CORVALLIS - When Colorado and Oregon State last met in Boulder on Jan. 26, Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle sat all five of his team's typical starters, replacing them with five reserves who had made two combined starts.
Boyle said it was "not an indictment" of his starters, but a reward for reserves who "deserved" the opportunity. Regardless of the public rationale behind the move, it served a clear purpose for an underachieving team with NCAA Tournament aspirations that started conference play 0-7.
CU pulled away for an 85-78 victory and has won five of its last six after entering that matchup with the Beavers as one of three Power Five conference teams without a conference win.