The holidays always offer an opportunity for reflection.
For the Colorado men’s basketball team, there is plenty to be proud about in the body of work compiled during nonconference play. There also remain more than a few areas of improvement to consider as the Buffaloes take a few days off ahead of the start of the program’s final season in the Pac-12 Conference.
CU completed the nonconference schedule with a thorough 98-71 victory on Thursday night against Utah Tech, improving to 9-2 while turning in another eye-popping offensive performance.
Yet once the respite is over, and the Buffs regroup ahead of the Dec. 29 league opener at home against Washington (7 p.m., ESPNU), a few concerns will need to be addressed. On the court, head coach Tad Boyle hopes to see a more consistent defensive effort while finding a way to cut down on the club’s turnovers.
In terms of personnel, the Buffs eagerly await the return of standout freshman Cody Williams.
Williams has missed the past three games due to a left wrist injury, and he missed four of the 11 nonconference games overall. The 6-foot-8 wing posted consecutive 21-point games before getting sidelined, and while the Buffs could probably make an NCAA Tournament push without Williams, any hope of making noise in the tournament or in the Pac-12 race will require Williams’ consistent presence in the lineup.
“I’m just keeping my fingers crossed,” Boyle said earlier this week. “The wrist is feeling better. We’ll probably get some more X-rays before he heads back for break. When he comes back, we’ll see where he’s at. He’s getting closer, though. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
“It’s getting better. He’s showing progress. We’ll see how he comes back after the holidays and how he feels. I’d like to get him back sooner rather than later, that’s for sure.”
Regardless of Williams’ status, the high-scoring Buffs will look to balance their dynamic attack with better ball security and more consistent defense. CU committed 15 turnovers against Utah Tech and finished nonconference play averaging 14.0 per game. The Buffs’ per-game goal is to commit 11 turnovers or fewer but they have hit that mark just once, finishing with a season-low 11 against Milwaukee in the third game of the season. CU has committed 15 or more turnovers five times.
Defensively, the Buffs have been solid overall, holding opponents to a .420 mark with a .320 percentage from long range, but it has been an inconsistent effort. Utah Tech shot .515 in the second half on Thursday, becoming the fifth opponent this season to produce a 50% half against the Buffs. Colorado State topped that mark in both halves during a CU loss in Fort Collins on Nov. 29, and in the Buffs’ only truly poor shooting effort of the season on Nov. 21 against Florida State, the defense couldn’t bail them out, as the Seminoles shot a combined .607 in the second half and overtime to force the Buffs to settle for a split at the Sunshine Slam in Florida.
“Still two areas that we can improve on,” Boyle said. “But again, that tells me the ceiling for this team is still higher than what we’ve hit up to this point. Now that conference play starts after Christmas, there’s no time like the present. Because you have an off-night in conference play, you’re going to take an ‘L.’ It doesn’t matter who you’re playing or where you’re playing.”
