Colorado still has the Big 12 Tournament ahead, where they'll enter as either the No. 11 or No. 12 seed when play begins March 10-14 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
But first, they have a chance to grab a statement win at home tonight against No. 2 Arizona, who has lost just twice all season.
What a perfect sendoff that would be for graduate center Elijah Malone—though it won't come easy.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd knows exactly what's in store for his team's trip to Boulder, and he knows it could be a challenge.
"We are excited to play at Colorado," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "I've went up there with a good team before and got smacked. I know how tough it is to play there, so trust me, it's got my full attention."FLM, CBS Sports
Colorado will honor senior center Elijah Malone on Senior Night
Malone transferred to Colorado before last season as a two-time NAIA All-American, filling a critical need for front-court depth after the team lost several key players from its NCAA Tournament roster.
Colorado's return to the Big 12 didn't go as planned. They won just three conference games, but Malone stuck it out and decided to give it one more year.
His playing time has decreased this season, but he's maintained a positive attitude while helping a young team learn on the fly.
Malone is averaging 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds over 13.3 minutes this season, all down from last year.
Still, Colorado has more than doubled its conference win total—from three wins to seven with one game remaining.
Though the return to the Big 12 has been rocky, the future looks bright. That's presumably why Tad Boyle confirmed he'll be returning as head coach next season.
Colorado's freshman class—Isaiah Johnson, Ian Inman, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Alon Michaeli—has injected much-needed energy into the program. If Colorado can retain these players and keep that core intact, this could be a team that gives the Big 12 problems for years to come.
After all, during Lloyd's first season at Arizona in 2021-22, Colorado upset the No. 2-ranked Wildcats at home, 79-63.