Barrington Hargress earned his reputation as a prolific scorer at UC Riverside. With his transfer to Colorado, Hargress hoped to prove he could be a complete point guard at the power conference level.
Hargress has proven that point, and then some.
As his first season with the Buffaloes nears an end, Hargress has an opportunity to etch his name in the record book of the CU men’s basketball team with the program’s season 3-point percentage record within reach. It’s still a mark that Hargress has to go out and earn, and it won’t happen easily, as the Buffs host No. 2 Arizona in the regular season finale on Saturday night before heading to the Big 12 Conference tournament.
“I feel like I showed at the mid-major level that I’m a scorer,” Hargress said. “I feel like the biggest question was going to be how does that transfer to the Big 12? I feel like it’s translated really well. I’ve shot really efficiently while also getting my teammates involved as best I could. That’s just been a true testament to who I really am and how I like to play the game.
“I’d like to say I’ve proven something to all the people. But that’s for everybody else to decide.”
After going 3-for-3 on 3-pointers at Utah, Hargress increased his season 3-point percentage to .505 (48-for-95). That’s ahead of the record pace set by Levi Knutson’s .474 mark in 2010-11, but Hargress doesn’t have much room for error. In order to qualify for CU’s list of all-time season leaders, players have to average 1.5 made 3-pointers per game while playing in a minimum of 75% of the games.
Hargress has started every game, but he goes into the Arizona matchup averaging 1.60 made 3-pointers per game.
Beyond the timely shooting, however, Hargress has brought stability to an offense that led the Big 12 in turnovers last year. In Big 12 games, Hargress leads the league with an assist-to-turnover rate of 3.8 (69 assists, 18 turnovers). His 133 assists ranks 20th among CU’s season leaders, and with a minimum of two games remaining Hargress is on pace to pass Chauncey Billups’ 1996-97 total (139) for 17th all-time.
Hargress isn’t the only Buffs player who will have to protect the ball, and knock down a few shots, if Colorado hopes to pull off what would be a stunning upset — especially with starting forward Sebastian Rancik expected to miss his second consecutive game due to an injury.
The Wildcats already have clinched the Big 12’s regular season title and are in line for a No. 1 seed at the NCAA Tournament. Arizona goes into the final weekend owning the top marks in Big 12 play in field goal percentage (.486), defensive field goal percentage (.384) and average rebounding margin (plus-9.7), prompting CU head coach Tad Boyle to say he believes it’s the best Arizona team he’s faced with the Buffs.
“We’ve got to compete our tails off,” Boyle said. “We’ve got to defend. We’ve got to rebound. And we’ve got to take care of the ball. Those three things are what we have to do to give ourselves a chance to beat (Arizona).
“In my mind, it’s the best Arizona team in 15 years I’ve competed against them. Thirteen years in the Pac-12, this is the second year now in the Big 12, the best Arizona (team). And we’ve played against some really good Arizona teams.”
No. 2 Arizona Wildcats at CU Buffs men’s basketball
TIPOFF: Saturday, 9 p.m., CU Events Center.
TV/RADIO: ESPN2/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Arizona 28-2, 15-2 Big 12 Conference; Colorado 17-13, 7-10.
COACHES: Arizona — Tommy Lloyd, 5th season (140-35 at Arizona and overall); Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (329-217, 385-283 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Arizona — G Brayden Burries, 6-4, Fr. (15.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .494 FG%, .369 3%); G Jaden Bradley, 6-3, Sr. (13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, .466 FG%, .389 3%); F Koa Peat, 6-8, Fr. (13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .534 FG%); C Motiejus Krivas, 7-2, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, .596 FG%); F Ivan Kharchenkov, 6-7, Fr. (9.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .476 FG%); F Tobe Awaka, 6-8, Sr. (9.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg, .586 FG%); G Anthony Dell’Orso, 6-6, Sr. (9.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Colorado — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (16.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, .493 FG%, .376 3%); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (14.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, .542 FG%, .505 3%); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, .482 FG%); F Alon Michaeli, 6-9, Fr. (7.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg); G Jalin Holland, 6-5, Fr. (4.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Josiah Sanders, 6-5, Fr. (4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .468 FG%).
NOTES: The Buffs have lost 14 consecutive games against ranked foes and have lost the past five matchups against Arizona. … CU will honor its lone senior, sixth-year center Elijah Malone, prior to the game. … UA had lost five consecutive games in Boulder before winning in its most recent visit two years ago. … Boyle is familiar with UA’s Awaka and credited the senior forward as one of the reasons the Wildcats’ depth stands out. In Big 12 games, Awaka ranks second with 9.2 rebounds per game despite coming off the bench. “The epitome of their team is Tobe Awaka,” Boyle said. “I coached that kid at USA Basketball on the 19 and under team. The role he’s accepted and played, and what he’s done for that team, the sacrifice, it just tells you what kind of group they’ve got. He could start for any team in the Big 12.” … Colorado was ranked 71st in Friday’s NET Rankings. The Wildcats were No. 3. … The Buffs will be either the No. 11 or No. 12 seed at the Big 12 tournament next week, and play in either the first or last first-round game on Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.