Tag: K.J. Simpson

K.J. Simpson honored as Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for second time in 2021-22

K.J. Simpson scored 39 total points in three games last week

Colorado Buffaloes freshman K.J. Simpson has fulfilled all the hype and then some during his rookie season in Boulder. The speedy point guard has quickly become a go-to scorer while providing an immeasurable spark coming off the bench.

It seems now that Simpson is mastering consistency. During CU’s recent three-game road trip at Oregon State, California and Stanford, he scored double-digit points in each of the wins and was subsequently named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Monday. Prior to that stretch, Simpson hadn’t scored 10-plus points in consecutive games all season. His week ended with 39 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

This isn’t the first time Simpson has attracted attention around the conference, however. Following a 12-point performance vs. Stanford back in November, the young PG received the same honor.

Other Pac-12 freshmen to win the award multiple times this season includes Stanford’s Harrison Ingram (six times), Washington State’s Mouhamed Gueye (three times) and Utah’s Lazar Stefanovic (twice).

Fellow Buffs guard Julian Hammond III also secured the award once this season in early January.

Colorado will need more big minutes from both Simpson and Hammond this week with Arizona State and No. 2 Arizona coming to Boulder.

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K.J. Simpson named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

K.J. Simpson has impressed early this season

It hasn’t surprised many in Boulder to see K.J. Simpson dominating so early into his rookie season.

Through seven games, the freshman guard has averaged 7.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds coming off the bench. The K.J. Simpson-Keeshawn Barthelemy dynamic in the backcourt has been a definite bright spot for the Colorado Buffaloes.

But Simpson’s strong handles and smooth jump shot are now garnering him some attention outside of Colorado. In the Buffaloes’ two previous games against Brown and Stanford, Simpson had a combined 19 points and 6 assists to continue the strong start to his career. That was good enough to name him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.

“I’m really impressed with his progress,” Tad Boyle said of Simpson after CU’s win over Stanford. “I think he’s coming along. Defensively, it’s going to be a challenge for him to lock down. Offensively, he played with better pace tonight (and) made a really nice move in the first half… He has grown up before our eyes.”

The award, which was created prior to the 2019 season, is the second for a Colorado player after Jabari Walker got the nod in January.

Things will only get more difficult for Simpson and the Buffaloes as they face No. 5 UCLA on Wednesday and then No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday.

Colorado’s youngsters get some love from McKinley Wright IV

Colorado’s underclassmen got some love from McKinley Wright IV

Early in the first half of Colorado’s second game of the season against New Mexico, the Buffaloes got some love from one of their all-time greats.

It has been a little weird not seeing McKinley Wright IV leading the point this season, but he showed via Twitter that his heart hasn’t strayed far.

Wright, who recently dropped 35 for the G League’s Iowa Wolves, was likely referencing a quick scoring spurt highlighted by a Nique Clifford fastbreak layup and a K.J. Simpson three pointer soon after. Simpson’s three put the Buffs up 11-9 with 14:35 left in the first half.

A few other CU underclassmen also made an impact as well. Sophomore Tristan da Silva had a nice tip-in basket and freshman 7-footer Lawson Lovering assisted Eli Parquet on a three pointer.

Colorado leads New Mexico 42-36 at the break.

WATCH: Evan Battey and K.J. Simpson drill first half three’s in season opener

Evan Battey and K.J. Simpson each made a three in the first half of CU’s season opener

It wasn’t a particularly pretty first half, but the Colorado Buffaloes did impress from beyond the arc early in their season opener. After struggling from deep in their two preseason exhibition games, the Buffs went 6-for-11 in the first half.

Regardless, trailing 38-35 to Montana State entering halftime was not an ideal beginning to the season.

Evan Battey, who played just six minutes in the first half with two fouls, made Colorado’s first three of the season two minutes into the affair.

From there, Jabari Walker, Keeshawn Barthelemy and K.J. Simpson each drilled a three of their own to give CU a 16-11 lead about five minutes in.

Simpson added another soon after to give put the Buffs up 25-19 — a lead that would soon disappear.

As I previously hinted, things got ugly quickly. Turnovers were a frequent problem in the first half and the Buffaloes committed eight compared to the Bobcats’ four. That 25-19 advantage dissolved as Montana State made its final four shots to make things interesting in Boulder.

Tad Boyle confident in K.J. Simpson and Keeshawn Barthelemy dynamic

K.J. Simpson and Keeshawn Barthelemy will frequently be on the floor together.

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Following the graduation of McKinley Wright IV, there is an opportunity at guard for the Colorado Buffaloes. We saw flashes of sophomore Keeshawn Barthelemy last year and he is now expected to get plenty of minutes at the point. But, freshmen K.J. Simpson and Julian Hammond impressed Tad Boyle in the summer and through the first two weeks of preseason practice.

While both are capable of leading the point, Boyle said that both Simpson and Barthelemy will play together “a fair amount.” The speedy duo should leave teams winded, even away from Boulder.

“When they’re on the court together we got two of the fastest, quickest guards,” Boyle said. “I’d like to see a backcourt in America that’s faster and quicker than those two. They’re going to be terrific together. They both can play on the ball. They both can play off the ball. They both can score the ball and they can pass the ball. I’m looking forward to seeing them. Throw Julian in the mix and our backcourt is again, very inexperienced, but very talented. They’ll make some mistakes early, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re really talented guys and explosive.”

From Simpson’s perspective, he has learned from Barthelemy while also growing their chemistry.

“Every time we’re on the same team, we win the competitions,” Simpson said after practice on Friday. “It’s been good to be able to learn from him as well because he’s learned so much, especially under McKinley when he was here (and) he was able to go at him at practice. Now it’s my turn to go at Kee at practice. We just learn from each other and build that chemistry to be ready for the games when they come.”

After two exhibition games in late October, Colorado will open its season with Montana State on Nov. 9.