Colorado Basketball: 2019-20 keys for home game against Washington State

2. The bigs will need to rebound

After being skunked in Tucson, the 6’8 262-pound sophomore Evan Battey is going to need to bounce back against the Cougars.  In the game prior to Arizona, Battey only scored five points but pulled down nine rebounds in 26 minutes.

Battey is a hard worker but has not been increasing his production as much as coach Tad Boyle would like.  He is only averaging 9.1 ppg to go along with 6.5 rebounds in 24.3 minutes of play.

He will need to provide support offensively for the perimeter players.  The Buffaloes are led by juniors 6’0 McKinley Wright IV, 6’7 216-pound Tyler Bey, and 6’7 232-pound D’Shawn Schwartz.

6’10 232-pound Lucas Siewert provided eight points and seven rebounds coming off of the bench against Arizona.  But the senior is only averaging 7.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 19.5 minutes.

Washington State does not have one of the bigger front lines in the conference.  The Cougs have only two players over 6’6 with any playing time.  They are 6’9 240-pound senior Jeff Pollard (9.6 ppg, 44 rpg) and 6’8 198-pound sophomore Aljaz Kunc (6.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg).

Battey and Siewart have an opportunity against the Cougars to step up the game and control the inside.  That is something the Buffaloes has yet to see this season.