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Colorado Buffs Face Rebounding Challenge Ahead of Big 12 Play
The Colorado Buffaloes have enjoyed a strong start to their season, boasting a 9-1 record, their best in a decade. While the team has excelled in many areas, a recurring weakness has emerged: allowing opponents too many second chances on the offensive glass. This is a critical area Head Coach Tad Boyle wants to see improvement in, especially with the daunting Big 12 Conference schedule on the horizon.
The Buffaloes will have a prime opportunity to address this deficiency on Wednesday night when they host Portland State in their final home game before the holiday break. Portland State, the Big Sky Conference leader in offensive rebounds, presents a significant test for CU’s ability to secure defensive boards.
“They’ve got good players that play hard, that crash the glass,” Coach Boyle acknowledged. “It’s going to be a critical part of the game, there’s no doubt about it. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be a good rebounding team with our length and our size. It gets down to collective pride. Rebounding is part of defense. It’s the finishing that possession, that we didn’t do against Colorado State. We had two competitions in practice (Tuesday) and they were both won by the team that offensive rebounded better.”
While Colorado hasn’t been a complete pushover on the boards, the statistics reveal a troubling trend. The Buffs are surrendering an average of 9.8 offensive rebounds per game. Alarmingly, five opponents have managed to snatch at least 10 offensive rebounds against CU this season, with four of those instances occurring in their last five contests. Three of the past four opponents have even recorded 14 offensive rebounds, a figure that includes their recent victory over UTSA.
Despite these concessions, the impact of these extra possessions hasn’t been consistently damaging. For example, against UTSA, Colorado managed to overcome a deficit in second-chance points, largely due to their own season-high 17 offensive rebounds. However, the underlying issue persists: the Buffs have been outscored on second-chance points in five of their last six games. This is a habit that Coach Boyle understands is unsustainable as they prepare to enter the highly competitive Big 12.
Portland State enters the matchup as a formidable offensive rebounding force. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in this category, averaging 13.7 offensive boards per game. They also hold a slight edge in overall rebounding margin, ranking third in the Big Sky with a +7.9 average, compared to CU’s +6.6. With four players averaging double-digit points, Portland State poses a multi-faceted offensive threat.
The Importance of Toughness
Coach Boyle has been emphasizing the need for increased toughness throughout his team, particularly in their defensive rebounding and overall physicality. He believes that a lack of boxing out and a reluctance to engage in physical battles have contributed to their struggles.
“Lack of boxing out. Lack of physicality. Being soft,” Boyle stated. “When the shot goes up, it’s just a matter of hitting somebody and embracing the physicality. Getting your butt into them, moving your feet, having high hands, getting two-handed rebounds. Rebounding, it’s all about toughness. That’s why I use the term ‘soft.’”
This sentiment extends to their offensive execution as well. Boyle pointed to the first half against UTSA, where the team struggled offensively, shooting only 5-for-16 at the rim. He expressed concern that such offensive softness would be detrimental against tougher Big 12 opponents.
“We were soft offensively during the first half against UTSA. That’s why we were 5-for-16 at the rim. If we’re that way against UTSA, I don’t know how we’re going to be against Arizona State when Big 12 play starts. You’d better finish the ball when you get the ball at the rim, and that takes toughness, too. We’ve got to become a tougher team.”
Game Details and Key Matchups
Portland State Vikings at CU Buffs Men’s Basketball
- TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m. MT
- VENUE: CU Events Center, Boulder, Colorado
- BROADCAST: ESPN+ / KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM
Team Records:
- Portland State: 6-3
- Colorado: 9-1
Coaching Staff:
- Portland State: Head Coach Jase Coburn (5th season, 68-67 at PSU and overall)
- Colorado: Head Coach Tad Boyle (16th season at CU, 321-205 record; 377-271 overall)
Key Players to Watch:
- Portland State:
- F Terri Miller Jr.: 17.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.0 apg, .560 FG%
- G Jaylin Henderson: 17.0 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.1 rpg
- C Tre-Vaughn Minott: 11.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, .595 FG%
- G Kenyon Kensie Jr.: 10.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg
- Colorado:
- G Isaiah Johnson: 14.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, .562 FG%, .483 3%
- F Sebastian Rancik: 13.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.6 apg
- G Barrington Hargress: 12.5 ppg, 4.7 apg, .562 FG%, .600 3%
- F Bangot Dak: 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, .506 FG%
- F Alon Michaeli: 11.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .521 FG%
Additional Notes:
- This marks CU’s third encounter with a Big Sky Conference opponent this season. They previously defeated Montana State and Eastern Washington, and will host Northern Colorado on December 28th.
- Portland State lost to San Francisco, an opponent CU defeated, by a score of 80-70 on November 12th.
- As of Monday, Colorado ranks third nationally in 3-point percentage (40.78%) and 22nd in average bench points (35.8).
- The Buffs have shot an impressive .410 from beyond the arc in their seven home games.
- Bangot Dak has recorded multiple blocked shots in five consecutive games, bringing his career total to 68. He is five blocks shy of entering CU’s all-time top-20 list.
- Portland State was projected to finish second in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls.
- Following the Portland State game, the Buffaloes will travel to Phoenix to face Stanford in a neutral-site contest on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT, broadcast on ESPNU.