How Elijah Malone could make or break the rest of Colorado’s season
- Liam Howard
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Colorado Buffaloes center Elijah Malone has struggled to catch a break in his final season. An injury setback following a tough start to conference play has raised some concern for fans. However, Malone’s contribution is largely unsung, and a strong finish to the season could propel his team to upset victories as March looms.
During Colorado’s loss to the No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks on Tuesday, Malone suffered an injury after hitting the ground on a charge. Malone continued to play briefly, but exited the game midway through the first half and did not return. It was revealed that he was hospitalized but released later in the night. Colorado head coach Tad Boyle declined to reveal the exact nature of the injury when questioned on Friday, but Malone was a partial participant in practice.
“He took a good shot, but he’s getting better every day,” Boyle said after Friday’s practice.
While Malone hadn’t made any contributions to the box score by the time he was injured, his absence was still felt by his teammates.
“Elijah is a guy who’s put in many minutes, has a lot of experience and also is a voice to the young guys that everybody turns to,” Buffaloes guard Barrington Hargress said postgame on Tuesday. “So, missing a leader, missing a vocal person and a big part of our team, it hurts.”
Malone’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, as he was trying to work through a slow start to conference play. After receiving high praise and expectations of a breakout year from coaches and teammates alike in the preseason, he struggled to record the stats many were expecting. He’s averaging just 5.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game through the Buffs’ first 19 contests.
“We’ve got to get his energy level back,” Boyle said following Colorado’s matchup against UTSA. “...We’re going to need him, especially in Big 12 play.”
His rebounding numbers rank fourth on the team, despite it being a category in which coaches hoped he would be a tone-setter.
Malone’s contributions down the stretch will be crucial in determining if Colorado can finish Big 12 play strong and potentially make a run in the Big 12 Championship tournament come March.
But the stats don’t tell Malone’s full story. The contributions he makes to the game go beyond the box score and provide hope that a turnaround may still be on the horizon.
Malone provides a serious hurdle for opposing teams to climb when gameplanning for CU. He traditionally forces opponents into zone when he’s in the game, and in turn, creates more room for the shooters in Colorado’s offense. This attribute is something Boyle believes his team can take better advantage of in future games.
“He’s a load down there,” Boyle said. “...He gets guys shots, but we’ve got to get him the ball in order to do that. We’re not doing that consistently enough.”
On defense, he is an anchor who limits opposing playcalling when attempting to get the ball to their big men down low. This was seen in the brief time he spent in the Kansas game, as the Jayhawks had a hard time working star forward Flory Bidunga into the offense in the first half. Bidunga scored just two points at the free throw line and no field goals with five rebounds in the first half, due in large part to Malone’s presence on the interior. After Malone’s exit, Bidunga finished the game with 11 points and nine rebounds, hitting on all four of his attempts from the field in that time.
Malone’s contributions may not be represented by the stat sheet, but if he can contribute more in those statistical categories, paired with the matchup nightmare he presents opponents with, he could be vital in Colorado’s remaining games. This was seen during last season’s improbable Big 12 Tournament run, as his scoring and rebounding were crucial in CU’s victories over TCU and West Virginia.
As a veteran leader, Malone’s experience could be what it takes for this bounce-back, as he eyes a return from injury in a make-or-break time of the year for Colorado.