Colorado Buffaloes Face Arizona State Sun Devils in Key Big 12 Matchup

Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle experiments with smaller lineup as Sun Devils look to build on road win over Utah

Feb. 7, 2026 at 3:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Colorado Buffaloes (13-10, 3-7 Big 12) will host the Arizona State Sun Devils (12-11, 3-7 Big 12) in a key conference matchup on Saturday. Colorado coach Tad Boyle has used smaller lineups in the team's last two games, yielding mixed results. The Sun Devils are coming off a road win over Utah where they utilized a zone defense to great effect. Both teams are looking to gain ground in the competitive Big 12 conference standings.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for both teams as they try to improve their conference records and position themselves for a potential postseason berth. Colorado's experimentation with smaller lineups could provide an interesting strategic wrinkle, while Arizona State's use of zone defense may pose challenges for the Buffaloes' offense.

The details

Colorado's recent lineup changes have seen the team start four freshmen, with mixed results. In their last game, a loss to Baylor, the smaller lineup struggled on both ends of the floor. Arizona State, meanwhile, utilized a zone defense to great effect in their win over Utah, jumping out to an early lead and maintaining control throughout. The Sun Devils were led by Massamba Diop's 15 points and Maurice Odum's 13 points and 6 assists.

  • Colorado and Arizona State will face off on Saturday, February 11, 2026.
  • Colorado is coming off a loss to Baylor on Wednesday, February 7, 2026.
  • Arizona State is coming off a road win over Utah on Wednesday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Tad Boyle

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who has experimented with smaller lineups in the team's last two games.

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, who utilized a zone defense to great effect in the team's recent win over Utah.

Massamba Diop

The second-leading scorer (13.6 points per game) and top rebounder (5.8) for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Maurice Odum

The leading scorer (17.0 points per game) and assists leader (6.2) for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We really worked on turning our defense into offense. We knew if we did that, we would not have to run around as much. We wanted to get out to a big lead to make it easier.”

— Allen Mukeba, Arizona State Player

“They would not think we would use zone when we have never really used it all year. Our guys did a great job of executing it. Their guards were not able to get touches in the paint like they normally do and they were just not in a great rhythm.”

— Bobby Hurley, Arizona State Head Coach

What’s next

The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams' conference standings and postseason aspirations. A win for Colorado would help them gain ground in the Big 12, while a victory for Arizona State would provide a boost as they look to improve their position.

The takeaway

This matchup between Colorado and Arizona State features two teams looking to gain momentum in the competitive Big 12 conference. The strategic adjustments made by the coaches, such as Colorado's use of smaller lineups and Arizona State's zone defense, will be key factors in determining the outcome of the game and the trajectory of each team's season.