Colorado looking for upset of No. 20 CSU in Rocky Mountain Showdown

Tad Boyle's Buffs off and rolling in the 2023 season with a key non-conference matchup

Chet Strange-USA TODAY Sports

The air is thin and the winter wind is crisp in Boulder. The sounds of berating fans and chanting can only mean one thing, it’s basketball season. The season has gotten off to a fast start for the Colorado Buffaloes as they sit at a pristine 5-1 for the season. The Buffs suffered their first loss at the hands of Florida State in the Sunshine Slam. 

In a game that couldn’t be decided in two halves, Colorado nearly pulled off the victory before the Seminoles closed the door shut. Outside of the lone loss of the season, the Buffs have been playing lights out so far this season.

Three of their five games they have won by nearly 20 points or more. The team is doing what is expected of them, beating the teams they should and competing with those on or above their level. Colorado guard KJ Simpson leads the team in nearly every statistical category. Simpson is averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The Robin to his Batman, guard J’Vonne Hadley, has been a great help with not only his seniority and leadership, but his playstyle as well.

Hadley is putting in the most time on the court at 31.7 minutes per game while averaging 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. Don’t let the point total fool you, his ability to control the pace of a game and shoot at an effective rate helps bring balance to the team. Hadley currently has the best shooting percentage on the team with 60 percent. Not only that, but things run a hell of alot smoother when you have a guy by the name Tristan da Silva on your team.

The Buffs forward has been the cog that makes the machine go. Not only is da Silva averaging 15 points a game, he’s making history in the process. He has amassed 1,000 points for his career as he scored 17 in the win against Iona. In four of his last five games he’s scored 15 or more points, one of which he scored 20. The complexity of this team and all its parts has allowed Colorado to remain a mystery as no one knows exactly where the weak points are. If this team continues at this pace they are a shoo-in for a NCAA tourney ticket.

Colorado takes on in-state rival No. 20 Colorado State in Fort Collins. The latest edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown on hardwood will come Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET.