No Time to Relax When No. 8 Arizona Visits Colorado

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to the media after the Wildcats' 105-99 triple overtime win at Utah

As they face off against a formidable Colorado team on Saturday night in Boulder, Colo., the No. 8 Arizona squad will gauge its remaining stamina.

Following a thrilling 105-99 triple-overtime win at Utah on Thursday night, handing Utah their inaugural home defeat of the season, the Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Pac-12) are now gearing up to replicate the performance against the Buffaloes (16-7, 7-5), who boast an impeccable 13-0 home record after their 82-70 triumph over Arizona State on Thursday.

In the intense battle against Utah, four Arizona players played a minimum of 43 minutes, including 48 minutes each from Caleb Love and Pelle Larsson, who delivered an impressive career-high of 27 points.

Despite Utah’s spirited comeback and late lead in regulation, Arizona managed to emerge victorious with Larsson’s crucial six points in the third overtime, securing their fourth consecutive triumph.

“I think we’re playing better basketball now,” coach Tommy Lloyd said.

“I think that we’re building. I think that all these experiences are accumulating. We’re going into another place on Saturday where they haven’t lost at home. They have really good players and a good coach. It’s going to be tough. But we just need to dig down to see if we can find a way.”

Anticipate a fiercely competitive matchup compared to their initial clash on Jan. 4, especially considering the circumstances have changed with the re-entry of standouts Tristan da Silva and Cody Williams for Colorado.

Both players stand poised to help Colorado seek retribution in Boulder, a venue where the Buffs have claimed victory in five consecutive encounters against Arizona.

Williams, a standout freshman and potential high pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, averages 14.4 points per game, while da Silva follows closely with 15.3 points.

KJ Simpson is vying for recognition as a top contender for the Pac-12 Player of the Year, boasting a 19.4 scoring average and an impressive 44.7% success rate in 3-point shooting.

Colorado coach Tad Boyle emphasized the significance of Williams’ return to the starting lineup, acknowledging the challenges faced by freshmen in coping with sporadic appearances due to injuries.

“Everybody thinks when you come back, hey, you’re 100 percent,” Boyle said.

“Sometimes it takes a while, especially for freshmen like Cody who’s had a start, stop, start, stop kind of year. It’s difficult. … I think we’re going to need him on Saturday. He’s an important part of this team. He gives us size on the wing.”

Leading the charge for Arizona, Love maintains a scoring average of 18.9 points per game and is the go-to player during crucial game moments.

Meanwhile, Larsson maintains a consistent scoring average of 13.2 points.

Oumar Ballo, the 7-footer, has showcased remarkable performance with five double-doubles in the last eight games, highlighting his pivotal role in the team’s endeavors. 

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    The former Pac-12 schools are under a two-year contract, expiring on June 30, 2026. Sources from CBS Sports suggest that the odds of the two Pacific Northwest institutions staying are slim, with a move to the Mountain West or a new conference formation being more probable.

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    Former guard of Cal State Fullerton Max Jones has made a decision to join Kansas State for his upcoming collegiate season, according to reports.

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    At the age of 70, VanDerveer stepped down following her 38th season at the helm of the Cardinal.

    She steered Stanford to 14 Final Fours and secured three national championships (1990, 1992, 2021). VanDerveer embarked on her coaching journey at Idaho (1978-80) and later coached at Ohio State (1980-85).

    In January, she surpassed Mike Krzyzewski to clinch the title of the most successful college basketball coach in history, across both men’s and women’s teams. VanDerveer concluded with a remarkable 1,216-271 record, boasting a 1,064-220 tally with the Cardinal.

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