Two teams that were optimistic heading into 2022-23 wrap up a disappointing regular season when the Utah Utes face the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo., Saturday afternoon.

Colorado (15-15, 7-12 Pac-12 Conference) is trying to avoid entering next week’s conference tournament with a losing record. The Buffaloes have lost three in a row, including a tough four-point setback to No. 4 UCLA.

Colorado came into the last three games with an 11-2 home record but is in danger of dropping its third straight at the CU Events Center.

The Buffaloes might have to play without leading scorer Tristan da Silva (16.0 points per game), who suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Bruins. He is considered day to day.

With only seven scholarship players on the roster, it will make it tough for Colorado but it appears the injury isn’t too severe.

“It’s not his foot, which I’m really thankful,” coach Tad Boyle said. “I was afraid it was a fifth metatarsal thing, which I’ve had a lot of players have which means surgery, but it was his ankle.”

The Utes (17-13, 10-9) have lost four straight and are in serious danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. They were playing well before the current skid despite losing Gabe Madsen to a high ankle sprain Jan. 28, but also lost Rollie Worster to a left ankle sprain Feb. 18.

Now Utah is trying to get some momentum before the Pac-12 tournament next week.

“We want to go to Boulder, take care of business there, and get our mojo back,” Marco Anthony told the Deseret News. “… We just got to stay in the moment. Everything is still in front of us. I feel like our mojo has been lost a little bit. But it is always the next man up mentality for us, and we just got to find it.”

Branden Carlson leads the Utes with 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

–Field Level Media