Scouting the Pac-12 Basketball Arenas: Colorado’s CU Events Center

Each Pac-12 basketball arena has unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, ranging from its capacity to the way it’s structured and its history and tradition.

In this 12-part series, I look at what makes each facility unique, and recount some of the key moments and stats* in the Pac-12 Era. We continue with the CU Events Center.

CU Events Center

Built: 1979
Capacity: 11,064
Elevation: 5,370 feet

Overall Record:123-25
Overall Conference Record: 61-20
Overall Nonconference Record: 62-5

Nestled in the Colorado Rockies, the CU Events Center presents a formidable challenge for all opposing teams that enter its confines. Sitting at nearly a mile in elevation, the raucous environment provides an elite home-court advantage that matches or exceeds the best the Conference of Champions has to offer.

Not many programs in the Pac-12 have such natural advantages combined with a hostile environment. The dangerous combination creates a unique experience that most teams have difficulty overcoming.

Since the Conference expanded in 2011, the Ducks have failed to win in Boulder, going 0-7 during the period. UO squads ranked No. 4, No. 9, and No. 10 have all come away empty-handed. In fact, the Ducks have never won a game at CU. Ever.

Only UCLA has a winning record at the arena during the Pac-12 Era.

The Bruins have managed to post a 4-3 mark, and have more wins at the CU Events Center than Stanford, Arizona State, Washington State, Oregon, and California combined.

Similarly, just four teams have compiled more than two wins in the building since 2011-12: UCLA (4); Utah (3); Oregon State (3); and Washington (3).

As for nonconference teams, the Buffs have lost a mere five games during the Pac-12 Era, to Northern Iowa (2019); San Diego (2017); Colorado State (2016, 2014); and Wyoming (2011).

Meanwhile, CU has posted victories over No. 6 Kansas (2013), No. 13 Xavier (2016), Auburn (2014), BYU (2015), Georgia (2013), and Harvard (2013), plus a victory over Dayton in the 2019 NIT.

Surprisingly, the CU Events Center has witnessed just one game featuring two ranked opponents. In 2014, No. 10 Oregon was downed by No. 20 Colorado led by Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker.

When ranked, the Buffs have lost only three games at home, but have upset a Top 25 team nine times when unranked. And while reaching as high as No. 18, the home crowd has yet to see a Top 10 Buffs squad take the floor.

At the same time, the Colorado faithful have been humbled on three occasions by dominant performances from Arizona and Utah. But the double-digit defeat to San Diego in 2017 might have been the most painful.

Still, the arena remains one of the toughest in the Pac-12.

With the return of McKinley Wright IV and a strong recruiting class, CU projects to continue its dominance in Boulder during the 2020-21 season.

Records vs. Top 25 and When Ranked

Record v. Top 25: 10-5
Record v. Top 25 When Unranked: 9-5
Record v. Top 25 When Ranked: 1-0 (No. 10 Oregon, 2014)

Record When Ranked: 17-3

Highest Home-Game Rankings

Highest Ranking for Home Game: No. 18 (2020)
Victory over Highest Ranked Team: No. 4 Arizona State (2018); No. 4 Oregon (2020)

Highest Ranked Opponent: No. 4 Arizona (2014); No. 4 UCLA (2017); No. 4 Arizona State (2018); No. 4 Oregon (2020)

Noteworthy Wins

Noteworthy Conference Wins: No. 4 Arizona State (2018); No. 4 Oregon (2020); No. 8 Arizona (2016); No. 9 Arizona (2013); No. 9 Oregon (2013); No. 10 Oregon (2014, 2017); No. 14 Arizona (2018)

Noteworthy Nonconference Wins: No. 6 Kansas (2013); No. 13 Xavier (2016); Auburn (2014); BYU (2015); Georgia (2013)

Blemish Losses

Utah by 28 (2015)
No. 7 Arizona by 28 (2015)
No. 4 Arizona by 27 (2014)
San Diego by 10 (2017)

Record of Pac-12 Teams at the CU Events Center

UCLA: 4-3
Oregon State: 3-4
Washington: 3-5
Utah: 3-6
Arizona: 2-5
USC: 2-5
Arizona State: 1-6
California: 1-6
Stanford: 1-6
Oregon: 0-7
Washington State: 0-8

*Stats for Pac-12 Era only, courtesy sports-reference.com.

Up Next: ASU’s Desert Financial Arena

Previously: Utah’s John M. Huntsman Center

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