Buffs’ Comeback Efforts Can’t Mask Concerning Trend in Big 12 Play
CINCINNATI - You can’t keep playing from 20 points down and expect to win in the Big 12. That’s the hard truth Colorado is learning the tough way.
For the second time in five days, the Buffaloes found themselves staring at a mountain of a deficit, this time on the road against Cincinnati. And while the fight was there-again-the early hole was too deep, the physicality too overwhelming, and the execution too inconsistent for Colorado to fully climb out.
Let’s be clear: battling back from 24 down against Texas Tech and cutting a 21-point deficit to just four late against Cincinnati shows grit. But in this league, grit without toughness-especially physical toughness-won’t get you very far.
A Pattern That’s Becoming Too Familiar
Against Texas Tech, Colorado actually started well, building an early lead before things unraveled. In Cincinnati, the Buffs didn’t even get that.
They were down 10-0 before they could blink and trailed by 21 just over three minutes into the second half. That kind of start on the road in the Big 12?
It’s a recipe for disaster.
Head coach Tad Boyle didn’t mince words after the game.
“We got punched in the mouth and withered like a ragdoll,” Boyle said. “We’ve got to be tougher. In this league, especially on the road, if you don’t play with toughness, mentally and physically, you’ve got no chance.”
That’s the crux of it. The Buffs have shown mental resolve-they nearly stole one at the buzzer against Texas Tech and made Cincinnati sweat down the stretch.
But the physical side of the game? That’s where Colorado is coming up short.
Turnovers, Toughness, and Trouble
Cincinnati’s defense brought the kind of pressure that defines Big 12 basketball-relentless, physical, and unrelenting. The Buffs coughed up 17 turnovers, their second-worst mark of the season. Five of those giveaways came in the first four minutes alone, and all five were directly caused by the Bearcats' intensity on the defensive end.
Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, still adjusting to the league’s physicality, summed it up: “A few of us haven’t experienced any of this yet. But this game really showed us how physical the Big 12 will be.”
That learning curve is steep, and it’s not forgiving.
Rebounding Battle a Bright Spot
Despite the struggles, there were some positives. Colorado held its own on the glass, outrebounding Cincinnati 33-32 and limiting the Bearcats to just eight offensive rebounds-an improvement after allowing 12 or more in each of their previous three games.
That’s a sign of effort and focus, two things that haven’t been in question. But it’s not enough to offset the turnovers and defensive lapses.
Zone Defense, Same Problems
In a move that’s become uncharacteristic for Boyle, the Buffs leaned heavily on zone defense again. It didn’t pay off.
Cincinnati torched them early, shooting 57.1% in the first half-Colorado’s worst defensive half of the season. While the Bearcats struggled from deep (just 3-for-17 on threes), they didn’t need the perimeter.
They got what they wanted inside, repeatedly slicing through the zone for layups, dunks, and dump-offs to bigs at the rim.
“The zone is designed to keep the ball in front of you,” Boyle said. “And we got beat baseline for dunks.
Then we got beat baseline for dump-offs to bigs at the rim. If you don’t play with sound principles and discipline and effort, it doesn’t matter what defense you’re in.”
It wasn’t just the zone-it was the lack of discipline within it. Fouling a three-point shooter?
That happened twice. Giving up seven layups and multiple dunks?
That’s not about scheme-it’s about execution and toughness.
What’s Next
Colorado now turns its attention to another road test at West Virginia. And while the Mountaineers haven’t been world-beaters this season, winning in Morgantown is never easy.
The Buffs don’t need to be perfect-but they do need to be tougher. Physically.
Mentally. From the jump.
Because in the Big 12, comebacks are nice. But if you keep spotting teams 20-point leads, you’ll spend your season playing from behind-and eventually, you run out of time.