Past visits indicate Huskies have tough climb in Colorado
The Huskies men basketball team has had a hard time in their Pac-12 visits to Colorado, but the Buffaloes were picked third in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and they?ve stumbled to a 9-8, 2-3 midway through the season.
From the Huskies? perspective, the House of Horrors metaphor aptly describes the Coors Events Center.
Since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 in 2011, trips to Colorado have resulted in a couple of Rocky Mountain massacres for the Washington men?s basketball team.
Last February, the Buffs needed six minutes to race to a 16-point lead before stampeding Washington 91-65. The 26-point drubbing was the most lopsided loss of the year for UW.
?Last year we played terrible,? sophomore guard Nigel Williams-Goss said. ?I don?t think we want to take anything away from last year.?
There?s not much to salvage from Washington?s 2012 visit to Colorado, which resulted in a demoralizing 87-69 defeat.
?They just flat-out beat us both times,? coach Lorenzo Romar said. ?A couple years ago when we were there, I remember we got off to a double-digit lead at halftime. They cut it down, then ended up beating us pretty good.?
For Washington (13-4, 2-3 Pac-12) to win Thursday?s 6:30 p.m. PT game at Colorado, the Huskies must successfully combat three factors that have contributed to the Buffaloes? rapid rise to prominence in the conference.
First, the elevation. CU strategically places placards throughout the arena reminding visitors that the elevation is 5,430 feet.
A sign inside the opponent?s locker room reads: ?Strenuous exercise should be avoided by anyone not acclimated to this altitude.?
Romar acknowledged the mile-high altitude can be a factor, but added: ?It affects you for about three to five minutes. The beginning, you just realize that you?re a little short of breath more than you normally are. But then after a while, you kind of get your second wind and you?re ready to go.?
Next, the fans: The Buffaloes average 9,614 for their nine home games, third in the Pac-12 behind Arizona (14,556) and Utah (11,041). UW averages 6,204 home attendance, which ranks sixth in the league.
?They have a really good fan base,? Williams-Goss said. ?Last year, they had a really good crowd that was energetic. It?s just a tough venue to play.?
And finally, the Buffaloes. Coach Tad Boyle has guided CU to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and four consecutive seasons of at least 21 wins. It?s the most successful four-year stint in the history of the program.
This season, however, reality has yet to meet expectations. The Buffs were picked third in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and they?ve stumbled to a 9-8, 2-3 mark.
Injuries have played a factor in CU?s three-game losing streak. Junior forward Josh Scott, second on the team in scoring (13.8) and first in rebounds (7.2), has missed four of the past five games due to back spasms. It?s unclear whether he?ll play Thursday.
Even if Scott returns, the Buffs will be shorthanded. Boyle is benching junior wing Xavier Johnson for Thursday?s game. Reportedly, the suspension stems from an off-the-court incident.
Johnson ranks third among CU players, averaging 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. In their last meeting, he hammered the Huskies with 24 points.
Meanwhile, UW sophomore Darin Johnson is expected to return after missing the past two games because of a quadriceps strain.
The backup guard should help a Huskies team that?s 0-2 in Pac-12 road games following an 81-75 loss at California and a 68-60 overtime setback at Stanford. Washington is 6-2 away from home.
?I?ve never sensed that we had doubt or have been afraid to play on the road,? Romar said. ?I actually feel like we?ve embraced it at this point.?
The Huskies men basketball team has had a hard time in their Pac-12 visits to Colorado, but the Buffaloes were picked third in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and they?ve stumbled to a 9-8, 2-3 midway through the season.
From the Huskies? perspective, the House of Horrors metaphor aptly describes the Coors Events Center.
Since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 in 2011, trips to Colorado have resulted in a couple of Rocky Mountain massacres for the Washington men?s basketball team.
Last February, the Buffs needed six minutes to race to a 16-point lead before stampeding Washington 91-65. The 26-point drubbing was the most lopsided loss of the year for UW.
?Last year we played terrible,? sophomore guard Nigel Williams-Goss said. ?I don?t think we want to take anything away from last year.?
There?s not much to salvage from Washington?s 2012 visit to Colorado, which resulted in a demoralizing 87-69 defeat.
?They just flat-out beat us both times,? coach Lorenzo Romar said. ?A couple years ago when we were there, I remember we got off to a double-digit lead at halftime. They cut it down, then ended up beating us pretty good.?
For Washington (13-4, 2-3 Pac-12) to win Thursday?s 6:30 p.m. PT game at Colorado, the Huskies must successfully combat three factors that have contributed to the Buffaloes? rapid rise to prominence in the conference.
First, the elevation. CU strategically places placards throughout the arena reminding visitors that the elevation is 5,430 feet.
A sign inside the opponent?s locker room reads: ?Strenuous exercise should be avoided by anyone not acclimated to this altitude.?
Romar acknowledged the mile-high altitude can be a factor, but added: ?It affects you for about three to five minutes. The beginning, you just realize that you?re a little short of breath more than you normally are. But then after a while, you kind of get your second wind and you?re ready to go.?
Next, the fans: The Buffaloes average 9,614 for their nine home games, third in the Pac-12 behind Arizona (14,556) and Utah (11,041). UW averages 6,204 home attendance, which ranks sixth in the league.
?They have a really good fan base,? Williams-Goss said. ?Last year, they had a really good crowd that was energetic. It?s just a tough venue to play.?
And finally, the Buffaloes. Coach Tad Boyle has guided CU to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and four consecutive seasons of at least 21 wins. It?s the most successful four-year stint in the history of the program.
This season, however, reality has yet to meet expectations. The Buffs were picked third in the Pac-12 preseason media poll and they?ve stumbled to a 9-8, 2-3 mark.
Injuries have played a factor in CU?s three-game losing streak. Junior forward Josh Scott, second on the team in scoring (13.8) and first in rebounds (7.2), has missed four of the past five games due to back spasms. It?s unclear whether he?ll play Thursday.
Even if Scott returns, the Buffs will be shorthanded. Boyle is benching junior wing Xavier Johnson for Thursday?s game. Reportedly, the suspension stems from an off-the-court incident.
Johnson ranks third among CU players, averaging 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. In their last meeting, he hammered the Huskies with 24 points.
Meanwhile, UW sophomore Darin Johnson is expected to return after missing the past two games because of a quadriceps strain.
The backup guard should help a Huskies team that?s 0-2 in Pac-12 road games following an 81-75 loss at California and a 68-60 overtime setback at Stanford. Washington is 6-2 away from home.
?I?ve never sensed that we had doubt or have been afraid to play on the road,? Romar said. ?I actually feel like we?ve embraced it at this point.?
