Buffs Looking to Bounce Back at Home After Pair of Painful Finishes
The Colorado men’s basketball team has had its share of heartbreak at home lately - and not the kind that fades quickly. Two straight losses at the CU Events Center have left the Buffs frustrated, not just because of the outcomes, but how those outcomes came to be.
Let’s start with Tuesday night’s 75-69 loss to Kansas. The Buffs were right there in the fight with a top-25 opponent, but a controversial late-game sequence helped seal their fate.
With just over 30 seconds left and Colorado trailing by five, an inbounds play turned chaotic. Kansas’ Melvin Council Jr. made contact with the ball while standing out of bounds - a clear violation that went uncalled.
Instead of regaining possession with a chance to cut the deficit, CU turned it over, and the Jayhawks iced the game.
That came on the heels of another tough one against Texas Tech. In that game, CU nearly pulled off a wild comeback from 24 points down, only to fall short after a buzzer-beating jumper by Jaylen Petty was upheld - even after a video review that, by many accounts, showed the ball still in his hands.
The Red Raiders won by two. Those are the kind of endings that stick with a team.
Head coach Tad Boyle isn’t one to dwell, but he also doesn’t ignore what’s right in front of him. He confirmed he had conversations with the Big 12 office this week about both games. While he didn’t go into detail about those talks, he made it clear that the Texas Tech situation, in particular, stung the most - not just because of the missed call, but because the technology was there to get it right.
“I think the Texas Tech situation was the one that bothered me the most just because we had the replay and we just didn’t use it (correctly),” Boyle said. “Hopefully that situation will be rectified and nobody else will be in that situation again.”
Still, Boyle’s message heading into Saturday’s matchup against Central Florida is one of accountability and focus. Mistakes happen - whether it’s coaches, players, or officials - and the Buffs can’t afford to let the past linger as they try to snap a four-game home skid.
Scouting the Knights: Kugel and Fulks Lead the Charge
Saturday’s matchup with UCF isn’t just about wiping the slate clean. It’s a test against a Knights squad that, on paper, matches up fairly evenly with Colorado. Both teams are looking to find consistency in Big 12 play, and both have guards who can take over a game.
UCF is led by Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks - two guards with very different styles but equally dangerous upside. Kugel, a transfer who’s already worn jerseys for both Mississippi State and Florida, is the Knights’ leading scorer. Buffs fans might remember him from last year’s NCAA Tournament thriller, when he dropped 11 points off the bench for the Gators in CU’s 102-100 win.
He’s a streak shooter, and lately, he’s been cold - just 11-of-33 from the floor over his last two games. But he’s the kind of player who can get hot in a hurry, and Colorado’s defense will need to stay locked in.
Then there’s Fulks, the engine of the Knights’ offense. He’s second in the Big 12 in assists per game (7.2) and is shooting a strong .517 from the field.
He’s coming off a rough outing at Iowa State, where he had more turnovers (six) than assists (five) and failed to grab a rebound for the first time this season. That kind of performance could have him coming into Boulder with something to prove.
“Our ability to contain and minimize their two guards… that’s going to be the key,” Boyle said. “They’re guys that can get downhill.
They can take tough shots and they can make tough shots. We’re not going to eliminate them scoring the ball.
But we’ve got to minimize it and make it tough.”
Boyle also emphasized the importance of pace. He wants this game to be played up-tempo, where Colorado’s athleticism and ball movement can shine.
Injury Notes and Key Matchups
Colorado could get a boost with the potential return of center Elijah Malone, who exited early in the Kansas game after taking a hard shot. Boyle said Malone is “getting better every day,” and he wasn’t listed on the Big 12’s official injury report Friday night.
UCF, meanwhile, might be down a key piece. Forward Jamichael Stillwell - the Knights’ leading rebounder - missed the Iowa State game and was seen in a walking boot. He’s officially listed as questionable, and his absence would be a significant blow to UCF’s frontcourt presence.
Statistically, the Buffs have some work to do. In Big 12 play, they rank 14th in field goal percentage (.424), 13th in three-point shooting (.304), and 13th in rebounding margin (minus-3.5). Those numbers don’t lie - this team has to tighten up on the glass and find more consistency from deep if it wants to climb the conference standings.
Tipoff Info and What’s Next
Saturday’s tip is set for 1 p.m. at the CU Events Center, with coverage on ESPN+ and KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM. Colorado enters at 12-7 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12, while UCF sits at 14-4 and 3-3 in conference play.
The Buffs and Knights split their two meetings last season, with each team winning at home. Colorado will look to keep that trend going before heading back on the road for a tough matchup at No. 9 Iowa State next Thursday.
Bottom line: The Buffs have had their share of tough breaks the last two times out, but Saturday offers a clean slate - and a chance to get right in front of a home crowd that’s hungry for something to cheer about.