Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Set For Visit From No. 13 Musketeers
December 06, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes released their 2016-17 men's basketball schedule, one non-conference game immediately jumped out.
Dec. 7 vs. Xavier at the Coors Events Center.
Fans who follow college hoops know what Xavier represents — 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 15 seasons, six Sweet 16 appearances and two trips to the Elite Eight.
The 7-1 Musketeers show no sign of straying from that trend this year. Currently ranked No. 13 in the nation, they will pay a visit to the Coors Events Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. meeting with Tad Boyle's Buffaloes.
It is both an opportunity and a challenge for a 6-2 Buffs team still trying to establish an identity.
"You can't beat teams like this unless you play them," said Boyle, whose team is coming off a 76-63 win at Portland over the weekend. "All you can ask for in life is an opportunity. I have a lot of respect for their players, a lot of respect for their coach. You don't get in the top 10 by accident. You play your way there."
The Musketeers have been ranked in the nation's top 10 for much of the season until a loss at Baylor last week dropped them to No. 13. Xavier sports a guard-heavy lineup that boasts three players averaging at least 15 points per game — Trevon Bluiett (18.4 ppg), J.P. Macura (15.5 ppg) and Edmond Sumner (15.1 ppg).
"They're scoring a lot of points and their post guys are big and strong and tough and rugged," Boyle said. "It's going to be a heck of a challenge. Nothing against Portland, but this is a little different animal than the Portland Pilots in terms of their personnel. Portland is well coached. Xavier is well coached, but Xavier is well coached and they've got some dudes that can rip your head off if you're not ready to play."
One thing the Buffs must definitely do Wednesday is improve upon their last performance in the Events Center, a 72-58 loss to Colorado State last week, which snapped a 12-game home win streak for the Buffs.
While CU has played Xavier only once before — a 1998 loss — these Buffs will still see a familiar style against Chris Mack's Musketeers.
Mack worked as an assistant under Sean Miller at Xavier and was promoted to the top job in 2009 when Miller left for Arizona. The Buffs see Miller's Arizona team at least once a year; Mack's Musketeers play the same style.
"When we play Arizona, we're preparing to play ourselves philosophically," Boyle said. " The way they guard ball screens; the way we guard ball screens. The way they defend and want to rebound. … All the things they emphasize we emphasize. From a preparation standpoint, we're preparing to play ourselves and I think they probably feel the same way."
More than anything, Boyle will be looking for consistency from his team tonight, something that's been absent in the first month of the year. While the Buffs have played good defense at times, they've been lacking in some key moments. They have enjoyed a rebounding edge in seven of their eight games, but their shooting has been their downfall, particularly from 3-point range: in their last two games, they have connected on just eight of 38 3-point attempts.
"Even against Colorado State we had some good offensive possessions, it just wasn't consistent enough," Boyle said. "It's just the flow isn't there. We have to have that. We have some guys that are fighting the game; overthinking it, pressing a little bit. We just have to go play."
BROADCAST: The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network with Ted Robinson and Bill Walton. The radio broadcast will be carried by DenverSports 760 AM with Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu