Colorado Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Buffaloes matchup against Dayton

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Tad Boyle of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts to a foul call against his team, during their game with the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 07, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 24: Hunter Maldonado #24 of the Wyoming Cowboys and Eli Parquet #24 of the Colorado Buffaloes (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Play great team defense

Obviously, Toppin will garner the most attention on defense. However, Colorado cannot ignore his teammates.

Dayton’s offensive efficiency ranks #7 in the nation and #1 in effective field goal percentage and two-point field goal percentage. The Buffaloes will have their hands full. Coach Anthony Grant has a Dayton team that could potentially sweep the Atlantic 10.

Beyond Toppin, this team has a lot of experienced options. The Flyers’ secondary scoring has been coming from 6’1 junior Jalen Crutcher (12.5 ppg), 6’7 senior Ryan Mikesell (10.9 ppg), 6’5 senior Trey Landers (10.2 ppg), and 6’5 redshirt junior Ibi Watson (10.1 ppg).

The Buffs counter with the Battey, Siewert, and Bey on the inside. On the perimeter, Colorado’s Wright is a high-quality defender and leader of a team that is used to playing together.

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This Colorado team has experience and heart. They will need more than that to hang with Dayton, who has been shooting up the rankings. This will be a game with two teams loaded with upperclassmen. The Buffaloes will need to somehow contain Toppin, while not letting the other Flyers run free. Finally, their offense has to be clicking on all cylinders. Colorado can win this game but everything must break in the Buffaloes direction.

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