Eddie Lampkin Jr. might still be a newcomer to the Pac-12 Conference. But he’s no stranger to the desire for a little payback against the Arizona Wildcats.
Lampkin was a redshirt freshman at TCU two years ago when the Wildcats ended TCU’s season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, eliminating the Horned Frogs despite a career game from Lampkin.
The 20 points Lampkin scored in that game remains his collegiate career high, and he will get his first shot at Arizona as part of Colorado’s program when the Buffaloes visit the 10th-ranked Wildcats on Thursday night (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Arizona is coming off a 100-82 loss at Stanford on Sunday that dropped the Wildcats six spots in this week’s AP Top 25. The Buffs, meanwhile, opened Pac-12 play without starters Cody Williams (wrist) and Tristan da Silva (ankle) but still managed to post the program’s first 2-0 start within the conference since the 2014-15 season.
“I owe them from two years ago,” Lampkin said. “They beat us in March Madness and I’ve been waiting on this for two years. I hope they’re ready.”
Despite offseason back surgery that slowed Lampkin during his first preseason at CU, he nonetheless has enjoyed a strong start with the Buffs.
Lampkin takes a team-best average of 7.7 rebounds per game into Thursday’s game in Tucson, and his 10-point, six-rebound effort during Sunday’s win against Washington State ended a run of three consecutive double-doubles.
As expected, Lampkin has provided interior grit and an impressive passing ability out of the paint, but if there has been a revelation it has been Lampkin’s work at the free throw line. His 68.2 free throw percentage still won’t garner many invitations to write shooting instructional manuals, but it is a dramatic improvement over the 53.1% mark Lampkin posted at the line the past two seasons as part of the rotation at TCU.
Lampkin averaged just 1.98 free throw attempts per game in 57 appearances at TCU during the past two years, but he goes into the Arizona game averaging 3.38 free throw attempts per game. He has gone 19 for 27 (70.4%) at the line over the past three games.
“I would really say it’s just being patient. Now I’m being way more comfortable,” Lampkin said. “If I do take a jump shot, in my head I know coach (Tad Boyle), he wants me to do it. For me, it’s always rhythm and just taking my time. Coach trusts me way more. If I get a one-on-one, I go try to get a bucket and either they’re going to foul me or I’m going to score. For him to just trust me like that is so big. My confidence is so high right now and I just feel comfortable.”
Following an off-day on Monday, the Buffs (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12) returned to practice on Tuesday with Boyle still uncertain whether Williams or da Silva will be available against the Wildcats. Da Silva missed the Pac-12-opening wins against the Washington schools after turning an ankle at practice last week. Williams, an Arizona native, has missed the past five games due to an injured left wrist and also missed the second game of the season against Grambling State due to a foot injury.
“Don’t know. Still wait-and-see,” Boyle said of his two missing starters. “Getting closer on Cody, but not 100% sure yet.”