Perhaps it shouldn’t be labeled as a well-deserved respite for the Colorado men’s basketball team, given how the Buffaloes stumbled through two losses to open the Diamond Head Classic tournament in Hawaii after expecting to compete for a title.
No doubt, though, it is a well-timed break for the Buffs. How the club is able to regroup after returning to Boulder might make or break the entire 2018-19 season.
Colorado had a full 11 days to work with between a stirring comeback victory on Dec. 11 at New Mexico and the opening game in Hawaii, which saw the Buffs drop a 72-67 decision to Indiana State while committing a season-most 19 turnovers. From a number of sophomore slumps to an apparent regression while playing away from home, head coach Tad Boyle will have a number of issues to address when the Buffs reconvene this weekend to begin preparations for the Pac-12 Conference opener Jan. 3 at Arizona.
“We’ve got to build on the things we’re doing well but we have to shore up the things we have to get better at,” Boyle said after Tuesday’s win against Charlotte. “It starts at the defensive end for us. First half was not good, but the second half was much better. Ball screen defense has to be better. Rebounding was better today but that has to be a consistent thing. If I think about one thing this team has to get better at, it’s consistency. Consistency in taking care of the ball on offense. Consistency in getting great shots and consistency in defending and rebounding.
“I’m not going to put too much into this (Charlotte) game. But we’re 9-3…(and) we’ve got a chance to start league play with five of seven league games on the road. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to embrace that as an opportunity. We’re not going to look at it as a negative thing. Everyone has nine home games and nine road games so we have to be ready to go.”
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