Colorado @ Washington St. preview

Colorado at Washington St.

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2019 ) Washington St. 60, Colorado 92

Colorado has gone from afterthought to contender in the Pac-12 in the span of a little more than two weeks. The Buffaloes now take the conference’s longest active win streak (five games) on the road for Wednesday night’s contest at Washington State.

The two-game road trip, which concludes with a Saturday night date at conference-leading Washington, will be the final road venture of the regular season for Colorado. On Jan. 31, following a 76-74 home loss to Oregon State, the Buffaloes were 2-6 and sitting 10th in the Pac-12, but five consecutive wins have followed, and the Buffs now find themselves tied for fifth place only a game out of a coveted top-four spot in the conference standings. “It’s hard to win games any time of year, but in February it's really hard,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said after practice earlier this week. "What I'm pleased with is our team has kind of embraced and accepted an identity in terms of our defense, our rebounding, our toughness, our grit. Those are the things you have to have to win games. These guys have really turned the corner when it comes to that.” Washington State also was looking like it had turned a corner a little more than a week ago with an impressive road sweep of Arizona State and Arizona – both wins of least 14 points – but the Cougars couldn’t maintain the momentum Saturday as the visiting Huskies rallied for a 72-70 victory in Pullman.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT COLORADO (16-9, 7-6 Pac-12): The Buffs have shot an even 50 percent from the field, 85.4 percent from the free-throw line and outrebounded the opposition by an average of 6.4 per game during their five-game run. Sophomore point guard McKinley Wright, who a month ago was struggling with a shoulder injury, has averaged 15.8 points during the win streak to up his team-leading average to 13.5 while fellow sophomore Tyler Bey has averaged 15.2 and 10.8 rebounds during the roll. Along with Wright and Bey (12.3 points), forward Lucas Siewert (11.2) and guard Shane Gatling (10.3) also have double-digit season scoring averages for Colorado, whose weakness remains long-range shooting (conference-worst 31.3 3-point percentage in Pac-12 play).

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (10-15, 3-9): Despite a 14-point first-half lead and a career night from sophomore forward Marvin Cannon (25 points, eight rebounds), the Cougars fell short late against the Huskies. Forward Robert Franks, the Pac-12’s leading scorer at 22.3 points and the team’s leading rebounder (7.5), had an off night with 16 points, three rebounds, three fouls and five turnovers and so did freshman forward CJ Elleby (15.0 points, 6.6 rebounds), who finished with as many turnovers (five) as points (five) or rebounds (four). Defense and rebounding continue to be issues for Washington State which ranks 11th in the conference in points allowed (77.4) and average rebound margin (minus-2.4).

TIP-INS

1. Colorado holds a decisive 13-4 advantage in the series, but Washington State has won three of the last four meetings in Pullman.

2. The Buffaloes rolled to a 92-60 win on Jan. 10 – their most lopsided Pac-12 victory this season as Bey led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Cannon scored 14 to pace the Cougars, but Franks missed the contest with a hip injury.

3. Washington State is 1-4 at home this season in Pac-12 play while Colorado is 3-4 in conference road contests.

PREDICTION: Washington State 75, Colorado 74