Back at Haas, Cal Tries to Build on Win Over UCLA As Colorado Pays a Visit

The Buffaloes may be back at full strength if star freshman Cody Williams is able to return.

Cal returns home for its first game after securing its inaugural win of the Pac-12 schedule at UCLA on Saturday. This one won’t be easy.

Colorado, likely smarting after losing twice in Arizona last weekend, visits Cal (5-10, 1-2 Pac-12) at Haas Pavilion on Wednesday. Tipoff is 8 p.m.

And the Buffaloes (11-4, 2-2 Pac-12) may get back the services of one of the most promising young players in the country.

Cody Williams, the brother of former Santa Clara star and second-year NBA player Jalen Williams, has been sidelined with a wrist injury since Dec. 3. The 6-foot-8 freshman forward, who averages 14.0 points, had scored 21 points in each of two games before being injured.

NBADraft.net is projecting Williams to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft.

Cal junior Jalen Celestine, in the video at the top of this story, called the Buffaloes a “three-headed monster” on offense.

That will be the case if Williams returns.

“We expecting him back,” Cal coach Mark Madsen said, “but you never know until they tip off.”

CU coach Tad Boyle this week was less than certain about Williams’ status.

“I’m hopeful he’ll be back Wednesday,” Boyle told BuffZone, “but we’ll see.”

Either way, the Buffaloes will be an obstacle for Cal, a far more explosive offensive team than UCLA squad the Bears beat at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

“Obviously, they have a ton of different weapons,” Madsen said.

Beyond Williams, junior guard KJ Simpson, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, averages 20.5 points, 4.9 rebounds 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals. He shoots 45 percent from the 3-point arc and has averaged 18 points in three career games vs. the Bears.

Senior forward Tristan da Silva, a 6-9 native of Germany and the younger brother of former Stanford star Oscar da Silva, was a first-team all-conference choice a year ago. He’s averaging 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Colorado was drubbed 97-50 at Arizona then lost 76-73 to ASU. Cal had a similar experience a week earlier, falling 100-81 to Arizona and 71-69 to the Sun Devils.

Boyle said injuries are no excuse, and isn’t taking anything for granted heading to Cal.

“They play with a lot of effort, and I think they’re confident,” Boyle said. “I think they believe in themselves, they believe in their coach. They’ve struggled to win games, but they’ve been right there. It’s not going to be easy. Nothing in conference play ever is.”

Madsen hopes the Bears’ can build on their 66-57 win at UCLA. That was their strongest defensive effort of the season after allowing 82 points or more in four of their previous six games.

“We’ve been working really hard now for a long time on improving the defense. I think our guys have really bought into that and they’ve taken ownership on that,” Madsen said

“It was gratifying for the players to see that hard work pay off in terms of a defensive effort.”

Senior Jaylon Tyson, who has scored at least 20 points in the Bears' past four games, calls the win at UCLA "a big step" in the video above.

Cal has won its past three home matchups vs. Colorado and is 15-3 all-time against the Buffs in Berkeley. Madsen, the Bears’ first-year coach, has some recent success against CU, leading his Utah Valley team to an 81-69 victory in an NIT game last season at Boulder.

None of that promises a result the Bears want on Wednesday night.

“I know this, they’re coming off a couple tough losses so they’re going to be hungry,” Madsen said. “We’re hungry. It’s going to be a great game.”

Cover photo of Colorado freshman Cody Williams dunking by Chet Strange, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo