Colorado is set to face No. 16 Texas Tech in a Big 12 men’s basketball matchup on Wednesday, February 11, at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. The game will tip off at 6:01 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and KOA radio.
The Buffaloes currently hold a 14-10 overall record and are tied with Cincinnati for 11th place in the Big 12 Conference standings with a league record of 4-7. They have won two of their last three games, including a recent victory over Arizona State which allowed them to match their win total from last season in fewer games and surpass last year’s conference win tally.
Statistically, Colorado ranks among the top 50 teams nationally in several categories. The team is ranked 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and 31st in turnovers per game (just under 10). In their win over TCU, they recorded a season-high of 24 assists while committing only eight turnovers. Colorado’s average of 9.8 turnovers per game is second best in the Big 12 behind Houston.
Bench scoring has been significant for the Buffaloes, who rank 32nd nationally with an average of 30.2 points per game from non-starters, accounting for about 37 percent of their total points.
The Buffaloes have displayed balanced scoring throughout the season, with at least four players reaching double figures in scoring in most games and six different players leading the team in points at various times. Freshman Isaiah Johnson leads Colorado with an average of 16.3 points per game, ranking fourth in the Big 12 and among the top freshmen scorers nationally. He also leads the team in free throws made and attempted, three-pointers made, and steals.
Junior Barrington Hargress is another key contributor for Colorado, leading the team in assists (105), shooting percentage (.548), three-point percentage (.507), as well as field goals made and attempted. Hargress has maintained one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios both within the conference and nationally.
Sophomore Sebastian Rancik stands out as Colorado’s second-leading rebounder (5.3 rpg) while also ranking high on free throw statistics within the conference.
Junior forward Bangot Dak leads Colorado with an average of 6.8 rebounds per game and contributes significantly on defense with blocks.
According to NET rankings through February 9, Colorado sits at No.72 after peaking at No.39 earlier this season.
Texas Tech enters Wednesday’s contest with a record of 17-6 overall and a conference mark of 7-3 following a recent win over West Virginia that ended a two-game losing streak. The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in three-point attempts per game (29.3) and are second in percentage made (39.1%). Defensively, they allow opponents an average of just over seventy-three points per game while holding them to under forty-five percent shooting from the field.
Texas Tech is led by junior forward JT Toppin—who averages nearly twenty-two points and more than ten rebounds per game—and sophomore guard Christian Anderson—who averages nineteen points along with leading both the conference and ranking third nationally with nearly eight assists per contest.
This matchup marks the thirty-fourth meeting between Colorado and Texas Tech but only their second encounter in Lubbock since Colorado left for the Pac-12 Conference after the 2011 season. Texas Tech holds an advantage when playing at home against Colorado; however, overall series history favors Colorado by eighteen wins to fifteen.
