It was only a month ago when Colorado and Arizona State collided in Tempe.
In what has evolved into a recurring theme for the CU men’s basketball team, the Buffaloes played that game without Cody Williams and Julian Hammond III, while Tristan da Silva made his first appearance following a three-game injury absence.
The Buffs had hoped da Silva’s return would spark a bounce-back performance in the wake of a drubbing suffered at Arizona two days earlier, but instead porous first-half defense led to a three-point loss for CU.
CU hasn’t exactly floundered since then but, in large part due to continuing injury issues, the Buffs have been treading water instead of taking off. ASU, meanwhile, improved to 4-0 in the Pac-12 with that win against the Buffs but has struggled since, bringing a run of losses in six of seven games with four in a row into the rematch on Thursday night in Boulder.
Following Wednesday’s practice, head coach Tad Boyle didn’t specifically comment on the game-day outlooks for Williams (face) and Luke O’Brien (ankle), both of whom missed Saturday’s loss at Utah. But he did say both players practiced on Wednesday, brightening the possibility the Buffs will have their top seven rotation players in the mix for just the 12th time this season.
“They both practiced (Wednesday). A step in the right direction,” Boyle said. “Luke’s ankle is not a hundred percent for sure. (Tuesday) he was limping. (Wednesday) he wasn’t. The fact that they’re out here practicing is a good sign.”
Fully healthy or not, the Buffs have a chance to gain confidence defensively against a Sun Devils squad that boasts the lowest overall field goal percentage (41.4) and 3-point percentage (29.8) in the Pac-12. However, the Sun Devils shot 53.3% in the first half of last month’s win against CU, and da Silva has been among the veterans reminding his teammates that other scouting reports this season have detailed a few weak-shooting teams, only to watch those clubs get on track against the Buffs’ inconsistent defense.
“I feel like a lot of times when people struggle, once we start playing them they get going,” da Silva said. “We can’t let that happen. We’ve got to make sure we lock-in defensively and not let them get going. Not let them get any easy buckets. There were way too many at their place that we just gave up on.”
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As long as the Buffs don’t get caught looking ahead to a Saturday night showdown against No. 8 Arizona, they have an opportunity to regain some momentum following consecutive road losses against Washington State and Utah. A return to form by da Silva would bolster CU’s fortunes the entire weekend.
After returning from an ankle injury at ASU, da Silva enjoyed a solid outing the following week at California, hitting a career-high-tying four 3-pointers while scoring 20 points in a CU loss. In the six games since, however, CU’s second-leading scorer has shot just 37.8% from the field with an 8-for-26 mark on 3-pointers (30.8).
“He’s a good shooter, good player. Even great players go through shooting slumps,” Boyle said. “As long as you’re taking good shots, I’m good. He’ll be fine. I don’t think he’s been forcing things.”
Arizona State Sun Devils at CU Buffs men’s basketball
TIPOFF: Thursday, 6 p.m., CU Events Center.
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports 1/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Arizona State 11-11, 5-6 Pac-12 Conference; Colorado 15-7, 6-5.
COACHES: Arizona State — Bobby Hurley, 9th season (152-124, 194-144 overall). Colorado — Tad Boyle, 14th season (287-179, 343-245 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Arizona State — G Frankie Collins, 6-1, Jr. (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.5 apg); G Jose Perez, 6-5, Gr. (12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .452 3%); G/F Jamiya Neal, 6-6, Jr. (11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg); G Adam Miller, 6-3, R-Jr. (10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg); F Alonzo Gaffney, 6-9, Gr. (7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg). Colorado — G KJ Simpson, 6-2, Jr. (19.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.3 apg, .503 FG%, .460 3%); F Tristan da Silva, 6-9, Sr. (15.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, .367 3%); G Cody Williams, 6-8, Fr. (14.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .579 FG%, .520 3%); F J’Vonne Hadley, 6-6, Sr. (11.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .560 FG%); C Eddie Lampkin Jr., 6-11, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, .538 FG%); G Julian Hammond III, 6-2, Jr. (7.6 ppg, .407 3%); G/F Luke O’Brien, 6-8, Sr. (6.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg).
NOTES: CU is 12-0 at home and looks to become the first Buffs team to start 13-0 at home. CU’s 1962-63 team and 1968-69 team both finished 12-0 at home. … At home, CU has averaged 85.9 points while shooting .526 overall and .433 on 3-pointers. … In Pac-12 games, CU ranks second in rebounding margin at plus-4.3 while the Sun Devils rank last at minus-9.3. … ASU has committed a Pac-12-low 9.4 turnovers per game in league play. … ASU’s Neal (19 points) and Miller (18 points) both posted their second-highest scoring totals of the season (and their top scoring totals in Pac-12 play) during ASU’s home win against the Buffs last month. … Simpson has gone 29-for-30 on free throws in the past five games. Simpson also has averaged 6.5 rebounds per game in Pac-12 play and has averaged 8.0 boards over the past four games. … CU’s first home series in three weeks concludes on Saturday against No. 8 Arizona (8 p.m., ESPN).
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