The Colorado Buffaloes just took care of business against Arizona State, 78-70, and now they’re staring down a real measuring stick game: a road rematch against a Top 25 Texas Tech squad. If there’s ever been a moment to prove this team has turned a corner-especially on the glass-it’s now.
Rebounding: From Liability to Opportunity
Let’s start with the most encouraging sign from the Arizona State win: Colorado finally looked like a team that understood the importance of owning the boards. They out-rebounded the Sun Devils by 10, and Sebastian Rancik set the tone with a season-high 11 rebounds. That came after assistant coach Danny Lanning challenged him to step up, and Rancik delivered.
That kind of response matters. Because when Colorado and Texas Tech last met back on Jan. 10, the Buffs got bullied on the glass.
The Red Raiders pulled down 44 rebounds in Boulder, with JT Toppin and LeJuan Watts combining for 24 of them. Jaylen Petty chipped in nine more.
It was a full-on rebounding clinic-and a big reason why Colorado came up short, despite a furious second-half rally.
Bangot Dak and Rancik did their best in that first matchup, grabbing 13 and 8 boards respectively, but they didn’t get enough help. That can’t happen again-not in Lubbock, not against a team this physical, and especially not if Colorado wants to finally snap a road streak that’s been haunting them for over a decade.
Key No. 1: Start Strong, Not Just Finish Fast
In the Jan. 10 game, Colorado found itself in a 24-point hole in the second half. They made it interesting late-Barrington Hargress even had a shot to win it at the buzzer-but the damage was done in the first 20 minutes. Texas Tech led 43-27 at the half, and Colorado’s 39.7% shooting didn’t help.
The lesson? You can’t sleepwalk through the first half against a Top 25 team and expect to claw all the way back.
The Buffs need to value every possession from the jump. That means smarter shot selection, better ball movement, and keeping the tempo under control.
They don’t have to be perfect-but they can’t afford to be careless.
Key No. 2: Win the Battle on the Boards
Rebounding isn’t just about size or athleticism-it’s about effort, positioning, and team commitment. Colorado showed signs of life in that department against Arizona State, but Texas Tech is a different animal.
If the Buffs are going to hang in this one, they need a collective effort on the glass. That means guards crashing down, bigs boxing out, and everyone staying engaged.
Rancik and Dak can’t do it alone. The Red Raiders are physical and relentless, and they’ll punish any lapse in effort.
Key No. 3: End the Road Drought Against Ranked Teams
Here’s the elephant in the room: Colorado hasn’t won a true road game against an AP Top 25 opponent in nearly 13 years. The last time it happened?
Back in 2013, when the Buffs stunned No. 19 Oregon with a gritty 8-0 run to close the game.
Andre Roberson sealed it with a putback in the final 30 seconds, and the defense held Oregon to just 19 points in the second half.
Since then? Twenty-three straight losses.
That streak won’t end unless Colorado plays a complete game-start to finish. That means matching Texas Tech’s physicality, hitting timely shots, and locking in defensively.
It also means embracing the moment. This is the kind of game that can define a season.
The Buffs have the talent. The question now is: do they have the toughness to go into Lubbock and flip the script?
We’ll find out Wednesday night.