New-look Colorado still needs cohesion on D, faces Bellarmine

Colorado lost its top five scorers from last year's NCAA Tournament team, so the start of this season was centered on replacing those points.

Colorado (8-2) has found some of that scoring and heads into its final game of nonconference play with a chance for momentum before Big 12 play. The Buffaloes host Bellarmine (3-9) on Saturday afternoon in Boulder, Colo.

The Buffaloes, who are 7-0 at home, have not played a true road game this season. They were 1-2 in the Maui Invitational last month, and the first 10 games have helped them figure out roles on the team.

Scoring was a big hole to fill, but Colorado has found some go-to guys. Julian Hammond III (13.4 points per game), Elijah Malone (12.3) and Andrej Jakimovski (12.1) have led the way for the Buffaloes.

One area of concern is Colorado's perimeter defense, and it is something coach Tad Boyle wants to shore up before the start of conference play. The Buffaloes are allowing opponents to hit just 31.4 percent of 3-pointers but teams have hurt them with volume shooting.

"There's certain teams that really shoot the ball well from three," Boyle said. "I think it's really an understanding of who you're guarding. That's what we haven't done a great job of."

The Knights are coming off a 92-55 loss at Wyoming on Thursday night, their fourth in five games, while leading scorer Jack Karasinski has missed the last four games. Karasinski, with 16.9 points per game, is one of three Bellarmine players scoring in double figures. Ben Johnson (13.2) and Billy Smith (12.8) are the other two.

Smith scored a career-high 33 points in a loss to Ball State on Dec. 14.

The Knights have never beaten a Big 12 team in six tries and coach Scott Davenport knows Saturday will be a challenge.

"Colorado plays a very high level of basketball. Their record is not the only indicator of their abilities," Davenport said.

--Field Level Media