The real fun begins after the holiday weekend.

Still, every goal potentially in sight for the Colorado men’s basketball team will unravel without focusing through the final pre-holiday test.

A mostly-stirring run through nonconference play comes to an end on Thursday night, as the Buffaloes host Utah Tech in the final pre-Pac-12 tilt of the season. The November-December slate hasn’t been without its blemishes, as a Nov. 21 loss against Florida State is one the Buffs will continue to regret, but through 10 games CU generally has balanced an electric offense with solid defense.

Keeping that momentum rolling through one more nonconference date will give the Buffs a well-earned respite ahead of a holiday break that precedes the start of CU’s final run through the Pac-12.

“Utah Tech has some good players,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “They’re well-disciplined. If we’re not ready to play, this is a team that can certainly spoil our holidays, which we don’t want to have happen.”

Following the game, the Buffs will be free to return to their respective homes before reconvening in Boulder on Christmas night. CU will then begin preparations for its Pac-12 opener at home on Dec. 29 against Washington. The Buffs are a veteran team, however, and a few players are planning to stay put.

“Everybody has their own plans and what they do,” said CU point guard KJ Simpson, a native of the Los Angeles area who plans to remain in Boulder during the break. “As far as some of the older, they like to stay, they like to shoot and be around basketball. Even the people that do go back home for Christmas, obviously it’s a nice break to be with your family, but I know basketball is going to be on their mind and they’ll be working out and will come back ready to go. Because once we come back, it’s Pac-12 play.”

Through Tuesday’s games, CU ranked in the top 13 in the nation in field goal percentage (third, .521), free throw percentage (eighth, .792), assists per game (eighth, 19.3) and 3-point percentage (13th, .398). While Simpson and Tristan da Silva, two early favorites for first-team all-conference honors, have led the way, CU has featured a balanced attack. The Buffs have had six double-figure scorers in four games (Grambling State, Milwaukee, Miami, Northern Colorado) after not achieving that feat since the 2018 Pac-12 tournament. CU also had five double-figure scorers against Iona.

Utah Tech has won its first two games within the Western Athletic Conference and makes its first trip to Boulder sporting solid defensive numbers. The Trailblazers’ opponents have shot just .419 overall and .337 on 3-pointers. “I think Utah Tech’s got some guys that can shoot the ball, score the ball, and they can guard,” Boyle said.