UCLA basketball: Bruins face a weakened Colorado team

UCLA travels to Boulder to play Colorado on Thursday. The Bruins will face a Buffaloes team that has been hit hard by injuries this week.

Point guard and leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie and reserve forward Tre’Shaun Fletcher are both out with knee injuries. Dinwiddie, who averages 14 points per game, is lost for the season.

“I was watching that game. It didn’t look good when he went down,” UCLA Coach Steve Alford said. “You really feel for the kid. Some of our staff and players know him really well. He’s not only a terrific player, he’s a terrific person. That’s part of sports that makes you cringe.”

Fletcher, who averages 3.5 points, is out six to eight weeks.

The Bruins’ preparation remains the same, Alford said, but he admitted that the Bruins don’t know what to expect.

“They have someone who has been waiting for a chance,” Alford said. “That’s a scary deal. You don’t have as much information on those individuals. We have no idea if they will tighten their lineup or tighten what they like to do.”

Colorado is ranked 21st in the nation. UCLA is ranked 25th.