Pac-12 Conference Game Preview: Colorado Buffaloes (15-4, 4-2 Pac-12) vs. #1 Arizona Wildcats (18-0, 5-0 Pac-12)

Jan 16, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Members of the Colorado Buffaloes react on the bench near the end of the second half against the UCLA Bruins at the Coors Events Center. The Bruins defeated the Buffaloes 69-56. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Buffaloes (15-4, 4-2 in Pac-12 play) are coming off of an impressive win over the USC Trojans at home by the final sore of 83-62. Josh Scott led the way for the Buffaloes as the post scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Three other Buffaloes would score in double-figures in the starting line-up as Askia Booker finished with 13 points, and both Jaron Hopkins and Xavier Johnson finished with 10 points a piece. Colorado recently fell out of the top-25 as their star point-guard Spencer Dinwiddie went down with a torn ACL and is out for the remainder of the season. The Buffaloes are 1-1 without the junior guard.

What: Pac-12 conference game: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona Wildcats
When: Thursday, January 23rd
Where: McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona
Time: 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT.
TV: ESPN2

The last time these two teams met was in the Pac-12 tournament last season as the Wildcats came away with the win, 79-69. Guard Nick Johnson led the way for the Cats as he shot 6-of-7 from the field including a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown, finishing with 18 points and 3 assists. This time around the Wildcats have one of the top freshman in the country and perhaps one of the top-5 players in Aaron Gordon. The 6-foot-9 power forward has played solid in his freshman campaign so far this season as he is averaging 12.4 points per game along with 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He will match-up with Wesley Gordon of the Buffaloes and it will be a match-up for you to keep an eye on.

It will be a tough task for the Buffaloes as they are without their floor general and leader Spencer Dinwiddie. Players such as Askia Booker, Josh Scott, Jaron Hopkins, and Wesley Gordon will all need to step up and provide a team effort if the Buffaloes want to try to upset the number one team in the nation. They are number one and rightfully so as Sean Miller’s squad is playing perfect basketball at 18-0 on the season. Here is what the coach had to say about his team via ESPN:

"“I feel we have a confident team, but in a good way,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “A lot of players who were part of a big winning streak last year saw how quickly it can leave you if you don’t continue to work hard and get better. I believe the mission of this year’s team is to try to be a team that really practices and shows up. Leave one game behind and quickly move to the next. So far, so good.”"

This will be the first of two match-ups between the teams this season as the second and final game will be held in Boulder on February 22nd.

Projected Starting Line-Ups:

Colorado Buffaloes:

PG: Jaron Hopkins
SG: Askia Booker
SF: Xavier Johnson
PF: Wesley Gordon
C: Josh Scott

Arizona Wildcats:

PG: T.J. McConnell
SG: Nick Johnson
SF: Brandon Ashley
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Kaleb Tarczewski