Colorado beats Oregon 72-71

The Oregon Ducks 72-71 loss in Boulder against the Colorado Buffaloes was filled with missed opportunities, and one controversial foul call that wasn’t all that controversial. Nate Tomlinson was hacked by E.J. Singler with less than a second remaining and hit the first free throw to give the Buffaloes the win. Although there has been much discussion regarding this foul, there was contact and the refs, as E.J. Singler put it, “made the call”.

Throughout the whole game, bad officiating hurt both teams. Nearly every play that had contact was called a foul, and both teams combined for 43 fouls on the night. The refs weren’t just calling fouls against Oregon, the bad calls went both ways. Officiating in college basketball is at an all-time low, but at least the refs were consistently bad in how they called the game.

Olu Ashaolu was the most noteworthy player on the night for two reasons. He went 8-14 with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in what may have been his best statistical performance of his college career. However, Ashaolu missed free throw was a big reason why the Ducks were unable to win, and the shot completely missed. If that shot goes in, the Ducks win the game and have the game’s destiny in their own hands. Instead, the refs made the final call and Tomlinson sunk the free throw to win it.

Andre Roberson had just seven points, but he was rightfully highlighted as the player to watch for in this game’s preview. His conference-leading defense was on display yesterday evening, as Roberson had 11 rebounds and 7 blocks in one of the finest defensive performances of the season. Roberson’s domination was one of the main reasons for Colorado’s triumph.

One player on the Buffaloes did not have a memorable game in the victory, and this 0-6 three-point shooter was guard Carlon Brown. He was just 4-14 from the floor overall and had a low +5 EFF. Despite hitting the winning free throw, Tomlinson was below-average and hit one three-pointer on four three’s and five shots in total.

Guards Spencer DinWiddie and Askia Booker are always two threats, and they combined for 33 points, 4 steals, 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers, and a +33 EFF.

For the Ducks, Devoe Joseph added 18 points, but E.J. Singler was the best player on the team that night. He had 13 points and 13 rebounds and had two assists, steals, and blocks in total. Ashaolu went 1-6 from the line and had a +15 EFF, while Singler’s EFF was +23 in 37 minutes of play.

The Colorado Buffaloes had the advantage in eFG% (52.1% to 48.4%), so saying that the refs gave them the win is depriving them of their due credit. The Buffs were the better team and did not shoot 58.8% from the free throw line on the team. It’s fitting that the Oregon Ducks lost because of free throws in crunch time, because they were just so bad from the charity stripe throughout the whole game.

Efficiency on a points per play basis is the most important team statistic to look at, and the Oregon Ducks averaged .94 points per possession. Colorado, on the other hand, averaged .99 points per possession. While the Oregon Ducks had their chances- actually, more chances (possessions) than the Buffaloes- they weren’t able to convert them into points as well as the Buffs were.

The call at the end of the game may have been controversial, in the sense that fouls are rarely called at the end of the game. However, those types of calls were made throughout the game, but it must be noted that the fact that the play was reviewed makes the call look more controversial. At least the refs decided to make quizzical decisions during the entirety of the game, so they were fair in that sense.

In the end, the Oregon Ducks failed in their most important road test of the season, and the Buffaloes are ahead of them in the standings because of it. It’s time for people like me to take the Buffs seriously, because they have the same “dark horse that just keeps winning feel” like the Ducks. Colorado, however, is the more talented team and proved it. The Ducks would have won if they were at home, but contenders need to defeat opponents on the road in important games. The Ducks proved they aren’t contenders yet and have a ways to go.

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