The Colorado Buffaloes got a surprise in the Legends Classic as Texas lost their semifinal game with Northwestern giving the Buffs a ranked opponent in the consolation game of the tournament. Colorado and Texas squared off mid-afternoon on Tuesday in Brooklyn, the Longhorns ranked No. 22, represented CU’s toughest opponent yet in the young season.
Tad Boyle’s squad did not disappoint. Whatever went wrong on Monday in the first half was forgotten and learned from as the team played a full 40 minutes, in the spirit of the second half of the prior night’s contest, winning 65-54.
The Buffaloes took an early lead going up by as much as 11 in the first half. Led by a tremendous all-around effort from George King, Colorado cruised in the first half.
For the second straight day, Derrick White showed what he was about stuffing the stat sheet in almost every facet. Collecting 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals White continued to prove his worth.
While neither Xavier Johnson or Wes Gordon really got going in the front court, Shaka Smart, nor his squad had an answer for Colorado. It wasn’t as though the Buffaloes poured it on the Longhorns but they took the lead and never relinquished it. The momentum, however, went to Texas late as they’re shooters woke up and Colorado struggled to beat their press.
A Tory Miller injury with about five minutes left compounded the struggles, and the Longhorns cut the Buffs lead to five. But Colorado came alive, behind White, the Buffaloes went a 9-2 run late which sealed it.
It was a defense and rebounding win, the only way Boyle would have it, as the Buffs held Texas below 40% from the field and was plus 11 on the boards.
“Defending and rebounding can win us games, if we focus on that we’ll be fine,” King told 760. “Coach was happy with how we guarded and how we rebounded and how kept them out of transition.”
“We can play with anyone in the country but for us to be successful, we have to play with great pride on defense,” Boyle told 760. “When we hit our numbers we win, when we don’t we’re in a dogfight.”
Although, as Boyle noted, the shot selection was suspect at times it was White, who leads the team in steals, assists, blocks and points that got Colorado through with a win.
“It’s so good to coach good players,” Boyle said with pride. “Our staff said White could be our best defender, I didn’t really pay attention at the time, but he’s terrific.”
The Buffs experience, played like experience and they did what they were supposed to do, take care of young teams like Texas.
