Colorado navigated a transition year in 2024-25, shifting from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 after making an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The conference transition proved challenging, and the team lost three key starters to the NBA Draft—including two first-round picks: Cody Williams to the Utah Jazz (10th overall) and Tristan da Silva to the Orlando Magic (18th).
All-Conference guard KJ Simpson went in the second round to the Charlotte Hornets before landing on the Denver Nuggets roster.
With key contributors Eddie Lampkin (Syracuse), Luke O'Brien (Georgia Tech), and J'Vonne Hadley (Louisville) all departing, Tad Boyle had to rebuild from the ground up.
The Buffs stumbled through Big 12 play last season with a 3-17 record after finding a majority of their success in nonconference games.
Boyle needed to find answers fast in one of college basketball's toughest conferences
Fast-forward to the offseason: Boyle assembled a talented freshman class capable of guarding multiple positions, including landing a gem of a point guard in Isaiah Johnson.
The talented guard from California leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game on 48.2% shooting. He earned a starting spot after forcing Boyle's hand, moving into the lineup following the non-conference season where he'd played off the bench.
Other notable freshmen include Jalin Holland (a physical combo-guard), Alon Michaeli (a stretch-four prototype), Ian Inman (combo-guard depth), and Josiah Sanders (an in-state product who can defend and attack the rim). Each has shown flashes of defensive ability and playmaking potential.
Colorado also landed a reliable, veteran point guard in Barrington Hargress through the transfer portal. He's averaging 14.2 points per game—second on the team—and will have one more year of eligibility after this season.
Colorado's primary weakness lies in rebounding and interior toughness—they simply don't have a reliable center. Elijah Malone has barely seen the court, and while Fawaz "Tacko" Ifaola shows promise, he's still developing and isn't ready to anchor the starting lineup.
Bangot Dak stands roughly seven feet tall, but he lacks the strength and physical ability the position demands.
Sophomore Sebastian Rancik has improved his rebounding after being challenged by an assistant coach, but he has been inconsistent in scoring in some games.
Given their track record, Colorado has never been particularly strong on the road—and that's where most of their big losses have piled up this season.
Colorado has a solid foundation after this season, giving Tad valuable insight into what the team needs going forward. But in the transfer portal era, keeping everyone is tough for a program like Colorado.
With just four games left in their regular season, Colorado could reach seven conference wins if everything breaks right. They face two tough tests: a road game at Houston and a home matchup against Arizona.