Utah @ Colorado preview
CU Events Center
Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2019 ) Utah 63, Colorado 71
Utah and Colorado both split their Pac-12-opening homestands against the Oregon schools. Now the Runnin’ Utes and Buffaloes meet Sunday in Boulder with an early 2-1 conference start on the line.
Colorado started strong with an impressive 74-65 win over No. 9 Oregon but then squandered a 12-point second-half lead three nights later in a 76-68 loss to Oregon State. The defeat likely cost the Buffs a return to the national top 25 after their run of five straight wins – which included a neutral-site victory over No. 15 Dayton – came to an end. It was just the opposite for Utah, which tipped off its homestand with an 81-69 victory over the Beavers, only to drop a hard-fought 69-64 decision to the Ducks two days later. The loss was the Utes’ first in their last eight home games, dating back to the end of last season.
TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU
ABOUT UTAH (10-4, 1-1 Pac-12): Forward Timmy Allen has taken a big step forward in his sophomore season and leads the conference in scoring (21.1 points per game) and the team in rebounding (7.9) while shooting 50 percent from the field. Guard Both Gach (12.9 points), who scored a career-high 24 in the loss to Oregon, and freshman point guard Rylan Jones (10.9, team-leading 5.0 assists) also are averaging double figures for the Utes, who rank second in the Pac-12 in scoring (78.3) and first in free-throw percentage (75.1). Defensively, though, Utah ranks 11th in the conference in surrendering 69.3 points per outing and only is forcing 11.9 turnovers per contest, which also ranks 11th in the league.
ABOUT COLORADO (12-3, 1-1): Point guard McKinley Wright does it all for the Buffs, leading the team in scoring (13.4) and assists (4.9) while averaging 5.3 rebounds as well. He’s been especially productive over the last four games, averaging 19.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists. Forward Tyler Bey (13.1 points, team-leading 9.6 rebounds) and guard D’Shawn Schwartz (11.0 points, 45.1 3-point shooting percentage) also average double digits for Colorado, which is allowing the second-fewest points (61.9) in the Pac-12, despite the 76 surrendered to the Beavers on Sunday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Utah has won nine of the last 11 series meetings after the teams each won on their home floors a season ago.
2. The battle on the boards should be tight with the Buffs (7.3) and Utes (5.3) ranking second and third, respectively, in the conference in rebound margin.
3. Sunday’s contest will end a four-game homestand for Colorado, which will play four of its next six on the road.
PREDICTION: Colorado 68, Utah 65