Tuesday, March 11
Kansas City, Mo.
1 p.m.
Colorado
vs
TCU
Photo by: Tony Harman
Buffs Set For TCU Rematch To Open Big 12 Championship
March 10, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Hammond Earns Honorable Mention To All-Big 12 Team
Game 32 - TCU, Tuesday, March 11, 2025
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Tip: 1:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla, Kris Budden)Â Â https://buffs.me/41AEE0V
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 138 or 198, SXM App 952
Live Statistics:Â https://buffs.me/3FhBOq9
BIG 12 HONORS: Senior Julian Hammond III earned honorable mention to the 2024-25 All-Big 12 Team the league office announced on March 10. Hammond leads the Buffaloes at 12.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. He leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 90.9 percent (80 of 88).
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 12-19 overall, finishing in 16th place in the Big 12 Conference at 3-17. The Buffaloes are the No. 16 seed at the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship and are set to play a first round game against No. 9 seed TCU on Tuesday, March 11, at 1 p.m. MT.
The Buffaloes are coming off their biggest Big 12 win of the season, 76-56 decision against TCU on Senior Day March 8. Colorado's three Big 12 wins have come in the last seven games after dropping its first 13 games of the conference season.
Colorado is averaging 70.1 points per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field. The Buffaloes scored exactly 76 points in all three of their Big 12 wins, which was also the team's season high in league play. Colorado hit 70 points for the seventh time during Big 12 play, with four of those coming in the last seven games.
Colorado is averaging 75.6 points the last two games and has shot well from the floor. The Buffaloes are a combined 49 percent from the field the last two games (55-112). Colorado did enjoy one of its better offensive performances in the loss to Texas Tech. The Buffaloes shot 52.7 percent from the field against the Red Raiders (29-55), their best figure in the Big 12 this season and second-best overall (.566 vs. Cal State Fullerton). It was Colorado's best shooting percentage in a loss since the Buffaloes made 30 of 55 (.545) at Colorado State on Nov. 29, 2023.
Colorado's 29 field goals were its best in the league season and matched its second-best overall.
Defensively, Colorado is allowing 71.8 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 42.9 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 73.7 points while opponents shoot 43.9 percent.
The Buffaloes rank fifth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.749), and defensive rebounds (25.6 drpg), seventh in rebounding defense (32.8 rpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (.448) and blocked shots (4.0 bpg). Â During Big 12 games, Colorado is in the top half of the league in free throw percentage (6th, .739), blocked shots (5th, 4.0 bpg), field goal percentage (7th, .434), rebounding defense (6th, 33.4 rpg) and defensive rebounds (5th, 24.9 drpg).
Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes (played in his 118th career game vs. TCU), leads Colorado at 12.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in steals (34), 3-point field goals made (50), free throws made (80) and free throw percentage (.909).
Hammond leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 80 of 88 on the season (.909) which includes consecutive made streaks of 21 (between UNC and UCF) and 18 which ended against Cincinnati. He is on pace for the second-best single-season free throw percentage in team history.
Hammond had 19 points and matched a career high with seven assists in the Senior Day win over TCU. He was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, is averaging 9.7 points ranking second on the team in rebounding (4.8 rpg) and 3-point field goals (45) and third in steals (26).
Jakimovski grabbed eight rebounds in the win over TCU, his best in a Big 12 game. Rebounds have been coming in bunches for him as of late, recording at least seven four times in the last seven games averaging 6.1 over that span
Bangot Dak is averaging 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and leading the Buffaloes in blocked shots (42). During conference games, Dak is Colorado's leading shooter (.541) and shot blocker (33) and ranks second in both scoring (9.6 rpg) and rebounding (4.6 rpg).
Dak had his fourth-straight double-figure scoring game with 10 points on 3 of 4 from the field with seven rebounds and four assists against TCU. Â He had a team-high 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting in the home game with Kansas. He scored a game and career-high 20 points on 8 for 14 shooting at Iowa State. Dak is averaging 12.3 points on 56.0 percent shooting (28-50) the last six games.
Dak just missed a double-double with nine points and a career and team season-high 12 rebounds at TCU. It was his first double-figure rebounding game of his career.
Dak is seventh in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and tied for fourth in league only games (1.7 bpg).
Elijah Malone, the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner as the best small-school player in the nation (Grace College [Ind.] - NAIA) tops the Buffaloes in shooting at 58.0 percent while averaging 7.7 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (19), fourth in scoring and fifth in rebounding at 3.0 per game.
Malone had 10 points hitting 5 of 7 from the field at Texas Tech, matching his Big 12 best for points and field goals made. Since an 0 for 4 contest at Iowa State, Malone has hit 17 of his last 26 from the field (.654).
Trevor Baskin, a 2024 NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, leads Colorado in rebounding at 4.9 per game, is second in steals (30) and blocks (22) and third in assists (58) and overall shooting at 50 percent.
Baskin had eight points and a career and team-season high 16 rebounds in the win over TCU. He twice had 15 rebounds in games with Colorado Mesa. The 16 rebounds were the most by a Buffalo since Jabari Walker had 16 against Oregon in the 2022 Pac-12 Tournament.
Javon Ruffin is averaging 6.0 points and is second on the team in assists (60) and fourth in 3-point field goals (27). He was 3 of 4 from long range against TCU finishing with nine points. Ruffin matched a career-high five assists in the game at Kansas State. He led the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time this season with 13 at Utah while matching a personal best with three 3-point field goals.
Freshman Sebastian Rancik is averaging 6.3 points on the season, but since entering the starting lineup against Arizona State he is averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Rancik had 12 points at Texas Tech, going a career-best 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Rancik had a career-night at Kansas leading the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds, both personal bests. Â
Sophomore Assane Diop is averaging 4.0 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 4.0 per game. He registered his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season with 11 points at Texas Tech hitting a perfect 4 of 4 from the field. Diop matched his career-best 10 rebounds in the win over UCF, also hitting that mark against Northern Colorado.
Sophomore RJ Smith is averaging 5.9 points and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.369), while ranking third in 3-pointers made (31), fourth in assists (51) and fifth in steals (21). Smith had 12 points on 5 of 10 from the field in the win over TCU, matching his career-best for field goals made. It was his seventh career double-figure scoring game and sixth this season. Smith had 11 points against Kansas State, leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time.
ABOUT THE HORNED FROGS: Â TCU is 16-15 overall and tied for ninth with Kansas State at 9-11 in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs claimed the nine seed with their 63-62 win over the Wildcats on Jan. 4. TCU has lost four of their last five since a stretch where they had won five of six beginning with the win over Colorado on Feb. 2. TCU is 2-12 away from home this season and winless in neutral site contests (0-3). TCU ranks last in the Big 12 in scoring (67.6 ppg) and field goal percentage (.417). Defensively, TCU allows 68.7 points per game while opponents shoot 44.2 percent.
Noah Reynolds leads TCU at 12.3 points and dishes out 3.0 assists per game. Vasean Allette averages 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 3.6 assists per game. Ernest Udeh Jr. tops the Horned Frogs  in field goal percentage (.639), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg).
Jamie Dixon is in his ninth season at TCU with a record of 176-125 (.585). He is in his 22nd season overall as a collegiate head coach with a 504-248 mark (.670).
THE SERIES: This will be the seventh meeting between Colorado and TCU. The series is tied 3-3 after both teams won their respective home games during the regular season. It will be the first meeting on a neutral court.
Tad Boyle is 1-1 against TCU as a head coach. Jamie Dixon is 2-1 in his career against the Buffaloes, 1-1 with TCU. His other win came as the head coach at Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, a 77-48 decision in Orlando, Fla.
BIG 12 POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado makes its first Big 12 Championship appearance since 2011. The Buffaloes are 9-15 all-time in the Big 12 Championship. Colorado made its best Big 12 Championship run in its last appearance, winning two games as the No. 5 seed and reaching the tournament semifinals for the first time.
Colorado had a very successful run in 13 Pac-12 Tournament, going 19-12 with three championship game appearances and winning it all in 2012. The Buffaloes won at least one game in 12 of 13 Pac-12 Tournaments
Colorado is 32-47 all-time in conference postseason tournaments. The Buffaloes were 4-20 in the Big Eight Tournament between 1977-96.
Head coach Tad Boyle owns nearly two-thirds of Colorado's all-time conference tournament wins. He is 21-13 in conference tournament action, which includes 2-1 mark in Colorado's final year of the Big 12.
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Tip: 1:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla, Kris Budden)Â Â https://buffs.me/41AEE0V
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 138 or 198, SXM App 952
Live Statistics:Â https://buffs.me/3FhBOq9
BIG 12 HONORS: Senior Julian Hammond III earned honorable mention to the 2024-25 All-Big 12 Team the league office announced on March 10. Hammond leads the Buffaloes at 12.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. He leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 90.9 percent (80 of 88).
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 12-19 overall, finishing in 16th place in the Big 12 Conference at 3-17. The Buffaloes are the No. 16 seed at the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship and are set to play a first round game against No. 9 seed TCU on Tuesday, March 11, at 1 p.m. MT.
The Buffaloes are coming off their biggest Big 12 win of the season, 76-56 decision against TCU on Senior Day March 8. Colorado's three Big 12 wins have come in the last seven games after dropping its first 13 games of the conference season.
Colorado is averaging 70.1 points per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field. The Buffaloes scored exactly 76 points in all three of their Big 12 wins, which was also the team's season high in league play. Colorado hit 70 points for the seventh time during Big 12 play, with four of those coming in the last seven games.
Colorado is averaging 75.6 points the last two games and has shot well from the floor. The Buffaloes are a combined 49 percent from the field the last two games (55-112). Colorado did enjoy one of its better offensive performances in the loss to Texas Tech. The Buffaloes shot 52.7 percent from the field against the Red Raiders (29-55), their best figure in the Big 12 this season and second-best overall (.566 vs. Cal State Fullerton). It was Colorado's best shooting percentage in a loss since the Buffaloes made 30 of 55 (.545) at Colorado State on Nov. 29, 2023.
Colorado's 29 field goals were its best in the league season and matched its second-best overall.
Defensively, Colorado is allowing 71.8 points per game overall while opponents are shooting 42.9 percent. During Big 12 games, Colorado is allowing 73.7 points while opponents shoot 43.9 percent.
The Buffaloes rank fifth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.749), and defensive rebounds (25.6 drpg), seventh in rebounding defense (32.8 rpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (.448) and blocked shots (4.0 bpg). Â During Big 12 games, Colorado is in the top half of the league in free throw percentage (6th, .739), blocked shots (5th, 4.0 bpg), field goal percentage (7th, .434), rebounding defense (6th, 33.4 rpg) and defensive rebounds (5th, 24.9 drpg).
Julian Hammond III, the most experienced player in terms of games for the Buffaloes (played in his 118th career game vs. TCU), leads Colorado at 12.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. Hammond also tops the Buffaloes in steals (34), 3-point field goals made (50), free throws made (80) and free throw percentage (.909).
Hammond leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 80 of 88 on the season (.909) which includes consecutive made streaks of 21 (between UNC and UCF) and 18 which ended against Cincinnati. He is on pace for the second-best single-season free throw percentage in team history.
Hammond had 19 points and matched a career high with seven assists in the Senior Day win over TCU. He was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
Andrej Jakimovski, a four-year standout at old Pac-12 rival Washington State, is averaging 9.7 points ranking second on the team in rebounding (4.8 rpg) and 3-point field goals (45) and third in steals (26).
Jakimovski grabbed eight rebounds in the win over TCU, his best in a Big 12 game. Rebounds have been coming in bunches for him as of late, recording at least seven four times in the last seven games averaging 6.1 over that span
Bangot Dak is averaging 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and leading the Buffaloes in blocked shots (42). During conference games, Dak is Colorado's leading shooter (.541) and shot blocker (33) and ranks second in both scoring (9.6 rpg) and rebounding (4.6 rpg).
Dak had his fourth-straight double-figure scoring game with 10 points on 3 of 4 from the field with seven rebounds and four assists against TCU. Â He had a team-high 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting in the home game with Kansas. He scored a game and career-high 20 points on 8 for 14 shooting at Iowa State. Dak is averaging 12.3 points on 56.0 percent shooting (28-50) the last six games.
Dak just missed a double-double with nine points and a career and team season-high 12 rebounds at TCU. It was his first double-figure rebounding game of his career.
Dak is seventh in the Big 12 in overall blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and tied for fourth in league only games (1.7 bpg).
Elijah Malone, the 2024 Bevo Francis Award winner as the best small-school player in the nation (Grace College [Ind.] - NAIA) tops the Buffaloes in shooting at 58.0 percent while averaging 7.7 points an outing. Malone is third on the team in blocks (19), fourth in scoring and fifth in rebounding at 3.0 per game.
Malone had 10 points hitting 5 of 7 from the field at Texas Tech, matching his Big 12 best for points and field goals made. Since an 0 for 4 contest at Iowa State, Malone has hit 17 of his last 26 from the field (.654).
Trevor Baskin, a 2024 NCAA Division II All-American at Colorado Mesa, leads Colorado in rebounding at 4.9 per game, is second in steals (30) and blocks (22) and third in assists (58) and overall shooting at 50 percent.
Baskin had eight points and a career and team-season high 16 rebounds in the win over TCU. He twice had 15 rebounds in games with Colorado Mesa. The 16 rebounds were the most by a Buffalo since Jabari Walker had 16 against Oregon in the 2022 Pac-12 Tournament.
Javon Ruffin is averaging 6.0 points and is second on the team in assists (60) and fourth in 3-point field goals (27). He was 3 of 4 from long range against TCU finishing with nine points. Ruffin matched a career-high five assists in the game at Kansas State. He led the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time this season with 13 at Utah while matching a personal best with three 3-point field goals.
Freshman Sebastian Rancik is averaging 6.3 points on the season, but since entering the starting lineup against Arizona State he is averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Rancik had 12 points at Texas Tech, going a career-best 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Rancik had a career-night at Kansas leading the Buffaloes with 19 points and nine rebounds, both personal bests. Â
Sophomore Assane Diop is averaging 4.0 points and is third on the team in rebounding at 4.0 per game. He registered his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season with 11 points at Texas Tech hitting a perfect 4 of 4 from the field. Diop matched his career-best 10 rebounds in the win over UCF, also hitting that mark against Northern Colorado.
Sophomore RJ Smith is averaging 5.9 points and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.369), while ranking third in 3-pointers made (31), fourth in assists (51) and fifth in steals (21). Smith had 12 points on 5 of 10 from the field in the win over TCU, matching his career-best for field goals made. It was his seventh career double-figure scoring game and sixth this season. Smith had 11 points against Kansas State, leading the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time.
ABOUT THE HORNED FROGS: Â TCU is 16-15 overall and tied for ninth with Kansas State at 9-11 in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs claimed the nine seed with their 63-62 win over the Wildcats on Jan. 4. TCU has lost four of their last five since a stretch where they had won five of six beginning with the win over Colorado on Feb. 2. TCU is 2-12 away from home this season and winless in neutral site contests (0-3). TCU ranks last in the Big 12 in scoring (67.6 ppg) and field goal percentage (.417). Defensively, TCU allows 68.7 points per game while opponents shoot 44.2 percent.
Noah Reynolds leads TCU at 12.3 points and dishes out 3.0 assists per game. Vasean Allette averages 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 3.6 assists per game. Ernest Udeh Jr. tops the Horned Frogs  in field goal percentage (.639), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg).
Jamie Dixon is in his ninth season at TCU with a record of 176-125 (.585). He is in his 22nd season overall as a collegiate head coach with a 504-248 mark (.670).
THE SERIES: This will be the seventh meeting between Colorado and TCU. The series is tied 3-3 after both teams won their respective home games during the regular season. It will be the first meeting on a neutral court.
Tad Boyle is 1-1 against TCU as a head coach. Jamie Dixon is 2-1 in his career against the Buffaloes, 1-1 with TCU. His other win came as the head coach at Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, a 77-48 decision in Orlando, Fla.
BIG 12 POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado makes its first Big 12 Championship appearance since 2011. The Buffaloes are 9-15 all-time in the Big 12 Championship. Colorado made its best Big 12 Championship run in its last appearance, winning two games as the No. 5 seed and reaching the tournament semifinals for the first time.
Colorado had a very successful run in 13 Pac-12 Tournament, going 19-12 with three championship game appearances and winning it all in 2012. The Buffaloes won at least one game in 12 of 13 Pac-12 Tournaments
Colorado is 32-47 all-time in conference postseason tournaments. The Buffaloes were 4-20 in the Big Eight Tournament between 1977-96.
Head coach Tad Boyle owns nearly two-thirds of Colorado's all-time conference tournament wins. He is 21-13 in conference tournament action, which includes 2-1 mark in Colorado's final year of the Big 12.
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