surpassed by Irvine who finished with 41 rebounds and a field-goal percentage of 44.4 compared to Colorado’s 32 and 43.3 percent.
Head Coach Tad Boyle said, “We didn’t shoot the ball extremely well, but we shot the ball from three pretty darn well. Some of our bigs have to slow down in the post, and understand when they get it down there they can kick it back out.”
UC Irvine ranked No. 15 for the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, returned three starters from last years team including preseason All-Big West guard Sr. Evan Leonard, Sr. Forward Tommy Rutherford, and Sr. Guard Eyassu Worku.
Colorado spent the night disrupting the passing team and finding ways around their solid offense, said to be one of the best in the nation.
“You have to take something away and understand that everybody’s going to score some baskets in the paint, that’s just the way they’re wired. They are a team that shoots 49% as a team from the field, and we held them to 38% so I like the post defense that we played,” added Boyle.
BEY BLOWING UP
Last season’s Most Improved Player has two double-doubles against Arizona State and San Diego. Impressing again tonight, Bey put up 16 points and 7 rebounds leading the Colorado offense.
“Ever since I’ve been standing stance, I’ve been unable to go places faster, be quicker than others, be stronger in the post.”
With two slams at the rim in each half, it’s clear that Bey can elevate the energy in the stands.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colorado started off steady going up 7-5 after a Bey layup. Surpassing Colorado, The Anteaters sent in Austin Johnson who made up 9 of UC Irvine’s rebounds.
Mckinley Wright made his first three of the season followed by another one to put Colorado at 15-16. Both teams shot back and forth missing several free-throws and shots from the field until D’Shawn Schwartz changed the pace. Posted up outside of the arc in his comfort zone, he sunk a three changing the game’s momentum- followed by a massive dunk from Bey, Colorado lead at 31-23. The Buffs stayed ahead during the rest of the half by at least eight points finishing at 40-30 Colorado.
CU hastened through the second half as the visitors turned up the heat on defense fouling eight times.
While UC Irvine certainly has the skill and the size to be an elite team, Colorado’s athleticism and extra practice before-hand showed up tonight.
Boyle mentioned, “I know our guys are getting reps in the gym, and we’re trying to get as many reps and practices we can, but I see guys here before practice and after practice.”
“We love playing basketball. We will play again tomorrow if we could,” said Wright
Colorado to maintain a winning record of 3-0 with the next matchup on November 24th against Wyoming.
Written by Christina Robben
