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Florida Basketball: Strengths and weakness for Colorado and Boise State

The Gators are awaiting their first round opponent as Colorado and Boise State will face off in the First Four

By Benjamin Henderson

Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden coaches form the sideline during the first half. The Florida
Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden coaches form the sideline during the first half. The Florida / Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner / USA TODAY
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The NCAA Tournament officially will get underway tonight with the play-in round in Dayton, OH. Tonight's action will feature Wagner vs Howard and Colorado State vs. Virginia. Tomorrow night will feature Grambling State vs Montana State and in a game that Florida Basketball will be watching closely, Colorado vs Boise State.

The Gators will face the winner of that final game on Friday at 4:30 in Indianapolis. Is there a preference who the Gators would rather face? The following are the strengths and weaknesses for Colorado and Boise State.

Colorado

Strengths

With a record of 24-10, Colorado finished third in the Pac-12, were ranked 25th in NCAA Net with four Quad One victories, and are 26th in the KenPom Index.

The Buffaloes can shoot and can shoot well. The put up a respectable 79 points per game, but it is their efficiency which should scare the Gators. Colorado is 5th in the country in three point shooting at 39.4%, 7th in overall field goal percentage at 49.3%, and 32nd in offensive efficiency, scoring 1.110 points per possession.

Colorado is also 24th in the country at defensive rebounding efficiency, collecting 77% of opponent misses.

Weaknesses

It may seem weird that Colorado is 7th in the country in field goal percentage yet barely snuck into the tournament, but it is because they don't take care of the basketball. Colorado commits a turnover on one out of every six possessions, 263rd in the country.

On top of that they don't force turnovers and have almost zero inside presence to stop opponents once they get inside. With just 2.1 blocks per game, Colorado is 339th in the country and swatting shots away.

Boise State

Strengths

At 22-10 out of the six bid Mountain West Conference, a lot of people were surprised to see Boise State drop down to a ten seed that is being forced to play in Dayton. The Broncos are 26th in NCAA NET and 39th in the KenPom Index.

Boise State doesn't have a ton a metrics that pop out, but they are a strong defensive rebounding team. At a rate of 78.5%, Boise State is 13th in the country at collecting opponent misses. They also do a great job at defending the arc, holding opponents to 30.6% from downtown, 23rd in the country.

Weaknesses

While Boise State may do a great job at collecting rebounds, they have almost zero resistance at stopping teams inside. Opponents have shot 52.2% on two-point shots this season, putting Boise State at 258th in the country.

And like Colorado, they do not generate blocks and rank 301st in block percentage.

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