No. 19 Kansas Outlasts Colorado in Boulder, Extends Buffs’ Skid

The No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 75-69 in a closely contested Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game on Tuesday night at the CU Events Center in Boulder. This loss marks the fourth consecutive defeat for the Buffaloes, dropping their overall record to 12-7 and their conference standing to 2-4, while Kansas improved to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, reinforcing its position despite playing without head coach Bill Self due to health reasons.

A Night of Close Contention and Key Moments

The atmosphere in Boulder was electric, with a season-high crowd of 8,356 fans, including a sold-out student section for the first time in a conference matchup since February 2024. Despite the late-night tipoff, the fervent support fueled the Buffaloes’ spirited challenge against the ranked Jayhawks. The game unfolded as a tight battle, with neither team able to establish a dominant lead for extended periods, especially in the first half.

Colorado opened the scoring with a three-pointer from freshman Isaiah Johnson, who quickly tallied the team’s first five points. However, Kansas responded swiftly, with Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. hitting consecutive threes to give the Jayhawks an early 13-5 advantage. The Buffaloes, demonstrating resilience, clawed their way back, with Bangot Dak’s emphatic dunk cutting the lead to 15-12 and forcing a Kansas timeout. Despite a quick 5-0 run that gave Kansas its largest lead of the half at 28-20, Felix Kossaras immediately answered with a long-range shot, and the Buffs continued to press. Barrington Hargress capped the half with a last-second tip-in, narrowing Kansas’s lead to a slim 40-38 at the break. Both teams displayed efficiency in the first half, shooting over 40% from the field and each connecting on six three-pointers.

Colorado’s Offensive Struggles and Standout Freshman

The second half saw Colorado struggle to maintain its offensive rhythm. After Bangot Dak tied the game at 40-40 on the opening possession, the Buffaloes entered a 0-for-6 shooting slump. While they managed to keep pace with Kansas for a period, cutting the deficit to two points at 51-49 with under 12 minutes to play, critical moments slipped away. Kansas extended its lead to seven, but Johnson’s five straight points brought Colorado back within four at 58-54. Alon Michaeli then contributed five consecutive points to trim the Jayhawk lead to a single point, 60-59, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, a controversial steal by Melvin Council Jr. on a Colorado inbound pass, immediately followed by four quick points from Council Jr., shifted the momentum decisively, pushing Kansas’s lead back to 64-59 with just under five minutes remaining. This play, according to Colorado head coach Tad Boyle, was a ‘deciding factor’ that his team never quite recovered from. Down the stretch, Colorado’s offense stalled significantly, enduring a frustrating 0-for-10 shooting streak, allowing Kansas to capitalize and build its largest lead of the night, 71-60, in the final minute. The Buffs finished the game shooting just 35.7% from the field, compared to Kansas’s 46.2%.

Despite the team’s struggles, freshman guard Isaiah Johnson continued his standout season, leading the Buffaloes with a game-high 19 points, 12 of which came in the second half. This marks the ninth time Johnson has led the team in scoring, and his performance elevated him to 13th on the CU freshman scoring list, making him only the 14th rookie to surpass 300 career points. Barrington Hargress contributed 17 points on 6-for-15 shooting, and Alon Michaeli added 13 points, going 5-for-12 from the field.

Kansas’s Balanced Attack and Coaching Absence

The No. 19 Jayhawks demonstrated their depth and composure, securing a crucial road victory despite the absence of their veteran head coach, Bill Self, who remained in Lawrence for health reasons. Acting head coach Jeremy Case guided the team to a balanced offensive effort, with four players scoring in double figures. Melvin Council Jr. led Kansas with 18 points, delivering key plays throughout the game, including the momentum-shifting steal and subsequent points in the second half. Darryn Peterson also proved critical, hitting early three-pointers and a crucial banked three late in the game that further frustrated the Colorado bench.

Kansas dominated the boards, outrebounding Colorado 45-33 overall, though the Buffaloes held a slight advantage on the offensive glass (12-9) and in second-chance points (15-13). Critically, Colorado won the turnover battle decisively, committing only three turnovers compared to Kansas’s 12. Coach Boyle acknowledged this as a positive, praising his team’s ball security against a strong defensive Kansas squad, but also pointed to Kansas’s superior transition play and their ability to exploit mismatches as key factors in the outcome.

The Aftermath: Coaches’ Reflections and Future Outlook

Post-game, Coach Tad Boyle expressed his disappointment but also lauded his team’s effort. ‘Tough loss for the Buffaloes,’ Boyle stated. ‘Kansas was better tonight. Obviously, they out-rebounded us. I love the fight of our guys. I love the fight of this team, and we cannot lose that, and we will not lose that.’ He lamented the lack of ‘breaks’ going Colorado’s way in close games, citing Darryn Peterson’s banked three-pointer as another example of unfortunate timing. Boyle also highlighted the need for his guards to better attack Kansas’s bigs and for his bigs to take advantage of mismatches against smaller defenders, an area where he felt the team fell short.

For Colorado, the loss extends a challenging stretch in Big 12 play, but the strong home crowd and the performance of young players like Isaiah Johnson offer glimpses of potential. Johnson himself acknowledged the impact of the fans: ‘It meant a lot having the student body there. It helped us with our energy. It’s great to see everybody come and support us, and we need that every game.’ The Buffaloes will now look to rebound as they close their quick two-game homestand with a meeting against UCF on Saturday, January 24.

The Buffaloes’ consistent ‘fight’ and ability to minimize turnovers, as praised by Coach Boyle, indicate a resilient team that can compete, yet their recurrent struggles to finish close games and capitalize on offensive mismatches suggest a critical need for tactical adjustments and improved execution in high-pressure situations if they are to reverse their current losing trend in a demanding Big 12 Conference.