BOULDER — Colorado’s Pac-12 opener was more like an exhibition game. The Buffs were able to empty the bench with nine players scoring, including four in double figures, during a 40-point romp over Utah on Saturday.
Tonight’s game against Washington (8-5, 2-0) at the Coors Events Center is “a different animal,” as coach Tad Boyle said.
“Washington reminds me of a Big 12 team,” Boyle said. “They have the athleticism of a team like Kansas State or Oklahoma State, but their explosiveness offensively is like Texas has been and Kansas has been.”
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Super freshman Tony Wroten is the reigning Pac-12 player of the week after averaging 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists during Washington’s home victories over Oregon State (95-80) and Oregon (76-60).
“He’s unbelievable. He’s strong and athletic and gets the ball to the rim and puts a lot of pressure on your defense,” Boyle said. “And he’s surrounded by great players. They’re dangerous from a lot of different positions, but he makes them go. I don’t see any weaknesses.”
Wroten (16.8 ppg) is the conference’s second-leading scorer, and his backcourt mates, C.J. Wilcox (15.3 ppg) and Terrence Ross (14.4 ppg), are fourth and seventh, respectively. Aziz N’Diaye, a 7-foot center, leads the Pac-12 in blocked shots (1.9) and is second behind CU’s André Roberson in rebounding (8.2).
Boyle said sophomore center Shane Harris-Tunks will be counted on to help combat the Huskies, who crash the boards better than any other team in the conference.
“I know they’re very athletic and they like to run. They just play with a lot of energy,” Roberson said.
The only opponent the Buffs have played that comes close to matching Washington’s talent was Georgia. CU was able to hold on for a 70-68 home victory over the Bulldogs on Nov. 28.
“We’ve got athleticism on our team as well. We may not have it at every position like Washington has it, but we’ve got some guys that are capable,” Boyle said.
The Buffs (9-4, 1-0) enter tonight’s game with the Pac-12’s longest winning streak, four games. CU is 7-1 at home.
“I feel like we’ve gained a lot of confidence. We’re finally starting to click as a team, offensively and defensively,” said Roberson, who had 17 points and a career-high 17 rebounds against Utah. “I feel like if we just do what coach asks of us we’ll be all right.”
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