WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS AT CU BUFFS MEN’S BASKETBALL
Sunday, noon, CU Events Center.
Pac-12network/khow 630AM.
Washington 9-3, 0-1Pac-12conference; Colorado 10-2, 1-0.
Washington State — Kyle Smith, 5th season (78-64; 242-186overall).colorado — Tad Boyle, 14th season (282-174, 338-240overall).
Washington State — F Isaac Jones, 6-9, Gr. (15.3ppg, 7.5rpg, .581FG%); G Myles Rice, 6-3, R-FR. (14.8ppg, 2.8apg, .3483%); F Andrej Jakimovski, 6-8. Sr. (9.5ppg, 6.6rpg); F Oscar Cluff, 6-11, Jr. (7.8ppg, 5.1rpg, .562Fg%).colorado — G KJ Simpson, 6-2, Jr. (20.0ppg, 4.95rpg, 4.8apg, .5637FG%, .4793%); F J’vonne Hadley, 6-6, Sr. (10.1ppg, 5.7 rpg, .541FG%); G Julian Hammond III, 6-2, Jr. (9.8ppg, .5382FG%, .4653%); C Eddie Lampkin Jr., 6-11, Sr. (9.3ppg, 7.8rpg); G/F Luke O’brien, 6-8, Sr. (7.8ppg, 4.6rpg).
The Buffs are seeking their first 2-0start within Pac-12play since the 2014-15 season. … Colorado is likely to still be without senior forward Tristan da Silva (ankle) and freshman wing Cody Williams (wrist). However, Boyle said freshman reserve Bangot Dak returned to practice on Saturday and could be available against WSU. Dak missed the win against Washington after battling an illness during the week. … The Buffs are 12-0all-time at home against WSU. … Lampkin has recorded double-doubles in three consecutive games and is the first Buffs player with that sort of streak since Jabari Walker posted three in a row late in the 2021-22season. … O’brien has posted four consecutive double-figure point totals for the first time in his career. … Buffs reserve guard Julian Hammond III has gone 6-for-12on 3-pointers in the past three games. … WSU went 4-for-20on 3-pointers during its loss at Utah on Friday. … The Cougars are shooting just .661at the free throw line. … CU plays its next three games on the road, beginning on Thursday at No. 4Arizona (7:30p.m., ESPN).
just 3 minutes, 55 seconds into the game, but despite the heavy workload for the Buffs’ primary ball-handler, he didn’t commit another turnover the rest of the way.
With seven assists, Simpson improved his assist-toturnover rate to 3.00 after posting a mark of 1.38 in his first two seasons.
“It’s just more mental right now,” Simpson said. “It’s just mental toughness that we’ve got to carry over for this next game.”
Washington State opened Pac-12 play on Friday with an 80-58 loss at Utah. The Cougars led by six points with less than 16 minutes remaining
but were outscored by 28 the rest of the way.
After an emotional, hardfought win in which the Buffs’ core was forced to play heavy minutes, Boyle, like Simpson, said Sunday’s battle will present a huge mental challenge.
“I asked for two hours of their mental energy (Saturday). I didn’t ask for any physical energy,” Boyle said. “We got loose. We got some shots up. We worked on some offensive things but it was not a physically demanding practice. But it was a mentally challenging practice in terms of putting in the game plan.”