Colorado got their first road win tonight and controlled the entire game winning, 74-50. USC is a very weak team, but Colorado knew they had to win this game and they did easily. They held USC to inefficient shooting and although they were playing in an easy environment, they still were able to get the win. Colorado continues to beat the teams they should and have moved to 6-2 in the Pac-12. Andre Roberson, Carlon Brown, and Askia Booker all led the way with 13 points each. Additionally, the rebounding was exceptional with Roberson tallying 10 rebounds and Booker, Dinwiddie, and Carlon Brown all adding 9 rebounds. Overall, it was a good performance by the Buffaloes and they were able to maintain their standing in the conference.
Things the Buffaloes did well: The Buffaloes' defense helped them put away their opponent once again. They held USC to 32% shooting and the Buffaloes owned the Trojans on the boards by a margin of 49-23. Bench scoring helped the Buffaloes as well with 13 from Booker and 10 points from Jeremy Adams. A major strength of this team is how evenly distributed the scoring output is from the starting five and it showed again tonight. Ultimately, although the Pac-12 is weak, Colorado is at least taking advantage of it. They are beating the inferior teams and doing the little things they were unable to do earlier in the year.
Things the Buffaloes struggled with: The main thing the Buffaloes struggled with tonight was the turnovers. Against USC, a very weak team, 12 turnovers is too many. Additionally, the Buffaloes sometimes struggle with shot selection when they have a large lead. If the Buffaloes can limit turnovers and keep improving their shot selection, they will continue to remain high in the Pac-12 standings.
Up Next: The Buffaloes take on UCLA on Saturday in a crucial game. Tonight, the Buffaloes proved they could win on the road. On Saturday, they are going to have to prove they can beat a good team on the road. The Buffaloes have already assured a split on this road trip, but a sweep would be great for Colorado. The Buffaloes will have to limit the outside game of Tyler Lamb and stop the interior presence of the Wear twins. If the Buffaloes can contain the Bruins' inside game, they should be able to pull out a win.