Five Reasons why Colorado could win the Pac-12 regular season crown
Since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011, the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball program has never captured the league’s regular season title. They’ve come close a few times, but get to February and fall apart. In 2020-‘21, the Buffs finished 14-6 in league play to place third. They’ve even won the conference tournament in their first year in the league. But never a regular season title.
With an impending return to the Big 12 Conference, Tad Boyle’s squad is set to begin their 13th and final season in the Pac-12 with a 9-2 record this Friday. Here are five reasons why this could be the year Colorado wins the Pac-12 regular season crown.
EFFECTIVENESS FROM THE FIELD
A high field goal percentage indicates how successful a team is shooting. Each of Colorado’s regular starters – KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva, Cody Williams, J’Vonne Hardy and Eddie Lampkin Jr. - are over .500 from the field. Through 11 games, the Buffaloes are fifth in the nation with a .588 effective field goal percentage. The next closest Pac-12 team is Utah, who checks in at 42nd in the country with a .555 percentage.
DOMINATING THE BOARDS
The Buffaloes are averaging 38.7 rebounds per game this season. That’s 11.4 more rebounds per game than their opponents, good enough for 10th in the nation and second in the Pac-12. No. 4 Arizona leads the nation with a rebound margin of 14.5. Eddie Lampkin Jr., a 6-foot-11 senior transfer from TCU, leads the Buffaloes with 7.5 rebounds per game.
KJ SIMPSON & TRISTAN DA SILVA
The dynamic duo of KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva are a big reason the Buffaloes are off to a hot start this season. A junior guard from West Hills, Calif., Simpson leads the Buffaloes in scoring (19.9 PPG) and is shooting an impressive 48.9 percent from three-point range. The Buffaloes are one of only 11 programs in the country shooting over 40.0 pct. from beyond the arc. An All-Pac-12 first team selection last year, da Silva is having another stellar season. The 6-foot-9 senior forward from Munich, Germany is averaging 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
MONEY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Colorado has made 183-of-232 free throws to lead all Pac-12 schools with a 78.9 success rate from the line. That percentage is 8th among the 351 Division 1 men’s basketball teams. The next closest Pac-12 school is Oregon State, whose 75.6 percentage ranks 40th in the nation.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
CU Events Center is not an easy place to play for opposing teams. The Buffaloes have won all seven games they’ve played at home this season in dominating fashion, outscoring opponents by an average of 24 points. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Colorado holds a 159-37 record at the CU Events Center. Arizona, the media’s preseason favorite to win the conference, hasn’t won in Boulder since February 26, 2015.
The Buffaloes host the Washington Huskies (8-3) to open conference play on Friday, December 29. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPNU.
