Colorado Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Buffaloes to beat Kansas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Evan Battey #21 of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts after hitting a shot and getting a foul call against the Oregon State Beavers during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Beavers 73-58. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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AMES, IA – JANUARY 5: Devon Dotson #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

1. Colorado must face the Kansas guards to take contested shots

The first key to a Colorado victory will be their ability to force the Kansas guards, namely Devon Dotson and Marcus Garrett to take contested shots. While there is no doubt that Udoka Azubuike and his field goal percentage of nearly 80% control the paint and is a huge focal point of the offense, but one thing that has made Kansas such a difficult team to beat is that their guards and more specifically Devon Dotson and Marcus Garrett have been so efficient.

Both the sophomore Dotson and the junior Garrett are shooting 50% from the field, and in Maui the duo shot even better, knocking down 54% from the field, but in the Jayhawks’ one loss they combined to shoot just 45% against Duke. Making things difficult for Dotson and Garrett on the offensive end will help the Buffaloes’ chances greatly, and playing defense has been one of the team’s calling cards so far this season.

In their seven wins, Colorado has given up an average of 56 points per game and they have held opponents to a 37.8 shooting percentage from the field, which is the 35th best percentage in the country so far this season. In order to pull off the upset, the Buffaloes will have to make the Kansas guards work hard on the offensive end.

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