Tad Boyle criticial of Colorado's early defensive approach vs. Marquette, Kam Jones
With just under four minutes left in the first half of Marquette’s showdown against Colorado in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, Golden Eagles guard Kam Jones boasted 13 points, including three baskets from beyond the arc. During a break in the action, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle revealed how his team plans on slowing down Jones.
“We got to get up into him,” Boyle said. “We gotta get him to come off a ball screen. We’re trying to switch those things. When when you’re switching and you can’t take away pick and pop 3s, you got a problem with your defense.
“We’re not communicating on the ball screens. We’re letting them get to the rim and getting 3s. And, that’s what they feast on. We got to take one of those two away, and we’re not taking either one away.”
Colorado paid the price for its lethargic defense early, trailing Marquette by as much as 12 points in the first half. Now, the Buffaloes will look to stampede back into the game to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Colorado looks dangerous in win over Florida
The team certainly looked capable of making a run in the Big Dance earlier this week in their win over nail-biting 102-100 triumph over Florida. Colorado point guard K.J. Simpson delivered the game-winning basket, a two-point jumper from the baseline that clattered around the rim.
Simpson didn’t doubt his team for a moment.
“That’s just mental preparation,” Simpson said to TBS sideline reporter Andy Katz after hitting the shot. “We mentally prepare in practice, we’ve gone through this a bunch of times in practice. We have a competitive group.
“We’re always in this situation in practice. We went through it with coach. But I think everybody out here is just capable. We all have the mentality of just playing with poise, winning under pressure.”
Simpson finished the game with a team-high 23 points and five assists. Instead of boasting about his standout performance after the game, he simply raved about how much fun he’s having.
“It’s amazing,” Simpson said. “It’s amazing, but it’s just special to be out here and do it with this group, with this team. The most wins in Colorado program history. Just being under a coach like this, fanbase like this who comes out and travel man, it means everything.”