Edwards, Bueckers lead No. 15 Uconn over Georgetown
LOS ANGELES>> There have been gut- wrenching losses aplenty for the Colorado men’s basketball team since the calendar turned to 2024.
Thursday marked a new low point.
On a night in which the Buffaloes shot over 52%, played solid defense, and held their own on the glass, CU nevertheless was unable to overcome their road woes and late- game shortcomings in a four- point loss at UCLA.
Pick a theme among the culprits, and it will be a recurring one for CU. The Buffs fell to 1- 7 in true road games. They balanced an ugly first half with an above- par second half. CU committed nine turnovers in the first half, leading to a 15- points advantage for the Bruins in points off turnovers. The four- point loss left CU with an average margin of defeat of just 5.0 points in their past five road losses.
And now the Buffs, losers in four of their past five games, will have to try to address all of those ongoing issues while desperate for a win in another road game at USC on Saturday night.
“I think these guys believe in themselves and believe in each other,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “I know I believe I them. That’s the constant message I’m giving this team is belief. Because I do believe that we have what it takes. You look at any league in the country, and it’s really hard to win in February, especially on the road. And that’s not an excuse.
We could’ve won this game ( at UCLA). But we didn’t. So we’ve got to figure out how to win one on Saturday.
“It’s not about how the season’s unfolding. It’s about trying to win the next game and not worry about that other stuff. It’s just stay focused on the task at hand. And right now the task at hand for us is trying to win at USC.”
Just three weeks ago, the Buffs stood at No. 26 in the NET rankings following a four- game winning streak that culminated with the only road win of the season at Washington.
Since then, CU’S postseason outlook has unraveled.
The loss at UCLA dropped CU to No. 42 in Friday’s NET, and the Buffs’ NCAA Tournament metrics — plus the opportunities to improve them — are fading fast.
In addition to the 1- 7 road mark, CU is just 1- 5 in Quad 1 games, with the one win a less- than- marquee victory at Washington ( No. 67 in Friday’s NET).
The Buffs have no victories against any surefire tournament teams, and the only remaining regular season date that has a chance to be a Quad 1 matchup is on March 7 at Oregon.
That also is shaping up to be an underwhelming opportunity, as the Ducks were only at No. 63 in Friday’s NET.
The Buffs have maintained throughout the slide that confidence remains intact. Turning that confidence into positive results, however, has been problematic.
“I think frustration is the biggest thing,” CU freshman Cody Williams said. “We know we can compete. Confidence in general isn’t a problem because we know how good we are. It’s just the frustration aspect of falling short and not playing two collectively good halves. I think the biggest thing is we got to stick together, which we will. I know we will. We’re really key at picking each other up and then just moving on to the next game. We play Saturday, we get a chance to get this bad taste out of our mouths.
“Just staying together as a team and kind of locking into playing two great halves of Colorado basketball is like the biggest challenge for us.”
STORRS, CONN.>> Aaliyah Edwards finished with 26 points and a seasonhigh 16 rebounds, Paige Bueckers scored 21 and No. 15 Connecticut breezed to an 85- 44 victory over Georgetown on Friday night.
Edwards made 11 of 16 shots and 4 of 5 free throws for the Huskies ( 22- 5, 14- 0 Big East Conference), who upped their win streak against the Hoyas ( 16- 10, 6- 9) to 38 in a series they lead 54- 6. Edwards posted her fifth straight doubledouble and 13th of the season. Bueckers sank three 3- pointers and handed out eight assists. Freshman reserve Ice Brady scored 10 on 5- for- 5 shooting, adding five rebounds.
Victoria Rivera made four 3- pointers and scored 16 to pace Georgetown.
Bueckers and coach Geno Auriemma both say they will be back at the school next season.
A senior academically, Bueckers made the announcement during senior night ceremonies at Gampel Pavilion following the team’s win.
Telling the crowd she wanted to “address the elephant in the room,” Bueckers said, “Unfortunately, this will not be my last year.”
Her coach followed that announcement by ending any speculation that he might retire at season’s end.
NO. 20 CREIGHTON 71, ST. JOHN’S 51>> Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen each scored 20 points and
No. 20 Creighton beat
St. John’s for its 11th straight victory.
Creighton ( 21- 3, 12- 2 Big East) has its longest winning streak since posting 11 straight during the 2008- 09 season. The program record is 16, set in the 1991- 92 season. Jensen scored 15 points.
Ber’nyah Mayo scored 16 points and Jillian Archer added 11 for St. John’s ( 15- 12, 9- 6).
NO. 25 PRINCETON 74, BROWN 62>> Kaitlyn
Chen scored 17 points, freshman Ashley Chea added 12 and No. 25 Princeton controlled the fourth quarter in beating Brown to clinch a spot in Ivy Madness.
Princeton ( 19- 3, 9- 0) pulled away early in the fourth by scoring eight straight points to take a 61- 54 lead.
The Tigers were 6 of 11 from the field in the fourth, while Brown went 3 of 15.
Grace Arnolie scored 18 points, Kyla Jones had 15 points and eight rebounds, and freshman Olivia Young added 11 points for Brown ( 13- 9, 4- 5).
Brown went nearly six minutes without scoring spanning the first- quarter break as Princeton built a 24- 10 lead.