It certainly wasn’t the first time J’Vonne Hadley has flashed the expanded array of offensive talents that are a far cry from last year’s paint-bound approach.
Yet it probably was one of Hadley’s most clutch moments of the season.
Colorado’s undersized yet versatile forward enjoyed a huge night during Thursday’s 82-70 victory for the CU men’s basketball team against Arizona State at the CU Events Center.
Hadley posted his first double-double in a Buffs uniform and led CU’s torrid performance at the free throw line. Yet it was his key plays in the final three minutes that allowed CU to improve to 13-0 at home for the first time in program history while setting up a home showdown on Saturday against No. 8 Arizona.
“They were making a run. And if you don’t score in those situations, you put a lot of pressure on your defense,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “J’Vonne’s plays at the end of the shot clock were huge. I thought his defensive effort against (Jose) Perez, who really puts foul pressure on you, (Hadley) pulled the chair on him a few times, hands back, really good defense. Smart player, competitive player. And now he’s starting to make plays for us and score the ball.”
CU had the ball and a seven-point lead at the final media timeout when Hadley, with the shot clock winding down, drove to the hoop and converted a 3-point play to push the Buffs’ lead back to 10. After five quick points by ASU, Hadley answered with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, once again giving CU a 10-point edge with 1:28 remaining.
Hadley went 5-for-8 from the field and 7-for-7 at the free throw line, finishing with 19 points and a CU career-high 11 rebounds. He also went 2-for-2 on 3-pointers, improving his season percentage from long range to .455 (10-for-22).
“It’s really just my confidence level right now,” Hadley said. “I’ve always been a pretty confident player, but the people around me, my support cast, they’re super supportive of me when I have a bad game, good game. No matter how I play, they’re always there for me.”
Almost there
Freshman Cody Williams returned to the starting lineup following a one-game injury absence, giving the Buffs their regular starting five — Williams, Hadley, KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin Jr. — for just the 12th time in 23 games this season.
However, with Luke O’Brien missing his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle, the Buffs played without at least one of their top seven rotation players — the regular starting five, plus O’Brien and Julian Hammond III — for the 12th time this season.
O’Brien is improving and went through pre-game warmups after practicing limp-free on Wednesday, but Boyle said O’Brien’s status remains uncertain for Saturday’s showdown against Arizona.
“His ankle’s getting better each day,” Boyle said. “He was limping on Tuesday. I told him if you’re limping, you’re not playing. He came back on Wednesday, went through practice, wasn’t limping. But he’s certainly not 100%.”
Notable
Simpson’s career-high-tying eight assists gave him 299 in his career and moved him to 14th on CU’s career assists list. … Tristan da Silva has gone 6-for-14 (.429) on 3-pointers in the past three games. … Da Silva edged closer to CU’s top-10 list for all-time made 3-pointers. His two on Thursday increased his career total to 121. Da Silva’s former teammate, McKinley Wright IV, is 10th all-time with 133.