Three takeaways from Colorado’s 65-62 loss to UCLA

It was a fist-fight, blood-bath, gut-check of a battle for the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night.

Really, insert any other way to describe a sloppy and physical basketball game.

Unfortunately for CU, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 65-62 score against the UCLA Bruins. Just like last season, Mick Cronin’s Bruins were able to force turnovers and bad shots.

While it was a tough loss, Colorado still ended the marathon road trip 1-2, with their two losses coming against top teams in the conference. The Buffs did just enough — nothing more, nothing less — to get by and return to Boulder for a four-game home stretch.

Here are a few key takeaways from the close loss.

The Buffs’ frontcourt depth is dependent on Walton

Colorado played all three games this week without Dallas Walton, who is considered day-to-day with a lower leg injury.

Over the last three game, Colorado has lost the rebounding battle while also being outscored in the paint.

While Evan Battey has been playing his best stretch of basketball since last season, Colorado still desperately misses Walton’s rim protection.

That, and he is one more person to pick up a foul.

Tonight, both Battey and Jabari Walker found themselves in quick foul trouble, leaving Colorado short-handed in the post and limiting their ability to match physicality against the Bruins.

While Jeriah Horne has been a pivotal player for the Buffs this season, he does not have the size or style to consistently contest shots below the rim. Colorado cannot afford to not have Walton much longer, as there is no sign that the foul trouble will subside.

Schwartz needs to find his rhythm

After his first career double-double, D’Shawn Schwartz came out with a dud on Saturday night.

He shot just 2-7 from the floor for five points and four rebounds. With that, he is shooting below 33% from the floor on the season.

As one of the real x-factors in the rotation, Schwartz needs to find his shot inside of the arc. He has the size and finishing ability to become a real slasher, but he has been unable to convert consistently. Even against USC, he shot just 3-9.

Schwartz has the ability, but he still needs to put it together this season for the Buffs to be able to count on him.

Wright needs to improve against more physical teams

Tonight marks another tough outing for McKinley Wright. Well, tough by his standards.

Wright scored 12 points tonight on 5-10 from the floor, but the one area of significant decline since the start of the season is his three-point percentage.

The last game where Wright hit on multiple deep balls was against Northern Colorado on Dec. 14. Without these perimeter looks, he is going to continue to struggle to convert against teams with more length.

Wright’s distribution has still been critical, as tonight he had three of the team’s nine total assists. This brings him within single-digits of the all-time assist record for the Buffaloes.

Along with his solid contributions to the glass, tonight’s stat line would be a great contribution from any other player in the conference.

But McKinley Wright is not just any other player.

He is in the conversation for player of the year, but to maintain among the top players in the Pac, he will need to begin leading the Buffs to some big-time wins. He will get another chance very quickly.

What’s Next?

Colorado returns to Boulder for a four-game home stretch, beginning against the nationally-ranked Oregon Ducks on Jan 7.

Tip-off is scheduled at 9 p.m. MST, televised on Fox Sports 1.