If winning 3 games in 3 days against Houston-BYU/ISU-TTU/BU/KU/UA was more than a pipe dream, we'd have already punched our Dance card. Enjoy the 2 wins we got and be glad if our Buffs give Houston a game & go down swinging tomorrow.
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2025 Big 12 Tourney thread- #16 seed MEN'S bball (Kansas City, MO; 1st round game vs. #9 seed TCU, Tuesday, 3/11, 1:00 PM MT, ESPN+)
- Thread starter AztecBuff
- Start date
ahoelsken
Well-Known Member
Add ending WVUs NCAA tournament hopes. Saw Jerry Palm say they were on the bubble today
Just play Houston as hard as we did when they were in Boulder and I'll be happy.
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Let’s play Houston well enough to get our KenPom above High Point.
Formerly_Medford
Well-Known Member
You’re insane. Smith is a valuable piece. Kossaras is going to be good.
Formerly_Medford
Well-Known Member
Kossaras was our shooting guard during just about the entire 15-0 run it seemed like.
He’s good people.
If RJ’s uncle sees this, proof that the guy you talked to after the game wasn’t lying about thinking your nephew was a good player.
Media after today's BIG win:
Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/3/12/mens-basketball-colorado-keeps-marching-on
"
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Colorado's run in the Phillips 66 Men's Basketball Championship continues after upsetting eighth-seeded West Virginia in the second round 67-60 after the Buffaloes outscored the Mountaineers 44-31 in the second half Wednesday afternoon at the T-Mobile Center.
In March, all that matters is "survive and advance," and No. 16 seed Colorado (14-19) did just that. After struggling to score in the first half, the Buffs used a 15-0 second half run to knock off West Virginia (19-13).
"Heck of a win," head coach Tad Boyle said. "We just felt like when we were scratching and clawing to get back in the game, whether it was the first half or in the second half, I felt if we could get back if we could get it tied or take the lead, that they might tighten up a little bit. When you shoot 61% in the second half against one of the best defenses in the league, that's a credit to these guys and our offense and our movement."
This is the seventh time under Boyle that Colorado has won two games in a conference tournament and just the eighth time in program history.
In the second half, Elijah Malone and RJ Smith carried the team, scoring 25 of the team's 44 points. On the day, Malone scored a team-high 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting with 12 points after halftime. Smith scored all 13 of his points in the second half on 3 of 5 from deep.
"I wanted to provide anything to help my team win tonight," Smith commented. "Tonight I shot the ball, and my team kept encouraging me to shoot even though I have had an up-and-down season shooting tonight they went in."
After Colorado built an eight-point lead, West Virginia made one final push, making two 3-pointers. Still, the Buffaloes came through in the clutch, sinking the last six free throws courtesy of Julian Hammond III, Andrej Jakimovski, and Smith to clinch the victory.
In the midst of the game turning 15-0 run, freshman Felix Kossaras played big minutes defending West Virginia's best players, scoring a new career-high seven points, and picking up two impactful offensive rebounds.
Colorado shot 60.9% from the field and 13 of 16 from the charity stripe as a team. The offense improved in all areas, only turning over the ball four times after giving it up seven times in the first half.
West Virginia was led by First-Team All-Big 12 performer Javon Small, who finished with 23 points and five assists. Colorado did not allow him to make a shot outside the first 12 minutes of the game and the final three minutes.
With the win, Colorado will advance to play the No. 1 seed and No. 2 team nationally, Houston, tomorrow in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship.
"All I know is we're ready to take on Houston, and we'll worry about that tonight," Boyle said. "I am really, really proud of this group because we have had a rough year in terms of coming up short in some of these games, and these guys have stuck together."
...
UP NEXT
Colorado will advance to play the No. 1 seed and No. 2 team nationally, Houston, tomorrow in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championships at 1 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center (ESPN or ESPN 2 / KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
"
______________________________________________________________________________
Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024-25/west-virginia/boxscore/17487
Article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/3/12/mens-basketball-colorado-keeps-marching-on
"
Colorado Keeps Marching On
By: Aiden Tank, Athletic CommunicationsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Colorado's run in the Phillips 66 Men's Basketball Championship continues after upsetting eighth-seeded West Virginia in the second round 67-60 after the Buffaloes outscored the Mountaineers 44-31 in the second half Wednesday afternoon at the T-Mobile Center.
In March, all that matters is "survive and advance," and No. 16 seed Colorado (14-19) did just that. After struggling to score in the first half, the Buffs used a 15-0 second half run to knock off West Virginia (19-13).
"Heck of a win," head coach Tad Boyle said. "We just felt like when we were scratching and clawing to get back in the game, whether it was the first half or in the second half, I felt if we could get back if we could get it tied or take the lead, that they might tighten up a little bit. When you shoot 61% in the second half against one of the best defenses in the league, that's a credit to these guys and our offense and our movement."
This is the seventh time under Boyle that Colorado has won two games in a conference tournament and just the eighth time in program history.
In the second half, Elijah Malone and RJ Smith carried the team, scoring 25 of the team's 44 points. On the day, Malone scored a team-high 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting with 12 points after halftime. Smith scored all 13 of his points in the second half on 3 of 5 from deep.
"I wanted to provide anything to help my team win tonight," Smith commented. "Tonight I shot the ball, and my team kept encouraging me to shoot even though I have had an up-and-down season shooting tonight they went in."
After Colorado built an eight-point lead, West Virginia made one final push, making two 3-pointers. Still, the Buffaloes came through in the clutch, sinking the last six free throws courtesy of Julian Hammond III, Andrej Jakimovski, and Smith to clinch the victory.
In the midst of the game turning 15-0 run, freshman Felix Kossaras played big minutes defending West Virginia's best players, scoring a new career-high seven points, and picking up two impactful offensive rebounds.
Colorado shot 60.9% from the field and 13 of 16 from the charity stripe as a team. The offense improved in all areas, only turning over the ball four times after giving it up seven times in the first half.
West Virginia was led by First-Team All-Big 12 performer Javon Small, who finished with 23 points and five assists. Colorado did not allow him to make a shot outside the first 12 minutes of the game and the final three minutes.
With the win, Colorado will advance to play the No. 1 seed and No. 2 team nationally, Houston, tomorrow in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship.
"All I know is we're ready to take on Houston, and we'll worry about that tonight," Boyle said. "I am really, really proud of this group because we have had a rough year in terms of coming up short in some of these games, and these guys have stuck together."
...
UP NEXT
Colorado will advance to play the No. 1 seed and No. 2 team nationally, Houston, tomorrow in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championships at 1 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center (ESPN or ESPN 2 / KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
"
______________________________________________________________________________
Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024-25/west-virginia/boxscore/17487
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Luke
Well-Known Member
CU offered transfer DORYAN ONWUCHEKWA today- per Verbal Commits. He's previous CU commit/de-commit, that Georgia Tech's Coach Stoudamire reports has not been playing due to "Personal Issues" since December- after playing in 10 games before then. Colorado & Vandy (w/ Rick Ray) may start as Favs for Doryan?
https://NOPE/TiptonEdits/status/189990394632958778
Nice that 40th player in portal is already 1 that we have pre-existing relationship with? Also shows that Tad probably feels he needs 1 more big?
Next years roster:
1) PointG: Frosh Josiah Sanders & Isaiah Johnson? Isaiah most likely to redshirt (unless lose too many guards to portal)? Crawford/Kossaras/Anderson recruited for 1-3 spots, but pass-first Crawford seems only 1 of the 3 likely to beat-out Isaiah for minutes at 1 next year?
2) Log Jam w/ Guards on the Wings @ 2 & 3 means heavy on the 3 guard-lines: RJ starter @2, if doesn't leave in portal? Jalin Holland next most natural 2-guard w/ good size & shooting (how quick plays RJ-level D maybe question). Ian Inman sneaky length, advanced D & shooting, & open-court slashing may make him best long-term fit at 3? Crawford probably gets mostly minutes at 1 & 3, like Kossaras maybe in line for also? Anderson elite above-the-rim skill maybe still odd man out?
3) Buffs need to keep Elijah out of the portal & maybe find another Big and/or Forward, to allow Rancik to continue to play down to 3-spot (and keep-up our elite length)? Otherwise, thin w/ Dak, Diop, Rancik & Frosh Tacho Fawaz (Carrington getting back in the rotation at F-spot just doesn't seem like recipe for success?)!
4) If we don't lose Malone or anyone else to portal (besides 4 seniors announced on Senior Day, which included Ruffin), i doubt that CU will pay for full-scholy's for all 15 of new 15-roster-limit (no walk-ons)- but we may not know what CU decides with that until July 1? My guess would be that Carrington loses scholy he's had for this last year, so that Buffs can sign a Big (like Onwuchekwa) & maybe pay partial scholy's for 6'7 Carrington & 6'10 Gerhardt to stay on team as 14th & 15th?
Buffs Top-50 D Over TCU's Top-30 D & W Virginia's Top-15 D was not completely unexpected (similar skill levels on those 3 teams), now that Buffs are showing some ability to close out games at end! But Houston's Top-2 D (and still Top-9 O) in the country is another beast all together! Last time, Houston got 42 point paints to CU's 20! And Houston outrebounded CU by 12, including getting 18 second-chance points off something like 14 offensive rebounds. Containing Houston Bigs Roberts, Francis & Tugler maybe key? Roberts just killed us last time (especially last couple minutes of game). But CU did hang with Houston for most of game!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but CU will lose in the Sweet 16. Sadly.
Buffsbball
Well-Known Member
Really wish the tourney was still in Vegas- work sends me out here this weekend every year regardless and now I may have to go to either the MWC or WAC conference games…RIP PAC
We have schollys for 3 billion PGs? NICE
Formerly_Medford
Well-Known Member
I’m confident we’ll lose, but not confident we’ll lose by enough to put a wager on this game.
we were down by 3 with under 10 minutes last game
If you haven't watched either of the first 2 tourney games, don't start now. Keep playing the hits.
Baskin with great defense.
Just need a couple of quick TDs to get back in this.
It won't matter but a non-call push off followed by a non-call travel is a fun start.
Proud of these guys for keeping it close. The Houston offense is ridiculous.
The Hammond special. Playing a team with even halfway decent guards and he becomes a detriment. Too late now, but he needs to realize that when he's neutralized, he's not good enough to overcome and should focus on getting the rest of the team the ball.
Lightning
Well-Known Member
Crazy that he had 22 and a bunch of 3s last time against UH. They will neutralize Jak somewhat so who steps up?