After defeating rival University of Washington over the weekend and with the return of their leading scorer, the Cougars are trying to forget that they’ve lost seven Pac-12 games. That fresh start begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. when the team travels to Boulder, Colo. to take on the Colorado Buffaloes in hopes of achieving their first victory on the road.

  “We talk about turning this thing around,” WSU junior guard DaVonte Lacy said. “We keep saying ‘this is the moment where we can do it,’ but now we have to prove it. I mean it sounds good on paper but we have to come out and do it.”

The Cougars (9-12, 2-7) hosted the Buffaloes (16-6, 5-4) in Spokane Jan. 8 and suffered a heartbreaking 71-70 loss in overtime. However, the circumstances are much different this time. In the previous meeting WSU was without leading scorer DaVonte Lacy, who did not play due to a rib injury. Colorado’s leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie played 38 minutes in the last meeting, but suffered a season-ending ACL injury on Jan. 12 against Washington.

“It was super tough (to watch from the bench),” Lacy said. “But at the same time I was really proud because everybody counted us out and having that one game it hurt and we’re not into moral victories but it showed (Colorado) that (WSU) can play with our without me, so I think it did wonders for our confidence.”

Winning a Pac-12 game on the road will require the Cougars to be sharp and efficient in three areas.

Getting to the foul line

In the one point loss against the Buffaloes early on in the season, the Cougars shot only three total free throws, while Colorado made 26-of-38 free throws in the game.

 “A couple games ago when we had four free throw attempts and ever since then the focus is getting to the free throw line,” Lacy said. “I think we’ve all noticed that even when I came back, Dex attacked hard, Que, Royce, all attacked the basket hard. I think we’re all getting to the point across because I saw it when I was out, but the coaches have seen it has well and addressed it.”

 In the Cougars’ last game against the University of Washington, the team shot 21-of-34 from the free throw line which was one of the main reasons why they went on to victory.

“That’s a big part of the game,” WSU men’s basketball Head Coach Ken Bone said. “There’s a huge discrepancy there and we’ve got to be better at attacking.”

Contain the big men of Colorado

Colorado’s Josh Scott averages 14.4 points a game along with 9.1 rebounds. Last time the Buffaloes played the Cougars, Scott scored 19 points and dominated the glass in overtime which helped them achieve victory.

“(Colorado) is not only good on the perimeter but their bigs are good too,” Bone said.

WSU sophomore forward Junior Longrus is one of the Cougars’ strongest post defenders and will need to do a good job of defending the low post.

 “What impresses me about (Longrus) is just like the other day against Washington is a lot of the things he does on the court do not get translated to the stat sheet,” Bone said. “He gets a tremendous amount of deflections, he’s there on the catch a lot of times if we’re doubling a guy which is hard for other guys to recognize.”

Play through D.J.

 During the past four games WSU senior forward D.J. Shelton has averaged around 17 points a game for the Cougars along with getting double digit rebounds in three of those last four games. Shelton has been the hottest player right now for the Cougars and has helped spark their offense.

“I’m playing real aggressive, I’m just letting the game come to me,” Shelton said. “I’m not out there forcing nothing, playing wild, I’m playing smart and aggressive and just trying to lead the team the best way I can.”

Not only has Shelton been aggressive down low in the post making shots and grabbing rebounds, but the senior has also hit been hitting shots from behind the arch which makes him dangerous in all aspects on offense.

“His motor right now has been off the wall,” Lacy said. “He needs to continue that for us to have a great season. I think he understands that, I think he’s been understanding it the last couple games because he’s been crashing the glass pretty hard.”