Please use this thread for all of your commentary during tonight's game.
OPENING TIP: Colorado ranks third in NCAA Division I in rebounds per game at 42.8 and is tops in the Power 5 Conferences. The Buffs trail only Quinnipiac out of the Metro Atlantic (44.7 rpg) and Texas-Arlington of the Sun Belt (44.2 rpg).
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 17-7 overall and tied with Utah for fifth place in the Pac-12 at 6-5. The Buffaloes are one game out of third, and one and one-half out of second after falling in two road games last week, 76-56 at league-leading Oregon on Feb. 4 and 60-56 at Oregon State on Feb. 6. Colorado has already surpassed its overall win total from the 2014-15 season (16-18), reaching the 16-win mark in 13 fewer games.
The Buffaloes continue to hold a strong NCAA RPI coming it at 25 as of Feb. 10. The Pac-12, having a phenomenal season as a whole, has seven teams currently ranked in the top 50 and 11 in the top 75. Colorado is 6-7 against NCAA RPI top 100 teams and 3-6 against the top 50.
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.403), overall rebounding (42.8 rpg) and defensive rebounds (29.5 drpg) while ranking second in free throw percentage (.729), rebounding margin (+9.5) and offensive rebounds (13.3 orpg) and third in 3-pointers made (7.8 3mpg) and field goal percentage defense (.412).
ABOUT THE COUGARS: Washington State is 9-14 overall and in last place in the Pac-12 at 1-10. The Cougars have lost their last nine; the lone win coming at home against UCLA on Jan. 3. Washington State averages 73.2 points per game and ranks second in the Pac-12 in field goal shooting at 47.2 percent. The Cougars allow 75.7 points per game while opponents are shooting 43.4 percent. Washington State averages 34.4 rebounds per game.
Junior forward Josh Hawkinson leads Washington State at 15.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. He tops the Pac-12 in rebounds while ranking eighth in field goal percentage and ninth in scoring. Junior guard Ike Iroegbu averages 14.9 points and 3.9 assists per game. Iroegbu ranks third in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting at 46.2 percent. Junior guard Que Johnson averages 9.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Ernie Kent is in his second season as the head coach of Washington State with a record of 22-32. He is in his 21st season as a collegiate head coach with a record of 347-286.
THE SERIES: This will be the 10th meeting between Colorado and Washington State with the Buffaloes holding a 7-2 series edge. Colorado has won 6-of-7 since joining the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season. The Buffaloes have won all four all-time meetings in Boulder, including a 90-58 decision on Jan. 24, 2015.
Tad Boyle is 6-1 against Washington State as a head coach. Ernie Kent is 2-2 against Colorado as a head coach, one of those wins coming as the head coach at Oregon in the 2004 NIT.
OPENING TIP: Colorado ranks third in NCAA Division I in rebounds per game at 42.8 and is tops in the Power 5 Conferences. The Buffs trail only Quinnipiac out of the Metro Atlantic (44.7 rpg) and Texas-Arlington of the Sun Belt (44.2 rpg).
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 17-7 overall and tied with Utah for fifth place in the Pac-12 at 6-5. The Buffaloes are one game out of third, and one and one-half out of second after falling in two road games last week, 76-56 at league-leading Oregon on Feb. 4 and 60-56 at Oregon State on Feb. 6. Colorado has already surpassed its overall win total from the 2014-15 season (16-18), reaching the 16-win mark in 13 fewer games.
The Buffaloes continue to hold a strong NCAA RPI coming it at 25 as of Feb. 10. The Pac-12, having a phenomenal season as a whole, has seven teams currently ranked in the top 50 and 11 in the top 75. Colorado is 6-7 against NCAA RPI top 100 teams and 3-6 against the top 50.
Colorado leads the Pac-12 in 3-point percentage (.403), overall rebounding (42.8 rpg) and defensive rebounds (29.5 drpg) while ranking second in free throw percentage (.729), rebounding margin (+9.5) and offensive rebounds (13.3 orpg) and third in 3-pointers made (7.8 3mpg) and field goal percentage defense (.412).
ABOUT THE COUGARS: Washington State is 9-14 overall and in last place in the Pac-12 at 1-10. The Cougars have lost their last nine; the lone win coming at home against UCLA on Jan. 3. Washington State averages 73.2 points per game and ranks second in the Pac-12 in field goal shooting at 47.2 percent. The Cougars allow 75.7 points per game while opponents are shooting 43.4 percent. Washington State averages 34.4 rebounds per game.
Junior forward Josh Hawkinson leads Washington State at 15.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. He tops the Pac-12 in rebounds while ranking eighth in field goal percentage and ninth in scoring. Junior guard Ike Iroegbu averages 14.9 points and 3.9 assists per game. Iroegbu ranks third in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting at 46.2 percent. Junior guard Que Johnson averages 9.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Ernie Kent is in his second season as the head coach of Washington State with a record of 22-32. He is in his 21st season as a collegiate head coach with a record of 347-286.
THE SERIES: This will be the 10th meeting between Colorado and Washington State with the Buffaloes holding a 7-2 series edge. Colorado has won 6-of-7 since joining the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season. The Buffaloes have won all four all-time meetings in Boulder, including a 90-58 decision on Jan. 24, 2015.
Tad Boyle is 6-1 against Washington State as a head coach. Ernie Kent is 2-2 against Colorado as a head coach, one of those wins coming as the head coach at Oregon in the 2004 NIT.
