There are no easy game days in Big 12 women’s basketball, which is how Zyanna Walker likes it.
“I like how competitive it is,” the Colorado guard said of playing in the Big 12. “You’ve got to show up every night, no matter who you’re playing. Top or bottom of the conference, you’ve got to be up, ready to play, especially on the road.”
On Sunday, the Buffs face perhaps their biggest challenge on the Big 12 slate when No. 14-ranked TCU visits the CU Events Center. The defending league champion Horned Frogs are tied atop the conference standings coming into Sunday.
“Oh, I love it,” Walker said. “When you’re a competitor, you like to play with the best of the best. They’re on top of the conference, so we know that we have an opportunity to play with them on our home floor, so we’re going to take that.”
The Buffs had a three-game win streak snapped with a 61-55 loss to No. 20 West Virginia on Wednesday and look to get back on track. It was the sixth loss by seven points or less, with each one containing correctable mistakes.
“I think when we turn on the film, we’re going to see that there was a lot of really missed opportunities that were (on) us,” head coach JR Payne said.
This has been a team that’s shown the ability to make quick corrections, however.
“I think we’re a pretty coachable group,” Payne said. “When we’re coachable like that, it allows us to grow. … I think that we’ll see something, we’ll say, ‘Yeah, that was my fault,’ and be better next time.”
Being coachable has allowed the Buffs to rebound from losses at Louisville, at Arizona State, at Oklahoma State and at UCF. After each of those losses, the Buffs were locked in and won the next game.
“I think it’s amazing,” sophomore Tabitha Betson said. “Honestly, being a part of a group that is willing to learn and willing to listen to each other and the coaches and willing to grow is really special. It’s not super common. I think us also being young, as well, means that everyone’s ready to soak up information and ready to fix and change and move on. So I think it’s great.”
The Buffs will put that to the test against TCU, which leads the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 54.3 points per game, while ranking third in scoring offense, at 80.3. The Horned Frogs are also second in the conference in rebounding margin (plus-9.1).
TCU is led by national player of the year candidate Olivia Miles, who is averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. She’s the only player in the country averaging at least 14.0 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds.
Payne said the Buffs have to have better organization than they did against West Virginia. If they do, they’ve got a chance to pick up a big win.
“It’s just important that you lock in for every game because you’ll see somebody get upset every other night, every week (in the Big 12),” Walker said. “It’s just important that you lock in and focus on the game that’s ahead.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. No. 14 TCU
TIPOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. MT, CU Events Center in Boulder
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 15-8, 6-5 Big 12; TCU 21-3, 9-2 Big 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (179-124; 280-237 career). TCU — Mark Campbell, 3rd season (76-19; 115-43 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, So. (4.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .364 3pt%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, .517 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (11.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, .492 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg). TCU — G Taylor Bigby, 6-1, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .380 3pt%); G Donovyn Hunter, 6-0, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, .371 3pt%); G Olivia Miles, 5-10, Sr. (19.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, .508 fg%); G Maddie Scherr, 5-10, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, .389 3pt%); C Clara Silva, 6-7, So. (10.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .615 fg%); F Marta Suarez, 6-3, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.4 apg).
NOTES: CU is 1-3 against Associated Press Top 25 opponents this year, with the win coming against then-No. 19 Iowa State, 68-62, on Jan. 14. … The Buffs are 11-2 at home this year and 26-5 in the last two years. TCU is 4-2 on the road, with losses at Utah and Texas Tech. … CU leads the series 4-2, including victories in the WNIT in 2008 and 2014. TCU won both of last year’s matchups, 63-50 in Fort Worth and 69-62 in the Big 12 Tournament. … This will be TCU’s first visit to Boulder since March 19, 2014, in the WNIT. … Through the first six Big 12 games, Dutat was averaging 10.3 points and 10.2 rebounds. In the last five games, however, she’s averaged just 2.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. … Miles has posted four triple-doubles this season. CU has four in its 52-season history. … TCU ranks second in the Big 12 with 9.1 made 3-pointers per game and second in 3-point percentage (.360). CU is 15th in the league with 4.0 made 3s per game and last with a .259 3-point percentage.
Brian Howell
Source link