November 5th 2024.
The Colorado men's basketball team started their season with a bang, showcasing their depth and versatility in a comeback win against Eastern Washington. Although there were some growing pains, the Buffaloes ultimately pulled off a 76-56 victory thanks to a 41-12 run in the second half.
One of the key factors in CU's win was their improved ball control. After committing 13 turnovers in the first half, the Buffs tightened up their defense and only gave up five turnovers in the second half. This allowed them to take control of the game and secure the win.
There were also some standout performances from the players, with three stars emerging from the game. Freshman forward Sebastian Rancik came off the bench and made an impressive four out of five 3-pointers, finishing with 13 points and no turnovers in just over 17 minutes. Transfer players Andrej Jakimovski and Trevor Baskin also had great debuts, with Jakimovski scoring 11 points and Baskin adding 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
The Buffaloes will look to continue their strong start as they face off against Northern Colorado in their upcoming game on Friday. But before looking ahead, let's take a closer look at how the Buffs were able to pull off this exciting win.
The game didn't start off smoothly for the Buffaloes, as they fell behind by 17 points in the first half. However, they showed their resilience and managed to cut the deficit to just six points by halftime. This was thanks in part to the efforts of their graduate transfer players, who contributed to 15 of the team's 25 points in the first half.
But it was in the second half that the Buffs really came alive. Despite Eastern Washington leading by nine points in the middle of the half, CU's defense stepped up and they were able to outscore their opponents 41-12 for the rest of the game. The team's long-limbed versatility caused problems for Eastern Washington, who struggled to keep up with the Buffs' intensity.
Guard Javon Ruffin credited the team's turnaround to their improved defense, saying that once they started getting stops, the offense became easier to execute. Additionally, the team's shooting improved significantly in the second half, with CU going 9-for-15 on 3-pointers after missing their first eight attempts.
Overall, this was a solid start for the Buffaloes, who will undoubtedly continue to improve and gel as a team throughout the season. Head coach Tad Boyle was pleased with the win but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement, especially in the first half where the team seemed to struggle with turnovers and finding their rhythm.
But with their strong depth and versatile players, the Buffs have the potential to cause problems for their opponents throughout the season. And with a 13-2 record in season openers under Boyle, as well as a perfect 15-0 record in home openers, the team is off to a great start to their 2024-25 campaign.
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