Preview: Jayhawks-Buffaloes
By Andrew Dill
Nov 13, 2013; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Spencer Dinwiddie (25) and point guard Askia Booker (0) react to a missed free throw in the second half against the Wyoming Cowboys at the Coors Events Center. The Colorado Buffaloes defeated the Wyoming Cowboys 62-58. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Buffaloes (8-1, 0-0 in PAC-12) will be hosting the number six ranked team in the country Saturday afternoon; the Kansas Jayhawks (6-1, 0-0 in Big 12). The Jayhawks are coming off of a win at home against UTEP, defeating them by just four points. The Buffaloes on the other hand are riding an eight-game win streak and are poised for the upset.
When: Saturday, December 7th.
Where: Coors Event Center, Boulder, Colorado.
Time: 3:15 PM ET, 1:15 PM MT.
TV: ESPN2/WatchESPN
Last season, the Buffaloes and Jayhawks met up in Lawrence, Kansas and it wasn’t pretty. Colorado would struggle to keep up with the high-powered Kansas offense and fell to the Jayhawks, 90-54. Also, this game is the first sellout of the season with an expected capacity of over 10,000 fans, according to CUBuffs.com.
The Jayhawks are headlined by the number one recruit out of Huntington Prep, Andrew Wiggins. He has been a solid contributor for Kansas as he has averaged 29.7 minutes per game, totaling 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Many people outside of Kansas forget about the sixth rated recruit in 2013 who also committed to the Jayhawks; Joel Embiid. Embiid has been a solid presence in the post for Bill Self’s squad, as he averages 2.3 blocks per game in roughly 17.7 minutes. The Buffs will need to limit Embiid on the boards and box him out, or it will be a long game.
Colorado is led by junior guard, Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie, along with some help from freshman Jaron Hopkins, single-handedly led Colorado to victory over in-state rival Colorado State. Spencer would seal the closely contested game late in the game with two free-throws as he went a perfect 11-of-11 from the line. He scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the second half, shooting 8-for-14 from the field. Sophomore Josh Scott with have his hands full Saturday with Joel Embiid. He has played well for the Buffs so far this season, averaging 12.2 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, and a steal per game.
Note: Buffs F Wesley Gordon is a game-time decision due to an illness/injury. He has not practiced this week. If the Buffaloes can hold on to win today, they will not only upset the #6 ranked team, but would end a 19-game losing streak to the Jayhawks.
Projected Starting Line-Ups:
Kansas Jayhawks:
PG: Naadir Tharpe
SG: Wayne Selden, Jr.
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Perry Ellis
C: Tarik Black
Colorado Buffaloes:
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: Askia Booker
SF: Xavier Johnson
PF: Wesley Gordon/Tre’Shaun Fletcher
C: Josh Scott