The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball program will travel to Australia this summer for a four-game exhibition tour as part of their NCAA-allowed international trip, head coach Tad Boyle confirmed over the weekend.
Speaking with BuffZone’s Pat Rooney, Boyle emphasized that this year’s foreign tour comes at a critical time due to the team’s significant roster turnover. The Buffs are integrating seven new players ahead of the 2025–26 campaign, including a mix of freshmen and transfers.
“It’s a jump-start on the season, is how I look at it,” Boyle said. “It’s extremely important to me for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the basketball piece of it is great. Ten practices, we get four games when we’re over there. That’s a jump-start on things.”
Colorado finished last season with a 14-21 overall record and a 3-17 mark in Big 12 Conference play — the worst of Boyle’s tenure. The Buffs showed some late-season promise in the Big 12 Tournament, going 2-1, but ultimately fell to Villanova in the inaugural College Basketball Crown postseason event.
With the 2025–26 regular season schedule still to be announced, the exhibition tour provides Colorado with a rare chance to evaluate its new roster against live competition.
Incoming Players Will Begin Workouts on June 1
Five newcomers are expected to join the team at the start of summer practices: freshmen Josiah Sanders, Ian Inman, Jalin Holland, Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola, and UC Riverside transfer Barrington Hargress.
Incoming freshman guard Isaiah Johnson and Denver transfer Jon Mani will report to the team later due to ongoing academic responsibilities at their current schools.
Colorado’s 2025 high school signing class ranks No. 40 nationally and No. 9 in the Big 12, according to 247Sports. That ranking does not factor in transfer additions, which are expected to play a key role in rebuilding the backcourt.
The exhibition trip is expected to help solidify early rotations and provide clarity on positional battles prior to the official start of fall camp.
Boyle highlights the value of international travel
Coach Boyle noted the broader significance of international trips for student-athletes. With growing attention on NIL and player compensation, he believes opportunities for global education remain essential.
“To me, when you talk about college athletics today… one thing that gets lost is the education that these guys are working towards and receiving,” Boyle said. “It’s a great opportunity for these young people to see the world — and a part of the world most of them, if not all of them, have not experienced.”
Though Colorado has not released the names of the opponents they will face in Australia, the Buffs are expected to compete against club teams or semi-professional rosters as is common on international tours.
The team is anticipated to return stateside later in the summer to continue offseason conditioning and prepare for fall practices.
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