Off to a 3-0 start, Colorado will look to continue trending in the right direction when it welcomes Alabama State on Monday night in Boulder, Colo.

The Buffaloes, who had a rare losing season under Tad Boyle last year, had narrow home victories over Big Sky opponents Montana State and Eastern Washington to start the season, then knocked off visiting Providence 97-88 on Friday.

Boyle likes the team’s progress, particularly on the defensive end. Although 88 points seems like a lot to give up, the defense improved in terms of opponents’ field goal percentage and 3-point percentage against Providence.

“I felt like our scouting report defense took a major step forward,” Boyle said. “That’s the good news. Now we have to talk about playing defense without fouls, because some nights are going to be like that, and Providence has really good guards. They know how to score and how to get to the free-throw line. We have to figure out now how to guard without fouling. When we figure that out, we have a chance to be pretty good.”

Boyle went on to praise his team’s willingness and desire to improve, both positives for a program that is coming off a 14-21 season in their return to the Big 12.

Offensively, Colorado has three players averaging at least 15.0 points with Isaiah Johnson (18.7), Alon Michaeli (15.5) and Sebastian Rancik (15.0). Michaeli had a team-high 20 points in the victory over Providence.

For Alabama State (2-1), it posted a signature victory last Tuesday with a 77-74 win at UAB. The Hornets rode that momentum to a 124-68 home victory over Virginia-Lynchburg on Friday. The Hornets had seven players score in double-figures against Virginia-Lynchburg, led by Micah Simpson and Damarien Yates with 19 each.

Following the UAB victory, coach Tony Madlock spoke with HBCU Premier Sports about the magnitude of the victory and making sure “you find out how you keep winning those types of games.”

Monday will be the first matchup between Colorado and Alabama State.

–Field Level Media