Five keys to Colorado women’s basketball taking down Cal
We all knew it coming into this season, but the Pac-12 is loaded with elite college women’s basketball teams.
Four Pac-12 teams are ranked top 10 in the latest AP Poll, with No. 2 UCLA, No. 8 Stanford and No. 9 USC joining No. 5 Colorado. The Buffaloes will play all three of those other top 10 teams at home over the next two weeks.
But to start that brutal stretch, Colorado has a home date with another talented Pac-12 team: the California Golden Bears. Cal has played well so far this season, starting 12-3 with a 2-1 conference record. The Buffaloes (13-1, 3-0) will be put to the test when they tip off against Cal on Friday at 7 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network).
Here are my five keys to Colorado beating the Golden Bears:
Win the battle in the paint
With the talent the Buffaloes have in their frontcourt with Quay Miller and Aaronette Vonleh, they usually experience an advantage in bullying opponents down low. That won’t be the case against Cal, as the Golden Bears own post players such as Ugonne Onyiah, Marta Suarez and Ila Lane, who all possess great size and the ability to clean the glass in the rebounding department.
Who matches up with Ioanna Krimili?
The Golden Bears have a trio of players who average 11.1 points or more per game, but the team is led by its own “Greek Freak” in Ioanna Krimili. The senior guard missed time this year with a knee injury but has returned for conference play and has been lighting up the scoreboard. Krimili has scored 21 points in back-to-back games and is hitting 47.4% of her shots from deep on the season. Colorado perimeter defenders have to have their hands up around Krimili.
Don't underestimate Cal's defense
Both Colorado and Cal have played well on defense this season. Cal has allowed only 60.5 points per game while CU has allowed 64.4. CU has scored at least 60 points in every game this season and is averaging 82.6 points per game. Colorado must break the Golden Bears’ defense if it wants to win.
Jaylyn Sherrod must continue her dominance
Colorado star point guard Jaylyn Sherrod must be at her best when she goes up against Cal’s Leilani McIntosh. McIntosh is averaging 11.1 points and is dishing out a career-high 6.3 assists per game. Sherrod has to prevent McIntosh from playing her game.
Don't look ahead
It would be hard not to notice that UCLA, Stanford and USC are all awaiting the Buffs, but Cal can’t be overlooked. Cal received six votes in the latest AP Poll and is a quality opponent that CU must focus on. The Buffaloes have done a great job to open the season, but any lapse in focus could spell doom.
