BOULDER, Colo. — Well, it wasn’t the upset Buffs fans were hoping for, but at least it wasn’t a total blowout.
The Colorado Buffaloes (11-17, 2-15 Big 12) put up a fight against the Kansas Jayhawks (19-9, 10-7 Big 12) on Monday night, ultimately falling 71-64 in Boulder. And while moral victories aren’t exactly satisfying, there’s at least some reason for optimism—especially considering where this team was just a few weeks ago.
There’s no sugarcoating it—Hunter Dickinson was a problem.
The Kansas big man was in total control, dropping a season-high 32 points on an absurdly efficient 13-of-18 shooting while also snagging 13 rebounds. Colorado simply had no answer for him in the paint, and every time the Buffs seemed ready to make a push, Dickinson would remind everyone why he was one of the biggest transfers in college basketball last offseason.
Colorado did its best to make things interesting, even taking a brief lead at 39-38 with just over 15 minutes left in the second half. But Dickinson quickly erased that with a personal 5-0 run, and from that point on, it was clear Kansas wasn’t going to let this one slip away.
Despite the loss, there were a few silver linings for Tad Boyle’s squad. Bangot Dak led the way for the Buffs with 16 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, continuing his strong play as of late. Julian Hammond III chipped in 11 points, including a huge three-pointer late in the second half that brought Colorado within two at 62-60. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Buffs would get.
One thing you can’t question about this team is its fight. After suffering through a brutal 13-game losing streak, Colorado has now won two of its last four and is at least showing signs of life. That’s a step in the right direction—even if the overall record doesn’t reflect it.
Look, we all know Kansas has owned Colorado historically. The Jayhawks have now won three straight and 22 of the last 23 meetings, leading the all-time series 126-40. It’s been rough. That being said, this game felt different. The Buffs didn’t roll over like they have in past matchups, and for a team that’s had a disastrous season, that counts for something.
The Jayhawks, meanwhile, needed this win badly. They had fallen out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2021 after dropping three of their last five games. With three regular-season games left and a matchup against No. 10 Texas Tech on the horizon, Kansas couldn’t afford to take a loss to a struggling Colorado team. Credit to Bill Self’s squad—they took care of business.
What’s Next?
For the Buffs, it’s back on the road for a Sunday showdown with Kansas State. Winning in Manhattan won’t be easy, but at this point, Colorado just needs to build on the effort they showed against Kansas. If they keep playing with this kind of energy, they might be able to steal a win or two before the season is over.
This loss stings, but hey, Buffs fans—at least we didn’t get embarrassed. That’s progress, right?