BOULDER – With an undefeated record at home, the Colorado Buffaloes are a force to be reckoned with. However, in their three games on the road, the Buffs have lost twice with their star senior Tristan da Silva struggling to find his usual offensive prowess.
As the Buffs head east for a neutral game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes this upcoming Sunday, Dec. 10, CU's leading scorer from last year looks to bring his skills from Boulder to Brooklyn, New York in hopes of knocking off the No. 15-ranked team in the nation.
“I’m excited,” da Silva said after Thursday morning practice. “...Playing in a stage like that, in New York City, this is what you play college basketball for.”
Through five games at the CU Events Center, the Buffs have yet to lose with da Silva averaging 18 points on 75% (30-of-40) shooting, four rebounds, and almost three assists a contest. In Colorado’s big win against the Pepperdine Waves last Sunday, the starting forward poured in an individual season-high 22 points on a perfect 100% (5-of-5 FG, 2-of-2 3PT, 10-of-10 FT) shooting night.
Although, when the Buffs have ventured out to any arena that isn’t their own, the Colorado squad has one win to their two losses with da Silva’s numbers dropping. Those 18 points a game drop to 11.3 while the efficiency that makes the NBA hopeful so intriguing has plummeted (33.3% FG; 11-of-33 FG, 0-of-12 3PT). Sure, his rebounding numbers improve on the road but both of the forward’s assistless games this season have come away from the Buffs’ home floor while also turning the ball over almost four times a game.
“Against CSU (Colorado State) and Florida State, I felt like I rushed it a little bit too much,” da Silva said about his road performances.
While CU as a whole has struggled when away from home (Home: 5-0, +130 plus/minus, 56.9% FG, 22.6 APG; Away: 1-2, -6 plus-minus, 43.1% FG, 9.7 APG), it doesn’t help that da Silva has lost his offensive touch in unfamiliar arenas. But with a week of preparation for an opponent that made the Final Four last season, da Silva knows what he needs to do to get back on track.
“I feel like just doing the stuff that I’m comfortable with to get myself in that groove,” da Silva said. “Getting to the free throw line was huge for me last game. So I got to figure out a way to do that against Miami to get myself going because those are easy shots, free shots that you get. Keep rebounding, keep being aggressive, keep getting the ball and just playing together.”
While da Silva hopes he can figure things out individually, the senior in his fourth year at Colorado has taken on a leadership role that has helped prepare the Buffs for the upcoming contest at the Barclays Center.
“I just try to hold everyone accountable,” da Silva said. “It’s not anymore the teaching role I’m doing as much. Just being the guy that, you know, that has the answers and knows what’s supposed to be done.”
With such a role as well as head coach Tad Boyle challenging his players to make this 2023-24 Buffaloes’ squad their own, da Silva fully understands what they must do to lead the season they expect for themselves.
“That’s what makes teams great,” da Silva said. “I feel like my freshman year with McKinley (Wright), D’Shawn (Schwartz), and EB (Evan Battey) and all them, you know, they took ownership of the team. Wasn’t as much coach Boyle’s team or a Colorado team, it was really like the players’ team. Every time that happens, I feel like good things are on the horizon.”
That 2020-21 group finished as the No. 22-ranked team in the nation as they boasted a 23-9 record (14-6; third in Pac-12) and went to the second round of March Madness as a five seed before losing to the No. 4-seeded Florida State Seminoles.
With the goal in the sights of the All-Pac-12 First Team forward and the Colorado Buffaloes, da Silva hopes to bring his offensive ability that has helped his team to a 6-2 record to Brooklyn, New York as they look to weather the storm of the No. 15 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (7-1). Tip-off is set for noon MST and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
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