The Colorado Buffaloes, having lost to Cal and Arizona State earlier this month, badly needed to beat the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night and improve their resume. They did just that in an important win for a team which is on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
“Cody Williams likely won’t be playing college basketball much longer, so Colorado fans better appreciate whatever time he has left in Boulder.
“Going up against Oregon on Thursday night, the freshman phenom produced arguably the best performance of his young career, dropping a season-best 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Williams, along with KJ Simpson and his 22 points, was key as the Buffs knocked off the visiting Ducks, 86-70.
“’All his (Williams) shots tonight were great shots,’ CU head coach Tad Boyle said. ‘I think people are starting to play him as a driver a little bit because he’s a good driver. Obviously, we want him to drive the ball and be aggressive.’”
Oregon lost its first Pac-12 game of the season, giving Arizona a better chance to move into first place later in the season.
The other really important Pac-12 result from Thursday was Washington State’s road win at Stanford. The Cougars are playing their way onto the bubble under head coach Kyle Smith. WSU has to be taken seriously as an NCAA Tournament candidate now.
Two other results from Thursday in the Pac-12: Washington beat Cal in Berkeley on a jump shot in the final five seconds. Utah hammered Oregon State in Salt Lake City.
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