Results: Stanford 78 -- Oregon State 72

Key Stat: 20 offensive rebounds (Stanford). OSU was completely outworked.

Results: Oregon State 77 -- California 71

Key Stat: 20 for 27 from FT line (Oregon State). An aggressive performance.

After a disappointing 2014-2015 season, Coach Tad Boyle appears to have his scrappy, hard-nosed Buffaloes back to their winning ways. Under Boyle, Colorado (1-2, 12-4, RPI 29) has earned a reputation as a stingy defensive club that can play smart basketball.

The Buffaloes have built their 2015-16 team around league player of the year candidate, 6’10’’ Josh Scott (17.4 ppg, 57.1% FG, 9.6 rpg, & 1.8 bpg). The senior big man has become the Tim Duncan of Boulder; as he’s both a leader, calming presence, and unbelievably productive player.

As good as Scott has been, the Buffaloes still miss guard/forward Xavier Johnson (achilles tear in June) and graduated all-league point guard Askia Booker’s (NBDL) clutch play and overall floor game. Despite those key losses, Colorado is evolving as a team and blending in new contributors.

Boyle’s team can still defend (allowing 68.8 points per game), has been possibly the PAC 12’s deadliest marksmen (#1 in FT%, #3 in FTM, #2 in 3FG%, and #2 in 3FGM), and is an elite rebounding team (#8 in NCAA). In addition, Colorado’s pressure defense has chased opponents off the three point line and harassed them into forcing shots. The defensive-minded Buffaloes were able to steal big wins from Penn State, Auburn, BYU, and recently at Stanford.

Wesley Gordon (7.1 rpg, & 2.1 bpg), Tory Miller (5.1 ppg & 4.1 rpg) & versatile wing Tre’Shaun Fletcher (7.3 ppg) provide Colorado with depth, length, and consistent role play. With a dominant Scott and solid stable of role players, the deciding factor in their season looks to be the play of their fresh-faced backcourt. Highly recruited sophomore point guard Dominique Collier (8.3 ppg, 46.7% 3FG, & 3.1 apg), redshirt shooter George King (14.3 ppg & 44.7% 3FG), and Providence transfer Josh Fortune (10.7 ppg, 41.3% 3FG, & 4.3 rpg) can all be Colorado’s X-factors.

Colorado has been as solid and consistent as we expect a Boyle team to be. After the Stanford upset and a near miss at Utah Friday night, the question remains, “can Colorado become more than just dangerous and make the jump into contention?” Colorado looks to answer that question this week with an opportunity to sweep the Oregon schools.

Coach Larry Krystkowiak’s (5th year) Utah Utes (1-2, 12-4, RPI 21) club surprised last season as they joined Arizona and Oregon in the race for 1st place. Entering 2015-16, Utah fans have high hopes as they return plenty of key pieces and boast impressive non-conference wins over Duke, Texas Tech, Temple, and BYU. However, the Utes have dropped two PAC 12 games already and are sorely missing NBA draft pick Delon Wright (Toronto Raptors) who did it all on both ends.

Attempting to fill the all-league void is 7’0’’ Austrian sophomore Jakob Poeltl’s (17.0 ppg, 66.5% FG, 9.4 rpg, & 2.2 bpg) ability to score, block shots, and anchor an excellent interior defense. However, Utah will need senior point guard Brandon Taylor (8.6 ppg & 3.5 apg) and senior wing Jordan Loveridge (11.8 ppg & 42.2% 3FG) to step-up and replace Wright’s leadership and perimeter play.

The Utes are still one of the most offensively efficient teams in the league. Krystkowiak’s team scores over 80 points per game, leads the league in assisted baskets, and is (like Colorado) an extremely well-rounded shooting club (#1 FG%, #3 in 3FGM, and #2 in FT%).

Utah also possesses one of the league’s better defenses, which is among the NCAA’s leaders in two-point field goal defense and defensive rebounding. Coach K’s team plays excellent, physical defense while limiting fouling and second chance points.

The stout Utes team relies on selfless role players like 6’8’’ juniors Brekkott Chapman (4.3 ppg & 2.8 rpg) and Chris Reyes (3.2 ppg, 55.5% FG, 2.9 rpg). However, if Utah wants to be the team that beat Duke, they’ll need JC transfer Lorenzo Bonam (10.4 ppg, 51.7% FG, & 3.3 rpg) and sophomore forward Kyle Kuzma (11.5 ppg & 5.8 rpg) to continue their aggressive play. Utah’s has all the makings of a Sweet 16 team-type team, but find themselves with their backs against the wall as the Oregon schools visit.

As much as Beaver fans wish they could have the Stanford game back, they can be excited that their two league wins have been their “best,” wins of the season (both in terms of RPI and quality of play). Wayne Tinkle’s club is one that needs to manufacture offense and really never knows who will supplement GPII’s production from night to night. However, it feels as though we’re on the verge seeing Thompson and Tinkle become those players (but expect Tinkle to wisely manage his roster by bringing them off the bench).

Oregon State is an intriguing, yet frustrating blend of youthful upside and veteran experience. How does OSU knock off two quality teams in the last 6 days? The answer is majors contributions by either a young gun like Tinkle or Renaissance night for Reid or Morris-Walker.

The Beavers defense seems to be improving and has been much more effective while in zone/press looks. That being said, having a pair of either Thompson, Tinkle, Morris-Walker, Duvivier, or Reid step-up and produce is imperative. OSU has put themselves (by essentially holding serve at home) in the thick of a messy PAC 12 race. The task this week is taller than it might look on paper. Their trip to the Rocky Mountains matches them with two wonderfully coached, hungry, and prolific home teams.

Colorado is a team that with Josh Scott is excellent against zone defense, hits the offensive glass, and can shoot the three. Last year, I felt like the Buffaloes were a flat-out bad match-up for OSU due to those reasons. Even without Booker (graduated) and Johnson (injured), Colorado at home will give OSU problems.

Oregon State will need to be as good as they’ve been all year both ends to beat a Colorado team will test OSU’s zone and can handle their press. That being said, if OSU can find a way to generate 12+ turnovers and stifle shooters (Fortune, King, Collier, and Fletcher) in our zone, the game will be up for grabs.

Can OSU, steal a huge road win, get to 3-1, and push towards the top of the PAC?

After missing road opportunities to establish themselves last year (at ASU and then at UW), they will break through Wednesday in Boulder. The Beavers zone will be at its best and they’ll find away to get scoring from a secondary players (look for Thompson and Duvivier to make an impact) in a 72-70 victory (predictions 1-2 for the season).

For game analysis and prediction for Utah match-up check into The Lodge on Saturday.