ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 15 Power Rankings
By Trevor Booth
8. Colorado Buffaloes (14-9, 5-6 Pac-12) LW: 10
When the final buzzer sounded, coach Tad Boyle pumped his fist, cheered with players and stormed through the handshake line with uncontainable emotion. His Buffaloes had just knocked off USC, and they finally silenced critics that wrote them off in Pac-12 action.
Coupled with Wednesday’s win at UCLA, Saturday’s victory gave Colorado its first conference road sweep in six seasons. It also extended a three-game winning streak, bringing the Buffs just two games back of a bye in the Pac-12 Tournament.
After starting 2-6 in league play, CU has now found its stride through defensive attentiveness. The Buffaloes have limited their last three opponents to 63 points on 39 percent shooting, committing less errors in rotations and one-on-one coverage.
Offensively, Tyler Bey is beginning a breakout stretch many expected at the beginning of the season. The sophomore forward is averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in his last three, including a 27-point, 10-rebound performance on 9-of-9 shooting against Oregon two weeks ago.
The contributions of McKinley Wright haven’t subsided, either. The Buffs’ do-it-all point guard has been a key factor in his team’s latest win streak, notably with two go-ahead floaters in the final three minutes of Saturday’s win at USC.
That victory was particularly sweet for Colorado, as Boyle and coach Andy Enfield have a history of bad blood. While Boyle’s reaction wasn’t received well, his team’s play is, and it has the potential of a sneaky opponent in Las Vegas.
This week, the Buffaloes return home for a crucial homestand against Arizona and Arizona State. If they win out, we’ll know this streak is legit.