Colorado and Central Florida started the Big 12 Conference schedule strong but have both stumbled lately. The two slumping teams meet in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, each trying to end its slide.
The Buffaloes (12-7, 2-4 Big 12) started league play with a pair of wins but have dropped four in a row since, most recently at home to No. 19 Kansas 75-69 on Tuesday. Colorado’s two home losses in the conference have come against ranked teams — Texas Tech, then No. 14, won in Boulder 73-71 on Jan. 10. The Buffaloes were competitive in the road losses to Cincinnati and West Virginia.
It doesn’t get easier from here, either, as after Saturday’s game, Colorado heads to No. 9 Iowa State on Thursday.
“I believe in every one of our guys. You name the guy, I believe in them. I really do,” Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle said. “I know it’s frustrating for them.”
Colorado has four players scoring in double figures, led by freshman Isaiah Johnson’s 16 points a game. Barrington Hargress, a junior, is second at 13.9, followed by sophomore Sebastian Rancik (12.9) and junior Bangot Dak (11.1). Dak leads the team in rebounding (7.3 per game).
The teams split the two games a season ago, each winning at home in Colorado’s first season in the Big 12.
UCF (14-4, 3-3) is coming off an 84-77 home loss to No. 1 Arizona on Jan. 17 followed by getting routed at Iowa State 87-57 on Tuesday night.
The Knights committed 19 turnovers against the Cyclones.
“We haven’t been a high-turnover team,” UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said. “This was uncharacteristic of us.”
UCF, like Colorado, has four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by senior guard Riley Kugel (14.6). Themus Fulks, a fifth-year guard, is second at 13.7 points and also leads the Knights in assists with 7.2 per game. Junior forward Jordan Burks is third in scoring at 12.7 and senior forward Jamichael Stillwell is fourth at 12.3.
Stillwell is the team’s leader in rebounding average (7.9) and steals (1.2).
–Field Level Media
