NCAA Basketball: Duke, Michigan State fall in latest top 25 power ranking
By Joey Loose
25. Colorado (2-0)
Colorado finished just 8-12 in conference play last season but hope to be much more competitive in the Pac-12 this season. Tad Boyle’s squad has been more solid than expected in recent years, though they’ve made just one trip to the Big Dance in the last seven years. With names like Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson back, plus a few new faces, the Buffaloes are looking to leave the Pac-12 on a high note.
On opening night, Colorado took care of business, winning 75-57 against Towson due to a strong second half. For the Buffaloes it was a 22-point outing from Simpson that led the charge, while J’Vonne Hadley had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Things were a bit simpler on Friday night, with the Buffaloes delivering in a 95-63 victory over Grambling. Da Silva’s 21 points led Colorado, who had all five starters in double figures in a nice team win.
There’s nothing that really stands out about these first two games; Colorado simply propels into the polls based on these strong efforts and poll inertia. That being said, there’s a lot to like with what we’ve seen from this lineup, though we’ll have to see the Buffaloes tested to really know where they stand. Next week’s only challenge is a home game against Milwaukee, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the Buffaloes under stress.