KJ Simpson stays hot in CU Buffs’ final nonconference game
With Pac-12 play now on deck for Colorado, KJ Simpson is playing arguably the best basketball of his college career.
His field percentage has improved from just under 40% last season to 57.7% this year and even more important, the third-year point guard has found consistency within his game. Capped off by a 23-point performance in Colorado’s win over Utah Tech on Thursday, Simpson scored at least 12 points in each of the Buffs’ 11 nonconference games.
“It’s not just me, it’s my teammates. They allow me to get open shots,” Simpson said after the Buffs’ 98-71 blowout of the Trailblazers. “A lot of times today I was just spotting up and they just found me.”
Simpson’s 8-for-14 shooting performance, which included five made 3s, against Utah Tech also marked his third straight game with at least 20 points. He scored a season-high 30 earlier this month at Colorado State.
Additionally, Simpson is averaging career highs in assists (4.5) and rebounds (4.5) per game.
“He’s playing at a high, high level as a point guard and leader,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said of Simpson. “I thought he had a few forced turnovers tonight that he normally hasn’t had, but he had six assists. KJ is playing confident, he’s playing loose, but he’s not loose in the sense of he’s cavalier or careless with the ball. He’s got a lot of confidence, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. He’s becoming a guy we rely on every single night on both sides of the ball.”
If Simpson maintains his consistency well into March, he should continue to fly up NBA draft boards as well.
Colorado closed its nonconference slate at 9-2 and will now prepare for Washington on Dec. 29.
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