Opinion
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Can the Cougars Claw Back Against the Buffaloes at CU Events Center?

As the Washington State Cougars gear up to face off against the Colorado Buffaloes, fans are left pondering their team's chances after a string of recent performances that have been less than stellar. The upcoming clash at CU Events Center on New Year's Eve promises to be a pivotal moment for WSU, who are in desperate need of a win to turn their fortunes around.


Jan 22, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington State Cougars guard TJ Bamba (5) drives at Colorado Buffaloes guard Jalen Gabbidon (3) in the second half at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on December 30 against the Utah Utes, the Cougars were outplayed in almost every aspect of the game. Scoring only 58 points compared to Utah's 80, WSU struggled with shooting efficiency across the board. A field goal percentage of just 31 percent and an even more dismal three-point percentage of 20 percent highlighted significant issues in offensive execution. Despite pulling down an impressive 51 rebounds, they couldn't convert these opportunities into points on the scoreboard.


The defensive end didn't fare much better for WSU either. With only one steal and three blocks throughout the entire game, they allowed Utah too much comfort on offense which resulted in a high assist-to-turnover ratio for their opponents (4.4). This was compounded by allowing 49 points in just one half – a statistic that will surely have been a focus during practice sessions leading up to their next game.


Jan 22, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard KJ Simpson (2) steals a pass intended for Washington State Cougars guard Jabe Mullins (3) in the first half at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for Washington State fans when looking back at previous games. On December 22 against Boise State Broncos, WSU showed glimpses of what they're capable of with a victory where they scored more efficiently from both two-point range (48 percent) and from free throws (78 percent). They also demonstrated an ability to capitalize on turnovers by scoring 11 points off them.


One area where WSC has consistently shown strength is rebounding; this was evident when they out-rebounded Santa Clara Broncos with an impressive total rebound count of 44 on December 16. If they can continue this trend and improve upon converting second-chance opportunities into points while tightening up defensively – particularly beyond the arc where opponents have found success – there may be hope yet for Cougar fans.


Jan 22, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington State Cougars guard TJ Bamba (5) and forward Mouhamed Gueye (35) defend on Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva (23) in the second half at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

With these past performances as indicators, it seems clear that if Washington State wants any chance at overcoming Colorado Buffaloes' home-court advantage come December 31st at CU Events Center, improvements must be made swiftly both offensively and defensively.


Fans eager to see whether or not WSU can rise to this challenge can catch all action live as it unfolds starting at 11:00 AM Mountain Time (MT) broadcasted through Pac-12 Network television coverage.

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