Colorado Drops Fourth Straight Conference Game: Three Key Takeaways from a Hard-Fought Loss to Kansas
The Buffs had their chances on Tuesday night. They kept things close for most of the second half, but when the game entered crunch time, Kansas made the plays-and Colorado didn’t.
The result? A fourth straight conference loss for the Buffs, who are still searching for answers as Pac-12 play rolls on.
Here are three major takeaways from Colorado’s latest setback:
1. Darryn Peterson’s Late Bank Shot Was the Dagger
With just over two minutes left on the clock and Colorado still within striking distance, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson delivered the kind of shot that breaks hearts in home gyms. His high-arcing bank shot with 2:09 to play pushed the Jayhawks’ lead to nine, effectively silencing the CU Events Center and putting the game out of reach.
Peterson didn’t have his most efficient night-he finished 6-of-15 from the field-but he still found ways to impact the game. The guard tallied 16 points and six rebounds, and that clutch make down the stretch reminded everyone why he's the go-to guy when the pressure’s on. It wasn’t a lights-out performance, but it was timely-and that made all the difference.
2. Kansas Owned the Glass-and That Was the Game
If there’s one stat that tells the story of this one, it’s rebounding. Kansas didn’t just win the battle on the boards-they dominated it. The Jayhawks’ starting five alone pulled down 42 rebounds, outpacing Colorado’s entire team, which managed just 33.
Tre White was the biggest problem for the Buffs in this department. The 6'7" guard was everywhere, finishing with a monster double-double: 17 points on 3-of-6 shooting and a game-high 15 rebounds. His length, activity, and timing gave Colorado fits all night, especially on second-chance opportunities.
For head coach Tad Boyle, that +12 rebounding margin is going to sting. In a game that was within reach until the final minutes, giving up that kind of edge on the boards is a recipe for disappointment.
3. Hargress and Johnson Showed Up-But Where Was the Help?
Colorado had a pair of standout performances from Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Johnson, who combined for 36 points-Hargress with 17, Johnson with 19. They kept the Buffs in it with aggressive drives, timely buckets, and solid minutes throughout.
But outside of that duo, the help was inconsistent at best.
Alon Michaeli did provide a spark off the bench, chipping in 13 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. He brought energy and some much-needed scoring punch, but the rest of the supporting cast struggled to get going.
Starters Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik combined to shoot just 6-of-22 from the field, tallying only 14 points between them. And Elijah Malone’s minutes continue to be a tough watch-the veteran center went scoreless in seven minutes, unable to make much of an impact on either end.
For Colorado to break out of this conference skid, they’ll need more from their rotation. The pieces are there, but the consistency isn’t-and that’s what’s costing them games like this one.
Bottom Line
The Buffs showed fight, but they’re in a tough stretch right now, and the little things-rebounding, depth scoring, late-game execution-are adding up. Kansas didn’t blow them out, but they made the winning plays when it mattered most. Until Colorado can do the same, the road through the conference isn’t getting any easier.