Colorado Coach Tad Boyle Reflects on Tough Loss to No. 22 BYU
In a hard-fought matchup, the Colorado Buffaloes fell 90-86 in overtime to the No. 22 BYU Cougars on Saturday. Despite the loss, head coach Tad Boyle expressed pride in his team’s performance, contrasting it with a disappointing 78-44 defeat at Texas Tech earlier in the week.
Tad Boyle’s Reflections on the Game
Boyle praised his players for their determination against BYU. “That was a heck of a college basketball game. I’m really, really proud of our guys,” he said. After experiencing a tough defeat against Texas Tech, Boyle felt the Buffaloes fought with vigor against the Cougars. “We were aggressive the whole game, and we fought like a team I’m proud of representing,” said Boyle.
Key Stats and Performances
- Colorado scored 21 points off 16 BYU turnovers.
- BYU shot 50% from 3-point range.
- In overtime, Colorado managed only 2 of 10 shooting.
- AJ Dybantsa from BYU recorded 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Though BYU’s Dybantsa had strong stats, the Buffaloes managed to limit his effectiveness. Boyle noted the excellent defensive effort from Sebastian Rancik, who fouled out but restricted Dybantsa’s impact on the game. “He did a phenomenal job with his discipline,” said Boyle.
Impact Players Off the Bench
BYU’s bench also played a crucial role. Tyler Mrus, Aleksej Kostic, and Mihailo Boskovic combined for 15 points, and Kostic’s timely three-pointer during overtime shifted momentum in favor of BYU. Boyle acknowledged their contribution: “Give BYU credit for those kids that came in off the bench. They made four threes in that first half.”
Looking Ahead for Colorado
The Buffaloes’ record now stands at 14-12, with a 4-9 mark in Big 12 play. They will return to Boulder for upcoming games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State, where they aim to get back on track. Boyle expressed confidence in his team’s potential, stating he would continue to support them based on their effort: “I’ll go to war with you guys when you perform like you did tonight.”
