PALM DESERT, Calif. — Tad Boyle wasn’t yet ready to declare it the best defensive effort of the still-young season.

But it certainly was another step in the right direction, and with the first month of the campaign complete, Colorado’s defense is trending positively.

The CU men’s basketball continued its steady improvement at the end of the floor most precious to their head coach, as the Buffaloes captured the championship of the Acrisure Holiday Classic on Friday with an 81-68 victory against former Pac-12 rival Washington.

During CU’s season-opening five-game homestand, the Buffs allowed the opposition to shoot at least 51% three times. That changed in Palm Desert, as CU put together two of its top three efforts this year in terms of defensive field goal percentage. That included the

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