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Kansas Jayhawks vs Colorado Buffaloes: Big 12 Showdown at CU Events Center

Jayhawks Look to Reverse Road Struggles Against Resurgent Buffaloes

The Kansas Jayhawks (18-9, 12-15 ATS) travel to Boulder for a Monday night Big 12 showdown against the Colorado Buffaloes (11-16, 12-15 ATS) at the CU Events Center. This matchup presents an intriguing contrast: a traditional powerhouse experiencing midseason turbulence against a bottom-dwelling squad showing recent signs of life.

For Kansas, this game represents a critical opportunity to solidify their conference standing and build momentum heading into March. Meanwhile, Colorado aims to continue their surprising late-season resurrection after finally breaking free from a punishing 13-game losing streak.

Kansas Jayhawks: Elite Talent Seeking Road Consistency

The Jayhawks’ season has been characterized by jarring inconsistency, particularly in recent weeks. Having dropped five of their last nine contests and failing to string together consecutive victories in nearly a month, Kansas finds themselves in unfamiliar territory—sitting sixth in the Big 12 standings.

A commanding 96-64 victory over Oklahoma State provided a momentary reprieve from their struggles, but the road has been particularly unkind to Bill Self’s squad. The Jayhawks have dropped four consecutive away games against Big 12 opponents, a troubling trend they’ll need to reverse in Boulder.

Kansas continues to display statistical prowess in several key areas, ranking 40th nationally in rebounding (38.9 per game) and 12th in assists (17.9). Their defensive metrics remain impressive, holding opponents to just 39.0% shooting (13th in Division I) and 29.9% from beyond the arc (18th).

The Jayhawks’ attack centers around potential All-American Hunter Dickinson, who anchors the team with 16.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. His interior presence is complemented by Zeke Mayo‘s perimeter production (14.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG) and floor general Dajuan Harris Jr.’s playmaking (9.7 PPG, 5.7 APG).

Colorado Buffaloes: Finding Late-Season Inspiration

After enduring one of the longest losing streaks in program history (13 games), the Buffaloes have suddenly discovered their competitive edge. Colorado followed their skid-breaking victory over UCF with an impressive 76-74 home triumph against Baylor, suggesting this team might have finally found its identity.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, Colorado has established the CU Events Center as a challenging environment for visitors. The Buffaloes have won eight of their last nine home games following a home victory, creating a pattern of building momentum in Boulder.

Offensively, Colorado generates 70.4 points per game while surrendering 72.0. Their attack flows through guard Julian Hammond III, who leads the team with 12.9 points and 3.1 assists per contest. Forward Andrej Jakimovski contributes 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds, while Bangot Dak provides interior presence with 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Historical Context and Betting Trends

The historical narrative favors Kansas, who have claimed victory in nine of the last ten meetings between these programs. However, Colorado has consistently outperformed expectations, covering the spread in seven of those contests, including earlier this season when Kansas secured a 71-59 win.

Several betting trends warrant attention:

• Kansas has only covered the spread in 14 of their last 35 games overall

• Colorado has covered in 20 of their last 38 contests

• The home team has won the first half in 11 of Kansas’ last 13 games

• Each of Kansas’ last four road games has featured at least 141 total points

• High-scoring affairs are common when ranked teams visit Boulder, with Colorado’s last three home night games against AP-ranked opponents producing 142+ points

Keys to Victory

For Kansas to end their road woes, controlling the tempo and leveraging their superior interior presence through Dickinson will be essential. Their defensive prowess—particularly their perimeter defense—could prove decisive against a Colorado team that often struggles with offensive efficiency.

The Buffaloes’ path to an upset runs through protecting home court early. If Colorado can win the first half and force Kansas to play from behind, recent trends suggest the Jayhawks may struggle to overcome the deficit in the hostile environment.

Expert Prediction

While Kansas possesses superior talent and depth, their road struggles coupled with Colorado’s renewed confidence at home creates the perfect storm for a competitive contest. The Jayhawks should ultimately secure a narrow victory, but expect the Buffaloes to keep it close throughout and cover the spread in a game that comes down to the final possessions.

The matchup projects to be higher-scoring than their previous meeting, with both teams likely clearing the 70-point threshold in an entertaining Big 12 battle.

Insights

Why have the Jayhawks struggled so much on the road this season?

Kansas has faced challenges adapting to hostile environments, particularly in the ultra-competitive Big 12. Their offensive efficiency drops significantly away from Allen Fieldhouse, with their field goal percentage declining by nearly 6% in road contests. Additionally, their defensive intensity has wavered, allowing opponents to shoot higher percentages and control the tempo more effectively.

Can Colorado build on their recent success to make a late-season push?

While the Buffaloes have shown remarkable resilience in breaking their losing streak and securing quality wins, their remaining schedule presents significant challenges. However, these victories have demonstrated that when Colorado executes their offensive sets and maintains defensive focus, they can compete with anyone in the conference. Their development now is more about building for next season than making an improbable run.

How important is Hunter Dickinson to Kansas’ March Madness aspirations?

Dickinson represents the cornerstone of Kansas’ tournament hopes. His ability to dominate the interior, draw double teams, and facilitate from the post creates the gravitational pull that opens opportunities for Kansas’ perimeter players. When Dickinson is fully engaged and receiving consistent touches, the Jayhawks’ offense reaches elite levels that few teams can match. His health and performance will likely determine how far Kansas advances in March.

What makes the CU Events Center such a challenging venue for visitors?

The combination of Boulder’s elevation (5,430 feet), passionate student section, and the Buffaloes’ tendency to play inspired basketball at home creates a genuine home-court advantage. Visiting teams often struggle with the altitude in the second half, which partially explains why Colorado has been competitive at home despite their overall record. The arena’s intimate atmosphere amplifies crowd noise, creating communication challenges for opponents during crucial stretches.