Quick Post: 'Dre's Flu Game

This time, the clock was kinder to the visiting Buffs.

Visions of Tucson flashed through my head, but Stanford's Dwight Powell was a step slow on his game-tying dunk attempt.  After a quick look, the refs game CU the thumbs up, and they escaped Palo Alto with a huge 65-63 win.

The victory was defined by the play of Colorado stars Andre Roberson and Spencer Dinwiddie.  Down 10 points with under 15 minutes to go, 'Dre and Spencer decided they'd had enough.  The duo went on a tear, lifting the short-handed Buffs through an 18-2 run that permanently flipped momentum.  Overall, they combined for 23 of CU's 34 points scored in the second half.

At the 15 minute mark, the Spencer and 'Dre decided to flip the switch. From: the SJMN

Of the two, I was most impressed by Andre Roberson.  By all reports, the springy forward was suffering from flu-like symptoms all Wednesday, needing fluids and California sunshine just to make it to tip-off.  Once the game began, however, it was all good.  Shrugging off the fatigue, the budding star dropped a career-high 24 points to go along with 8 rebounds and his typical tenacious defense.  Yes, it was 'Dre's assignment, Powell, who got lose on the game's final play, but I won't hold it against him.

'Dre ignored the flu to pour in 24 huge points.  From: CUBuffs.com

Beyond just 'Dre and Spencer, however, the whole team showed the heart and grit required to win big games on the road.  Despite my concerns that Stanford forward Josh Huestis would abuse him, freshman Xavier Johnson stepped up to mute the bulky Cardinal big man.  Huestis was held to only four points in 35 minutes.  Further, reserve guard Jeremy Adams fought through patellar tendon tears in both knees and plantar fasciitis in his left foot to notch 8/4 in his second-consecutive step-up performance.

It's a big win for the team.  The Buffs have now won their last three road games, and five of their last six overall.  Sitting with a .500 in-conference road record, it's hard not to notice that this team is maturing past the old road woes. 

With the calendar flipping over to March this evening, every game counts, but CU needed at least one more road win to all but relieve any remaining doubt that they'll be Dancing.  They got that win, and can now focus on earning a top-4 seed for Las Vegas.