Two questions as Colorado tries to bounce back this week

BOULDER — After only competing in a tough loss last week, the Colorado Buffaloes should be eager to hit the court once again.

In a delayed home opener, the Buffs will first host Northern Colorado on Monday at 7:00 p.m. After that, they will host Omaha on Wednesday at 3:00 PM.

These two games present a great opportunity for the Buffaloes to get back in the win column with opponents much weaker than the Tennessee Volunteers that beat them last week in Knoxville. Still, no opponent can be overlooked, especially for a team who put up a mere 47 points in its last outing.

So, what are the main questions facing the Buffs this week as they look to get to 4-1 on the young season?

How does the offense bounce back?

Colorado’s defense actually played very well against the No. 12 team in the country last week.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though their offense was left in Boulder.

The team shot just 33% from the floor and 23% from deep while hitting fewer free throws than their opposition. In short: not a formula for success.

While Tennessee’s defense is one of the most physical in the country, it was disheartening to see players like McKinley Wright look lost on the floor. This week is key for the team to get back on track, starting with their star senior point guard.

Wright’s size has put him in tough positions throughout his entire career but he balances this out with his speed, quickness, and basketball IQ. Against the Vols, his speed and quickness were not enough. The passing lanes were clogged and Colorado could not get into transition offense where Wright thrives, leaving him with just eight points on as many shot attempts.

Against Northern Colorado and Omaha, Wright should be able to get back to his roots and begin producing at an elite level once more. But, he cannot be alone. D’Shawn Schwartz must regain some confidence of his own, as his first outing of the season was one to forget. He missed every shot he attempted and looked lethargic at times during his first game since his COVID-19 diagnosis. For this team can regain its offensive firepower, Schwartz needs to take positive steps forward in his return to form.

Another player with much to improve on is Evan Battey. His start to the season has been rather lackluster, as he is shooting just 31.6% from the floor to pair with five points and three boards per game. Battey has shown he can be an impact player on this team but needs to show more in this new rotation.

Overall, this is a great week for Colorado to get some swagger back. These are games where the starters should be comfortable early, while some younger guys can get additional minutes down the stretch. This is a week that the Buffs cannot afford to start slow. 

Speaking of which…

Does the team continue its early game struggles?

In their last two games, Colorado has trailed big early in the first half. Against Kansas State, the 13-point margin proved manageable.

Against Tennessee, well, that level of competition hardly allows a 15-point comeback.

Additionally, the team struggled early against South Dakota. This is a theme that the Buffs need to fix now before heading into conference play, as first-half deficits will stack up against Colorado’s morale.

To do so, the Buffs should work on creating easier shot attempts. Use more set plays at the start of games, get McKinley Wright moving, and set up the low post. This can create high-percentage looks that will give more confidence to the team down the stretch.

If a player can see one go in early, it does wonders for how they feel shooting later on.