Colorado University Athletics
Thursday, February 15
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
Colorado
at
UCLA
Photo by: Noah Weiss, Colorado Athletics
Buffs Embark On Final Pac-12 Trip To Los Angeles
February 14, 2024 | Men's Basketball
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 16-8 overall and tied for fifth place in the Pac-12 Conference at 7-6, just one game out of third and two games out of second. One of those teams sitting in third just above the Buffaloes in the standings is Thursday's opponent, UCLA, as the two conference rivals are set to meet for the first and only time this season.
Colorado is coming off a home split with the Arizona schools. The Buffaloes defeated Arizona State 82-70 on Feb. 8 before falling to then No. 8/8 ranked Arizona, 99-77 on Feb. 10, putting an end to Colorado's 13-game home winning streak. The Buffaloes have won five of eight, but have dropped three of four heading out on the road where they're just 1-6 this season.
Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 14 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are sixth in the nation in free throw percentage (.793), 10th in 3-point accuracy (.387) and 14th in overall shooting (.492).
Colorado is the only program in NCAA Division I in the nation's top 15 of all three categories (through games of Feb. 13). Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.5, 18th), free throws made (17.1 mpg, 21st), assists (16.0, 36th), scoring offense (80.7 ppg, 40th) and defensive rebounding (27.3 drpg, 46th).
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in field goal shooting, free throw percentage and rebounding defense (30.1 rpg) while ranking second in 3-point shooting and rebound margin, third in soring and scoring margin (+8.3) and fourth in assists, defensive rebounds and scoring defense (72.3 ppg).
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list member KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.4 points, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.4 rpg). He is Colorado's second-leading rebounder in Pac-12 games at 6.2 per contest, while still pacing the Buffaloes at 19.0 points and 4.7 assists.
Simpson had 20 points and a career-high nine assists, with only one turnover, against Arizona. He registered 20 points for the 14th time this season and the 21st time in his career. His 14 games with 20-plus points are the most in a season since Derrick White had 15 20-point games in 2016-17.
Simpson is one of three major conference players averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game joining Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. and Maryland's Jahmir Young. He is one of five in all of NCAA Division I with those numbers.
Simpson leads all major conference players in rebounding during conference games (and second overall) for those listed at 6' 2" and under. He tops the Pac-12 in rebounding for all players listed at 6' 5" and under.
On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is first in free throw percentage (.896), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) third in scoring, assists, and steals, fifth in 3-point shooting (.429), 10th in minutes (32.8 mpg), 12th in defensive rebounds (4.5 drpg) and 18th in overall rebounding.
Senior forward Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg), field goals made (113), and 3-pointers (36) while ranking third in steals (22) and fourth in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Da Silva had 20 points against Arizona, his fifth 20-point effort of the season and 17th of his career.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks ninth in free throw percentage (.829), 11th in scoring and 19th in rebounding and 3-point shooting (.375).
McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game while shooting a team-best 56.2percent from the field. He had 11 points, three rebounds and dished out three assists against Arizona State. Williams had eight points with a career and team season-high three blocked shots against Arizona.
Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 11.5 points per game while ranking second on the team in shooting (.558), steals (29) and rebounding (5.8 rpg).
Hadley recorded his first career NCAA Division I double-double with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Arizona State. It was his third-career double-figure rebounding game; his previous high was 10 achieved twice last season (vs. Tennessee, at UCLA).
Hadley leads the Pac-12 during conference games at 91.5 percent, hitting 43 of 47. He has made his last 17, including a career-best 8 for 8 performance against Arizona. Hadley was 7 of 7 from the line against Arizona State.
On the overall Pac-12 charts, he is seventh in free throw percentage (.855), ninth in field goal shooting, 13th in steals (1.3 spg), 14th in overall rebounds and 15th in defensive boards (4.4 drpg).
Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.2 per game. Lampkin recorded his team-best seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Utah.
In all he has nine double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes. The Utah double-double was the 13th of his collegiate career, adding his six from TCU.
On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also fifth in offensive rebounds (2.5 orpg), 10th in defensive boards (4.7 drpg) and 11th in field goal percentage (.545).
Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 7.7 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 43. He's beginning to emerge from a rough patch that saw him score just six points in a four-game span after missing a pair of games with an injury. In the last four, he's averaging 8.8 points, including 9-point efforts against both Arizona and Arizona State.
Hammond is 10th in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.409).
Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is third on the team in blocked shots with 10 and is fourth in steals (18) and fifth in rebounding.
ABOUT THE BRUINS: UCLA is 13-11 overall and tied for third in the Pac-12 at 8-5. The Bruins have won five straight and seven of their last eight after a 1-4 start to league play. UCLA averages 66.2 points while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, ranking last in the Pac-12 in both categories. Defensively, the Bruins allow opponents 64.0 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting with both figures ranking first in the Pac-12.
Freshman guard Sebastian Mack leads UCLA at 13.3 points and 1.6 steals per game. Sophomore forward Adem Bona is second on the team in both scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg) while leading the Bruins in blocks (46) and field goal percentage (.590). Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews averages 11.2 points while leading UCLA in assists at 3.7 per game. Lazar Stefanovic tops the Bruins in rebounding at 6.3 per game.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 27th meeting between Colorado and UCLA with the Bruins holding a 19-7 lead. UCLA has won the last five and eight of nine overall. The Bruins have won 12 of 14 all-time meetings in Los Angeles.
Colorado is coming off a home split with the Arizona schools. The Buffaloes defeated Arizona State 82-70 on Feb. 8 before falling to then No. 8/8 ranked Arizona, 99-77 on Feb. 10, putting an end to Colorado's 13-game home winning streak. The Buffaloes have won five of eight, but have dropped three of four heading out on the road where they're just 1-6 this season.
Overall, Colorado is one of the top all-around shooting teams in the country, ranking in the top 14 nationally in all three percentage categories: overall field goal, 3-point and free throws. The Buffaloes are sixth in the nation in free throw percentage (.793), 10th in 3-point accuracy (.387) and 14th in overall shooting (.492).
Colorado is the only program in NCAA Division I in the nation's top 15 of all three categories (through games of Feb. 13). Colorado also sports top 50 marks nationally in rebound margin (+7.5, 18th), free throws made (17.1 mpg, 21st), assists (16.0, 36th), scoring offense (80.7 ppg, 40th) and defensive rebounding (27.3 drpg, 46th).
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in field goal shooting, free throw percentage and rebounding defense (30.1 rpg) while ranking second in 3-point shooting and rebound margin, third in soring and scoring margin (+8.3) and fourth in assists, defensive rebounds and scoring defense (72.3 ppg).
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING: Wooden Award late season top 20 watch list member KJ Simpson tops Colorado at 19.4 points, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game while ranking third in rebounding (5.4 rpg). He is Colorado's second-leading rebounder in Pac-12 games at 6.2 per contest, while still pacing the Buffaloes at 19.0 points and 4.7 assists.
Simpson had 20 points and a career-high nine assists, with only one turnover, against Arizona. He registered 20 points for the 14th time this season and the 21st time in his career. His 14 games with 20-plus points are the most in a season since Derrick White had 15 20-point games in 2016-17.
Simpson is one of three major conference players averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game joining Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. and Maryland's Jahmir Young. He is one of five in all of NCAA Division I with those numbers.
Simpson leads all major conference players in rebounding during conference games (and second overall) for those listed at 6' 2" and under. He tops the Pac-12 in rebounding for all players listed at 6' 5" and under.
On the Pac-12 charts, Simpson is first in free throw percentage (.896), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) third in scoring, assists, and steals, fifth in 3-point shooting (.429), 10th in minutes (32.8 mpg), 12th in defensive rebounds (4.5 drpg) and 18th in overall rebounding.
Senior forward Tristan da Silva is second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg), field goals made (113), and 3-pointers (36) while ranking third in steals (22) and fourth in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Da Silva had 20 points against Arizona, his fifth 20-point effort of the season and 17th of his career.
On the Pac-12 charts, da Silva ranks ninth in free throw percentage (.829), 11th in scoring and 19th in rebounding and 3-point shooting (.375).
McDonald's All-American Cody Williams is third on the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game while shooting a team-best 56.2percent from the field. He had 11 points, three rebounds and dished out three assists against Arizona State. Williams had eight points with a career and team season-high three blocked shots against Arizona.
Senior J'Vonne Hadley averages 11.5 points per game while ranking second on the team in shooting (.558), steals (29) and rebounding (5.8 rpg).
Hadley recorded his first career NCAA Division I double-double with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Arizona State. It was his third-career double-figure rebounding game; his previous high was 10 achieved twice last season (vs. Tennessee, at UCLA).
Hadley leads the Pac-12 during conference games at 91.5 percent, hitting 43 of 47. He has made his last 17, including a career-best 8 for 8 performance against Arizona. Hadley was 7 of 7 from the line against Arizona State.
On the overall Pac-12 charts, he is seventh in free throw percentage (.855), ninth in field goal shooting, 13th in steals (1.3 spg), 14th in overall rebounds and 15th in defensive boards (4.4 drpg).
Senior Eddie Lampkin, Jr., leads the Buffaloes and ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in rebounding at 7.2 per game. Lampkin recorded his team-best seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Utah.
In all he has nine double-digit rebounding games for the Buffaloes. The Utah double-double was the 13th of his collegiate career, adding his six from TCU.
On the Pac-12 leaderboard, Lampkin is also fifth in offensive rebounds (2.5 orpg), 10th in defensive boards (4.7 drpg) and 11th in field goal percentage (.545).
Junior Julian Hammond III is averaging 7.7 points and is fifth on the team in assists with 43. He's beginning to emerge from a rough patch that saw him score just six points in a four-game span after missing a pair of games with an injury. In the last four, he's averaging 8.8 points, including 9-point efforts against both Arizona and Arizona State.
Hammond is 10th in the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.409).
Senior Luke O'Brien is averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is third on the team in blocked shots with 10 and is fourth in steals (18) and fifth in rebounding.
ABOUT THE BRUINS: UCLA is 13-11 overall and tied for third in the Pac-12 at 8-5. The Bruins have won five straight and seven of their last eight after a 1-4 start to league play. UCLA averages 66.2 points while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, ranking last in the Pac-12 in both categories. Defensively, the Bruins allow opponents 64.0 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting with both figures ranking first in the Pac-12.
Freshman guard Sebastian Mack leads UCLA at 13.3 points and 1.6 steals per game. Sophomore forward Adem Bona is second on the team in both scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg) while leading the Bruins in blocks (46) and field goal percentage (.590). Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews averages 11.2 points while leading UCLA in assists at 3.7 per game. Lazar Stefanovic tops the Bruins in rebounding at 6.3 per game.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 27th meeting between Colorado and UCLA with the Bruins holding a 19-7 lead. UCLA has won the last five and eight of nine overall. The Bruins have won 12 of 14 all-time meetings in Los Angeles.
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