CU Buffs prevail in sleeper against Seattle

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BOULDER – The game was listless, lifeless and lethargic, but the Colorado Buffaloes did beat the Seattle Redhawks 67-55 to open the Legends Classic.

The Buffs won the game based on talent and their principles. Of course, the Buffaloes could overpower the Redhawks in size and strength but if it wasn’t for defense and rebounding, the team would’ve lost to an inferior opponent.

“That was the mention of winning ugly right there,” Tad Boyle touted postgame. “We were not every good offensively on a lot of different levels. But to figure out a way to win on a night when you’re not functioning offensively this early in the season is a testament to our guys’ toughness and our defense and rebounding which is why we always emphasize it.”

It also speaks to their veterans, that they could right the ship on a night where the offense was so cold and affected their mental state.

“Credit to Seattle. We weren’t making shots,” Xavier Johnson described. “I guess sometimes you’re not making shots, players didn’t seem to get into a rhythm, you could say, their flow could be off. I feel like we weren’t making shots and we the lead into our defense and that’s a mistake we shouldn’t make.”

But back to the veterans, because this team is very old, led by four fifth-year seniors and a fourth-year junior, Boyle was more of a cheerleader than a solder on the sideline despite the “anemic” offensive performance.

“Not our best performance, our players know it,” Boyle said. “There was no hooting or hollering in the locker room.” That’s something we praised them about in the locker room for… winning the way they did.”

Perhaps the most positive aspect of the game was the Buffs ability to get to the free throw line, doing so 41 times, but their inability to make free throws, only making 26, cost them from what would have been a blowout win.

“I was 3-8 from the free throw line,” Derrick White added postgame. “What really matters was the win, so I just gotta get back in the gym and figure out how to help the team.”

The Buffs did hit their numbers of holding Seattle to under 40 percent from the field while going plus eight on the boards and as Boyle mentioned postgame, the Buffs improved to 41-2 under his leadership when they hit those numbers.

Notable

Xavier Johnson scored his 1,000 point as Buff in the game, becoming the 33rd CU athlete to do so

“It’s quite the testament to his career,” Boyle said.

“It’s a blessing to be able to play the game again coming off an Achilles tear. I’m just happy to score the basketball I guess,” Johnson added

Dominique Collier did not play in the second half, Boyle said this of his injury:

“Some days are good and some days are bad. I thought he was terrific Friday night. Saturday he was really hurting and on Sunday he was better. Today he wasn’t himself in the first half and then at halftime coach Mike Rohn asked him how he was doing and he said he was;t sure if he could go and that he was in a lot of pain. We might have to shut him down over this. I’ll have to talk to Dom and talk to our trainer and figure out what’s the best thing long term. Sometimes you hurt it more by trying to fight through it. We’ve got to get him healthy and healed and if we’ve got to shut hum down, we’ll shut him down. That decision will come from Dom and the trainer, not necessarily from me. I just want him healthy and right now he’s not. And it’s apparent by the way he’s practicing. Because we know he’s a good player and we need him/ We need Dom to be effective this year.”

Thomas Akyazili, coming off the bench, once again led the team in assists

The Buffs are 2-0 and will continue Legends Classic play at home against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Thursday at 7 pm.