No. 2 Arizona Faces Tough Test at Colorado in Regular Season Finale

Boulder, Colorado – No. 2 Arizona (28-2, 15-2 Big 12), fresh off clinching the Big 12 regular-season title, travels to Boulder to face the Colorado Buffaloes (17-13, 7-10 Big 12) on Saturday night. Despite the conference championship, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd emphasizes the need to avoid a letdown against a Colorado team that has won three of its last four games.

A History of Challenges in Boulder

Coach Lloyd remembers a previous encounter in Boulder, stating, “I’ve played there with a quality team and they’ve taken a beating. I know how hard it is to play there, so believe me, it’s got my full attention.” In 2021-22, during Lloyd’s first season, the then-No. 2 ranked Wildcats lost 79-63 at Colorado.

Colorado’s Momentum and Senior Night

Colorado has found recent success against lower-tier Big 12 opponents, including Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Utah. Saturday’s game also marks Senior Night for the Buffaloes, with center Elijah Malone being the only senior honored. The Sports Leader reports that Colorado will be playing for positioning in next week’s Big 12 tournament, needing a win to bolster their chances for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Key Players to Watch

Colorado relies heavily on the scoring of freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, who averages 16.6 points per game. Arizona counters with their own freshman standout, Brayden Burries, leading the Wildcats with 15.5 points per game. The matchup inside will feature Colorado’s Sebastian Rancik (6-foot-11, 220 pounds) and Bangot Dak (7 feet, 203) against Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas (7-foot-2, 260) and Tobe Awaka (6-foot-8, 255).

Rebounding Advantage for Arizona

Arizona leads the Big 12 in rebounding with an average of 43.2 per game, significantly higher than Colorado’s 34.4. Tobe Awaka leads Arizona with 9.6 rebounds per game, followed by Motiejus Krivas at 8.2. Bangot Dak averages 6.5 rebounds for Colorado, although Sebastian Rancik contributes 5.6.

Coaches’ Perspectives

Colorado coach Tad Boyle acknowledges Arizona’s strength, stating, “Arizona is very good, well-coached, and they play hard. Our execution has to be better. We can’t give away possessions on offense and fail to rebound on defense.” AZ Desert Swarm notes that Arizona is focused on maintaining momentum heading into the Big 12 Tournament.

Arizona’s Recent Success and Championship Celebration

Arizona has won five consecutive games, including victories over ranked opponents BYU, Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State. The Wildcats recently celebrated their Big 12 title win over Iowa State (73-57) on Monday, with seniors Awaka, Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Evan Nelson, and Jackson Francois being honored. Awaka emphasized the importance of staying focused despite the celebrations, stating, “You still want the big prize, but this is one of the milestones you’ve been waiting for since the start of the season.”

A win in Boulder would give Arizona 29 wins in the regular season, the most in school history.