BYU looks for bounce-back win as Colorado visits Provo

PROVO, Utah — BYU concludes its two-game homestand with a matchup with the Colorado Buffaloes on Jan. 29 at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with the game streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live on BYU Radio with Jason Shepherd on the call. 

Matchup Breakdown
Wednesday night's game will be the 16th all-time meeting between the Cougars and Buffaloes, and the first since the 2003 NCAA Tournament Round of 64. The No. 6 seed Colorado bested No. 11 seed BYU 84-45 on March 22, 2003, to advance to the Round of 32 and later the Sweet 16 before the Buffs fell to No. 2 seed Villanova.

The last meeting in Provo came on Nov. 23, 1996, as the Buffaloes edged the Cougars 78-73. The last BYU win over Colorado came at the Mariott Center on Feb. 20, 1982, by a score of 77-75.

All-Time: 7-8

At BYU: 5-2

Whiting vs. Colorado: Never Played

BYU Cougars  ||  10-9, 1-7  ||  Big 12 Conference

WHAT'S AT STAKE  ||  With a win, the Cougars would snap a six-game skid to Colorado dating back to 1983. BYU would snap a 4-game in-conference losing streak.

DELANEY'S DREAM SEASON  ||  Delaney Gibb has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week six times – Nov. 11, Dec. 16 & 23, Jan. 13, 20 & 27. The Canada native leads BYU in scoring at 17.2 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting and 41.1 percent from deep. Gibb averages 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals. The freshman has scored over 14 points in 16-of-19 games this year including seven games of 20 or more points.

With Gibb's sixth Big 12 Freshman of the Week recognition, the freshman phenom is one weekly award away from tying Texas' Joyner Holmes and Baylor's Brittney Griner and Nina Davis for third-most Freshman of the Week awards in a single season. 

VALUING THE BASKETBALL  ||  Ball security is crucial for BYU. In eight Big 12 games this season, the Cougars have committed 19 turnovers per game and opponents are scoring 20.4 points off giveaways. In wins this season, BYU only coughs it up 13.6 times and surrenders 11.0 points off turnovers. In losses, BYU averages 19.7 giveaways and 12.7 points given up.

FINISHING POSSESSIONS  ||  Crashing the defensive glass has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad. BYU has given up 11.5 offensive boards and 15.1 second-chance points in eight Big 12 games thus far. In their lone conference win over Houston, BYU only gave up eight offensive boards and seven second-chance points. On Saturday against Utah, the Utes grabbed 18 offensive boards and scored 30 second-chance points.

SECOND-HALF CONFERENCE WOES  ||  BYU started the year dominating the third quarter, outscoring opponents by 6.5 points in the frame while shooting 50.6 percent in non-conference play. In Big 12 play, the Cougars have struggled coming out of the half. BYU has been outscored 20.3-15.6 in the third and 19.9-17.0 in the fourth while surrendering 46.3 percent in the third and 43.3 percent shooting in the fourth. 

Head Coach – Amber Whiting

• Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
• Division I Career Record: 42-43  ||  3rd Season
• Record at BYU: 42-43  ||  3rd Season

Colorado Buffaloes  ||  13-6, 4-4  ||  Big 12 Conference

EXPERIENCED BUFFS  ||  Colorado’s squad is laden with veteran players. The Buffs have seven of their top eight scorers that are junior, senior or graduate players.

FORMANN FROM DEEP  ||  Fifth-year senior Frida Formann leads Colorado in scoring at 13.6 points per game on 45.2 percent from the floor and 45.3 percent from 3-point land. She also contributes 2.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

Her 45.3 percent clip is good for the 4th-best in the Big 12 and the 13th-highest mark in the country. Formann also ranks fifth in the conference and 34th in the nation in 3-point field goals per game.

ROAD STRUGGLES  ||  Despite boasting a 13-6 record, the Buffaloes have struggled on the road as 5-of-6 losses have come away from the CU Event Center. Colorado is a perfect 4-0 at home in Big 12 play, but are 0-4 on the road, falling at TCU, Baylor, West Virginia and Cincinnati.

The Buffs average 70.0 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting this season, but score just 57.9 points on a 38.9 percent clip from the field away from home. Colorado’s 3-point percentage also drops from 34.5 percent overall to 27.3 on the road. 

THREE-PRONGED ATTACK  ||  Formann, Jade Masogayo and Lior Garzon are the leaders of the Buffaloes' offensive attack, scoring 13.6, 12.5 and 10.7 points per game respectively. Each shoot over 40 percent from the floor on the season with Formann and Garzon finding success from deep with 39 and 29 made threes apiece this season.

Head Coach – JR Payne

• Alma Mater: Saint Mary's, 1999
• Career Record: 257-222  ||  16th Season
• Record at Colorado: 156-109  ||  9th Season