Former Arizona CBB Coach Book Richardson Says He Has 'Scarlet Letter' After FBI Probe
Jun 15, 2022
TUCSON, AZ - FEBRUARY 06: Assistant coach Book Richardson of the Arizona Wildcats talks to guard Gabe York #1 of the Wildcats during a time-out of a college basketball game against the Oregon Ducks at McKale Center on February 6, 2014 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Former Arizona assistant basketball coach Emanuel "Book" Richardson is trying to rebuild his reputation to return to the college game following his three-month stint in jail stemming from the 2017-18 NCAA men's basketball corruption scandal.
Speaking to The Athletic's Seth Davis, Richardson noted he has "a scarlet letter" attached to him but he wants "an opportunity to move on with my life."
In September 2017, Richardson was one of four assistant coaches in college basketball who was arrested as part of a federal investigation into bribery and corruption in the sport.
Auburn's Chuck Person, Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans and USC's Anthony Bland were also arrested. All four coaches were accused of taking bribes between $13,000 to $100,000 to steer athletes to managers and funnel payoffs to players' families in order to ensure they signed with particular schools.
In June 2019, Richardson was sentenced to three months in prison and two years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to a federal funds bribery charge.
Per ESPN's Mark Schlabach, FBI wiretaps intercepted conversations between Christian Dawkins, who was connected to a sports agency implicated in the scandal, and then-Arizona head coach Sean Miller.
In the conversations, Miller is heard discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure Deandre Ayton signed to play basketball for the Wildcats.
Evans also received a three-month prison sentence, and Dawkins received a prison sentence of one year and one day. Bland was placed on two years' probation.
The University of Arizona fired Richardson in January 2018. He hasn't been given another college job since being released from jail on Oct. 15, 2019.
According to Davis, Richardson expressed frustration that Miller, who was fired by Arizona in March 2021 and was hired as Xavier's new head coach in March 2022, got another job despite his reported involvement in the scandal.
"I don’t sit next to you as the victim. I’m flawed,” Richardson told Davis. “I’ve asked for forgiveness from God. I’ve asked for forgiveness from the people who I may have hurt. I didn’t just get fired. I was ostracized."
Richardson spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach in college basketball. He had a three-season run at Monroe College from 2001-04. The 46-year-old spent 10 seasons as an assistant on Miller's staff between Xavier (2007-09) and Arizona (2009-17).
Top International Basketball Prospect Henri Veesaar Commits to Arizona
May 25, 2022
VALENCIA, SPAIN - JUNE 06: Henri Veesaar, #13 of U18 Real Madrid in action during the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Championship Game between U18 Real Madrid v U18 FC Barcelona at La Fonteta on June 06, 2021 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
The Arizona Wildcats landed a major recruit in the 2022 class Wednesday.
Jonathan Givony of ESPN reported Henri Veesaar, who is from Estonia and "considered arguably the most promising European prospect" in this class, has joined the Wildcats.
"I believe in [Coach] Tommy Lloyd's philosophy and how he coaches," Veesaar said. "I've had my eyes on playing college basketball for some time now, and I believe that Arizona is a great fit to make a jump between youth and professional sport."
Givony noted the 7'0" big man first made waves as a 15-year-old at the FIBA U16 European Championship, played for Real Madrid's junior program and represented the Estonian senior national team as a 17-year-old.
Veesaar averaged 16.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 2.6 assists per game during last summer's FIBA U18 European Challengers.
He can protect the rim and control the boards on the defensive side while able to work in pick-and-pops and pick-and-rolls as a versatile shooter who is athletic enough to finish lobs.
Arizona is likely losing Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry and Christian Koloko to the draft, so Veesaar could compete with Oumar Ballo and Azuolas Tubelis for playing time in the frontcourt.
He will also be one of eight international players on the Wildcats during the 2022-23 campaign, which seemed to play a factor in his decision.
"It helps to fit on the team not being the only foreigner and the play style is different because they are used to having different players from different continents," he said. "The basketball background varies a lot depending on where you grow up, so I think they have a nice mixture from different cultures."
He joins an Arizona program coming off a 33-4 season that included Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles. Yet it will be looking to take the next step in the NCAA tournament after losing in the Sweet 16 to Houston.
Veesaar has the skill set to help the Wildcats do just that.
Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin Declares for 2022 NBA Draft; Projected Lottery Pick
Apr 13, 2022
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin during a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Wright State, Friday, March 18, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Bennedict Mathurin made a sizable leap in his sophomore year for the Arizona Wildcats, and he's hoping to continue his development at the next level.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony reports that Mathurin will declare for the NBA draft after being named Pac-12 Player of the Year last season. Mathurin is likely to be a lottery pick, as B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has him projected to be selected No. 8 in his most recent mock draft.
"Scouts see a safe bet based on his physical profile (6'6", 210 lbs), explosiveness and smooth jumper," Wasserman wrote on Mathurin. "Still, the flashes of pull-up shooting and ball-screen playmaking hint at another level of creation and upside to unlock."
Mathurin was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team after averaging 10.8 points in his first year at Arizona. His upside could've made him a first-round pick last year, but he opted to return for his sophomore season to further develop his game. Mathurin even was undeterred after the coach who recruited him was fired when the Wildcats parted ways with Sean Miller.
Under new head coach Tommy Lloyd, Mathurin emerged as the top option in Arizona's last season. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from three-point range. He helped lead the Wildcats to a 33-4 record and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Mathurin has all the traits of a prototypical NBA wing and he can be a quality player if he continues to develop his game. His scoring ability is his best asset, but he also showed improved playmaking and ball-handling last year.
The NBA Draft Combine will begin May 16 in Chicago and the lottery drawing will be held on May 17. The draft will take place on June 23 in Brooklyn.
No. 5 Houston Upsets No. 1 Arizona, Advances to Face Villanova in Elite Eight
Mar 25, 2022
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Fabian White Jr. #35 and Reggie Chaney #32 of the Houston Cougars reacts during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 Round at AT&T Center on March 24, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Cougars are one game away from returning to the Final Four for a second straight season. And yet another one seed fell in the process.
The five-seeded Cougars knocked off Arizona 72-60 Thursday night in the South Regional Sweet 16. That came just hours after another one seed, Gonzaga, was felled by four-seed Arkansas.
These Cougars are an incredible story. Last year's Final Four team lost Quentin Grimes to the NBA and has dealt with season-ending injuries to this year's top scorer, Marcus Sasser, along with Tramon Mark.
But Houston just keeps on ticking, playing an incredibly balanced and fundamental brand of basketball. In the process, the Cougars ended the Wildcats' bid to return to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
It would be reductive to suggest that Houston just wanted it more. But the Cougars scrambled and dove for loose balls. They played swarming team defense. They forced 14 turnovers, held Arizona to 34 percent shooting from the field and out-rebounded them 37-34.
Really impressive half for Houston -- up six on top-seeded Arizona at the break. Wildcats just having a lot of trouble dealing with Houston's intensity and aggressiveness for 30 seconds (sometimes more) every possession at both ends of the floor. Haven't gotten into a rhythm.
Any coach in America that wants to give his team an example of what it takes to win and how to play just needs to have tape of this Houston handy. All heart, move ball on offense perfectly, ferocious defense, crash boards on both ends.
It would be more accurate to say that the Cougars wanted it, badly. And in what has been a bracket-burning type of tournament, that intensity and poise makes them a real threat to win it all.
Key Stats
Jamal Shead, HOU: 21 points, six assists
Kyler Edwards, HOU: 19 points, five boards
Josh Carlton, HOU: 10 points, seven rebounds
Benedict Mathurin, AZ: 15 points, 4-of-14 from the field
Dalen Terry, AZ: 17 points, six rebounds
Christian Koloko, AZ: 10 points, four rebounds
Shead Was the Unlikely Hero for Houston
Houston has been rotating through leading men. Against UAB in the first round, Edwards went for 25. Taze Moore gave them 21 against Illinois in the second round. On Thursday, it was Shead's turn.
And it was a huge turn, given that he was the team's fifth-leading scorer among its healthy players.
#KHOU11@UHCougarMBK The Coogs are always better when Shead is more assertive on the offensive end. It looks like he's turning it up
To go on a deep run, you sometimes need a role player or two to go off. On a night when Houston played superb defense, Shead gave them enough on the other end to push them through to the Elite Eight.
Mathurin Didn't Have Another Epic Performance in the Tank
Mathurin was phenomenal in Arizona's overtime win against TCU in the second round, scoring 30 points. Houston's defense proved to be a tougher assignment.
Mathurin went just 1-of-7 in the first half from the field. While he picked it up in the second half, he went long stretches without making much of an impact, and the buckets he did get were off tough looks.
Houston's defense has just completely erased Mathurin. He's a non-factor.
Arizona played with fire against TCU, but Mathurin extinguished the flames. The future lottery pick couldn't come up with an encore against Houston.
What's Next?
The Cougars will face No. 2 seed Villanova on Saturday at 6:09 p.m.
Arizona's Bennedict Mathurin Tried to Apologize After TCU Cheerleader Video Surfaced
Mar 23, 2022
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) and center Christian Koloko (35) react at the end of overtime in a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against TCU, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in San Diego. Arizona won 85-80. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin reached out to a member of the TCU dance team to apologize after a video of him seemingly coming into contact with her chest as he walked off the court circulated online.
Mathurin did not say whether the woman responded to an email he sent through the TCU athletic department, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke released a statement saying Mathurin did not believe he made any contact with the dance team member.
"Shortly after returning to Tucson, I was notified that people on social media were claiming a video clip showed Bennedict Mathurin may have made physical contact with a TCU student while walking off the court. I have reached out to TCU's Athletics Department, and I spoke with Bennedict," Heeke said.
"While he does not recall any contact, he has attempted to reach out to the TCU student through their Athletic Department to apologize."
Mathurin bowed and then outstretched his arms as he walked off the court after scoring 30 points in the Wildcats' 85-80 victory over the Horned Frogs. It appears that Mathurin either made contact with the dancer's breast with his left hand or pulled away right before touching her.
Video of the incident shot from multiple angles paints an unclear picture of what actually happened.
The dancer did not have any visible reaction when Mathurin walked past her.
TCU's athletic department has not made any public comment, nor has the woman.
It does not appear Arizona plans to impose any discipline on Mathurin. The Wildcats are set to play Houston on Thursday in the Sweet 16.
No. 1 Arizona Survives No. 9 TCU's Upset Bid in OT, Will Face Houston in Sweet 16
Mar 21, 2022
Arizona players react on the bench after a dunk by guard Bennedict Mathurin against TCU during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Sunday, March 20, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
The No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats survived a scare from the No. 9 seed TCU Horned Frogs en route to an 85-80 overtime win in San Diego on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin scored a season-high 30 points, including a three-pointer with 14 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 75.
That set up a chaotic final sequence in regulation.
TCU guard Mike Miles Jr. had trouble advancing the ball because of Arizona's defensive pressure. However, he appeared to get fouled as he lost the ball near half court by Wildcats guard Dalen Terry.
No call was made, and Terry picked up the loose ball and scampered to the hoop. He slammed the ball home as time expired, but he was a few tenths of a second too late.
On the next possession, Kerr Kriisa took a trio of three-point attempts but did not connect on any of them.
Koloko came up with the offensive rebound after the first two to keep the possession alive, but Mathurin grabbed the third and put it home for an 83-80 lead.
TCU forward Chuck O'Bannon Jr. missed a three on the other end, but Mathurin responded with a missed triple of his own. Koloko, however, skied to grab Mathurin's miss and sealed this game with a put-back dunk.
Koloko had 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting, 12 rebounds and three blocks. O'Bannon Jr. (23 points), Miles Jr. (20) and center Eddie Lampkin Jr. (20) paced the TCU offense.
Arizona has now made the Sweet 16 for the 20th time in school history and first since 2017. The Wildcats improved to 33-3 with the win.
TCU, which hadn't made the second round of the NCAA tournament since 1987 before this year, ends the season at 21-13.
Notable Performances
Arizona G Bennedict Mathurin: 30 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals
Arizona C Christian Koloko: 28 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks
TCU F Chuck O'Bannon Jr.: 23 points, five rebounds, four steals
TCU G Mike Miles Jr.: 20 points, three assists
TCU C Eddie Lampkin Jr.: 20 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks
Mathurin, Koloko Lead Wildcats to Win
All Wildcats not named Mathurin or Koloko scored just 27 points on 11-of-36 shooting. It was an off-night for that crew, but Mathurin and Koloko were up to the task of leading this team to a gritty win over a tough TCU squad.
Mathurin starred all night, especially in the second half and overtime. He arguably delivered the dunk of the tournament to put Arizona up 54-52.
It appeared Arizona was set to pull away after an 8-0 run to go up 67-58. Koloko hit a big shot during that span, putting in this layup plus the foul. That gave him a career high in points.
Mathurin and Koloko scored the rest of Arizona's points from there as the Wildcats outlasted the Horned Frogs in an instant classic.
It won't get any easier against a Houston team that just beat a stout Illinois squad 68-53, but the Mathurin-Koloko duo can keep the Wildcats in any game.
Tremendous Effort From TCU
It's easy to play the "What if?" game after this one following the uncalled foul near the end of regulation. Miles, a 77.3 percent career free-throw shooter, would have gone to the line for two shots with about three seconds left.
Far more likely than not, TCU would have won the game.
Alas, that did not happen. Still, TCU showed a lot of heart against a No. 1 seed largely considered the second- or third-best team remaining in the field.
O'Bannon Jr. punctuated a great start for the Horned Frogs, putting home this dunk for a 10-2 edge:
Arizona jumped out to a 67-58 advantage, but TCU fired back with a 12-0 run. O'Bannon Jr. scored the first five points before Lampkin hit this baby hook to cut the deficit to two.
Lampkin Jr. scored TCU's last five points in regulation, including a free throw following an offensive rebound as well as a layup with 37 seconds remaining that gave TCU a 75-72 lead.
The rest of the game didn't go in TCU's favor, but credit to the Horned Frogs for a valiant effort. Head coach Jamie Dixon's crew has a lot to be proud of after a great tournament appearance that started with a resounding 69-42 win over Seton Hall.
What's Next?
Arizona will play No. 5 seed Houston in the South Regional semifinals on Thursday at San Antonio's AT&T Center. The game will occur after the conclusion of the other semifinal between No. 2 seed Villanova and No. 11 seed Michigan, which tips off at 7:15 p.m. ET.
The semifinal winners will play Saturday at a to-be-determined time in San Antonio.
No. 1 Arizona Cruises Past Wright State, Advances to 2nd Round of NCAA Tournament
Mar 19, 2022
Arizona center Christian Koloko (35) comes down after a dunk against Wright State during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Friday, March 18, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
The Arizona Wildcats are one step closer to their first Final Four since the 2000-01 season.
Arizona defeated the 16th-seeded Wright State Raiders 87-70 in Friday's first-round matchup in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Christian Koloko and Bennedict Mathurin spearheaded the effort for the victors as they lived up to their billing as the top seed in the South Region.
Christian Koloko is the 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 player in @MarchMadnessMBB history to have:
Solid showings from Grant Basile, Trey Calvin and Tim Finke weren't enough for the Raiders, who were unable to build on the momentum they created with a win over Bryant in the First Four.
A No. 1 seed means this tournament is Final Four or bust for Arizona, making a quick start in the small picture of Friday's individual game and the overall picture of the Big Dance all the more imperative.
After all, it takes just one quick look at another Wildcats team to know what can happen if an underdog hangs around and starts to believe after 15th-seeded Saint Peter's stunned Kentucky on Thursday. Eliminating doubt in the early going was surely the goal even if Arizona was without guard Kerr Kriisa because of an ankle injury.
On cue, Mathurin's three-pointer gave the Pac-12 representative a double-digit lead within the first five minutes.
The game seemed to be over a number of times in the first half as Arizona used its size advantage and physicality to build a 25-12 rebounding advantage. Throw in transition opportunities that came from its athleticism advantage and multiple three-pointers from Mathurin, Justin Kier and Pelle Larsson, and the Wildcats appeared to be in control.
Yet they couldn't pull away and saw a lead that was as high as 16 shrink to 11 by halftime. They looked to be sleepwalking at times with 10 ugly turnovers, and the defense didn't have many answers for Calvin's ability to hit from the outside and get into the lane.
Calvin's 14 points in the first half kept Wright State within striking distance, which was all the more concerning for the favorites since Tanner Holden scored just two points in the first half after exploding for 37 in the First Four win over Bryant.
Those concerns became more pressing when Basile put the Raiders' offense on his back early in the second half and cut the deficit to single digits with a three-pointer, and-one and layup. It would have been easy for the Wildcats to tighten up under the pressure, but they responded by taking over the game instead.
Koloko was the driving force with dominant play on both ends. He controlled the glass, facilitated when doubles came, swatted or challenged almost every Wright State shot in the lane, finished a dunk off a lob and even extended his game beyond the arc with a three.
Mathurin hit a three and jumper for good measure, and just like that, the lead was 20, and the competitive portion of the game was over.
Arizona's team defense also deserves plenty of credit as it put the game away, especially on Holden. Had he replicated his success from the previous game while Basile, Calvin and Finke all played well for stretches, the Wildcats may have been in serious trouble.
Instead, they swarmed to his looks and held the Raiders as a whole to just 34.8 percent shooting from the field.
There is still plenty to clean up for Arizona, starting with its 19 turnovers, but there were enough good signs in the opening few minutes and during the second half to suggest a deep run is in store.
Especially if Kriisa returns alongside Koloko and Mathurin.
What's Next?
Arizona will face the winner of the matchup between No. 8 Seton Hall and No. 9 TCU in the round of 32 on Sunday.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 11: Bennedict Mathurin #0 and Dalen Terry #4 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrate on the court after the team's 82-72 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on March 11, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats defeated the No. 2 UCLA Bruins 84-76 in the men's Pac-12 Championship Game on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for their first conference title since 2018, when Deandre Ayton was named tournament MVP.
Arizona now has eight wins in the Pac-12 title game, the most of any school in the conference. The Oregon Ducks have the second-most titles, and they're still well behind the Wildcats with five championships.
Before Saturday, Arizona and UCLA hadn't met in the Pac-12 Championship Game since 2014, which the Bruins won 75-71. The Wildcats reached the 2022 conference title game with wins over No. 9 Stanford and No. 4 Colorado.
Arizona entered halftime of Saturday's contest down 40-35, but the team came out with fire in the second half for the come from behind victory. Sophomore guard Bennedict Mathurin had one of his best games of the season against UCLA, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
The Naismith Men's College Player of the Year semifinalist finished with 27 points, four rebounds and seven assists to power the Wildcats to victory. He earned the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament award for his efforts.
🗣️ And One!@BennMathurin has a team-high eight after this three-point play
However, Mathurin couldn't have done it without the help of several other players, including Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Christian Koloko, who finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, one steal and three blocks.
It was an incredibly well-rounded performance from the Wildcats and arguably their best of the tournament. Even though the Bruins had four of their starters finish with at least 14 points, it wasn't enough to combat Arizona's depth.
Senior guard Jules Bernard paced the Bruins with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal, while junior guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and two steals.
While the Bruins are still going to the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats are going to be a No. 1 seed in the tournament for the first time since 2014. They'll await their destination on Selection Sunday.
5-Star PF Kylan Boswell Commits to Arizona over Illinois, UNLV
Feb 28, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 29: A detail of NCAA Official Wilson basketballs are seen racked up on the court prior to Oregon playing against Louisville during the Midwest Region Semifinal round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 29, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Kylan Boswell, a 5-star point guard in the class of 2023, committed to Arizona on Monday.
Boswell chose the Wildcats over Illinois and UNLV.
A 6'1", 180-pound point guard who plays for Compass Prep in Arizona, he is ranked as the No. 2 point guard in the nation and the No. 11 player overall, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He transferred from Corona Centennial (Calif.) for this season because of the latter's national schedule against some of the top teams in the country.
247Sports recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins describes Boswell as "a competitive and winning point guard with a strong and sturdy frame who sets the tone on the defensive end. One of the best on-ball defenders in his class, Boswell is aggressive in getting into opposing ball handlers and guarding with physicality."
Boswell blogged about his junior year for Sports Illustrated, writing in October how he had a "great time" visiting Arizona and "loved to see how the coaches were in live action."
Boswell had an excellent summer, helping lead his AAU squad Team Why Not (Calif.) to the E16 Peach Jam title and winning a gold medal as a part of Team USA's under-16 squad.
Boswell's commitment gives Arizona its first prospect in the 2023 class. He should be in line for a starting job in the Wildcats backcourt as soon as he steps on campus.
Bennedict Mathurin, No. 2 Arizona Upset by Unranked Colorado 79-63 in Pac-12 Action
Feb 27, 2022
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin, left, goes up for a basket as Colorado forward Tristan da Silva (23) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The second-ranked Arizona Wildcats were stunned Saturday in a 79-63 loss to Colorado at the CU Events Center.
Riding a nine-game winning streak that moved them up to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since November 2017, the Wildcats suffered their first loss since Jan. 25 against UCLA.
Arizona collapsed on both ends of the court in the second half. The Buffaloes had a 47-26 scoring advantage after halftime to earn their first win over a ranked opponent this season.
Tristan da Silva scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Jabari Walker put up a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Bennedict Mathurin had one of his worst performances of the season. The Wildcats sophomore star scored 12 points and went 3-of-11 from the field.
Saturday was a bad day to be a ranked team in college basketball:
No. 2 Arizona: L at Colorado No. 3 Auburn: L at Tennessee No. 4 Purdue: L at Michigan State No. 5 Kansas: L at Baylor No. 6 Kentucky: L at Arkansas
That list doesn't even include top-ranked Gonzaga, which lost 67-57 to St. Mary's.
Arizona had been steadily moving up the rankings all season as it kept winning and other teams kept losing. Its only losses prior to Saturday were against UCLA and Tennessee, two teams ranked in the Top 20 of the current Associated Press poll.
Since their 75-59 loss to UCLA on Jan. 25, the Wildcats were averaging 81.6 points per game during their nine-game winning streak. They scored at least 83 points in four straight contests.
This game looked like it was going to be more of the same for Arizona in the first half. The offense dropped 37 points through the first 20 minutes.
Things fell apart quickly coming out of the intermission with Colorado scoring on back-to-back possessions to make it a 37-36 game. Da Silva's layup with 17:24 remaining put the Buffaloes up 43-42, a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game.
K.J. Simpson scored five consecutive points early in the second half that helped Colorado open up an eight-point lead.
Simpson had 13 points total, with 12 coming in the second half. The sophomore guard had more points in this game than he did in the previous two combined (12).
Mathurin and Azuolas Tubelis were the only Arizona players who scored in double figures, but they shot a combined 6-of-20 from the field. The entire Wildcats team had 16 turnovers to 11 assists.
Things don't figure to get easier for Arizona with a game against No. 16 USC on Tuesday. The Wildcats won the first meeting between those two teams, 72-63, on Feb. 5 at McKale Memorial Center.
Colorado will wrap up the regular season on March 5 against Utah at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
