California Golden Bears vs. Colorado Buffaloes Pick & Prediction JANUARY 10th 2024

Although Cal saw a 19-game Pac-12 losing streak come to end this past weekend, the Golden Bears are still facing plenty of adversity as they prepare to face Colorado on Wednesday night in Berkeley, Calif.

Cal (5-10, 1-3 Pac-12) will be without senior point guard Devin Askew for the rest of the season as he deals with a left foot injury. He appeared in just six games, averaging 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Askew will be applying for a medical redshirt as he attempts to return next season.

“It’s a tough loss for us, a real tough loss,” said Jaylon Tyson, who is playing point guard in Askew’s place. “We haven’t had him a majority of the season. Wish the best for him, wish he recovers well.”

Tyson is averaging a team-high 20.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go along with six boards as the Golden Bears beat UCLA 66-57 Saturday to end their conference skid.

Fardaws Aimaq supplied 13 points and 14 rebounds against the Bruins, while Jalen Cone had 12 points.

Meanwhile, Colorado (11-4, 2-2) has encouraging news on the injury front, as freshman forward Cody Williams could potentially be in the lineup against Cal after missing seven games with a wrist ailment.

“I’m hopeful he’ll be back Wednesday,” Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle told BuffZone. “But we’ll see.”

In seven games (all starts) this season, Williams has averaged 14.0 points while shooting 62.3 percent from the field.

Colorado won its first five games without Williams before losing at Arizona and Arizona State last week.

Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva missed three games due to an ankle injury before returning for Saturday’s 76-73 loss to the Sun Devils. He had 17 points in 36 minutes against Arizona State.

First-year Cal coach Mark Madsen coached his former team, Utah Valley, to a victory at Colorado last season in the second round of the NIT.

–Field Level Media