Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)
Expect an emotional night Thursday at the Coors Events Center.
The Pac-12 Conference men's basketball battle between the Colorado Buffaloes and Washington State features two schools whose athletic programs have been rocked by tragedy this week.
On Monday, CU announced that senior lacrosse player Julia Sarcona had died two days previous in a single-car accident on Boulder Canyon Road. On Tuesday evening reports began surfacing that WSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyler Hilinski had committed suicide.
As of Wednesday late afternoon, CU head coach Tad Boyle had not addressed the emotional aspect likely to play a role in Thursday night's contest.