Expectations aren't high for Tad Boyle and Colorado basketball this season. After winning 26 games and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24, the Buffaloes took a substantial backward step in 2024-25, dropping to 14-20 overall and finishing dead-last in the Big 12.
Most pundits don't expect much of an improvement this season for Boyle's Buffs. The preseason Big 12 media poll pegged Colorado 15th in the conference, just ahead of Arizona State.
But there's some exciting new pieces to the roster in Boulder that could change those fortunes rather quickly. Colorado landed a highly-regarded transfer in UC Riverside's Barrington Hargress, who averaged over 20 points per game a season ago.
Returners Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik are expected to take leaps and play major roles. But perhaps the biggest reason for optimism is a freshman class full of talented players, all of whom made an impression - and gained invaluable experience - during Colorado's summer exhibition series in Australia.
Speaking at Big 12 Media Days, Boyle spoke highly of several Colorado newcomers, which should have Buffs fans fired up to see the team in action.
"Isaiah Johnson's been really a pleasant surprise," Boyle said. "You never know when you recruit a guy how they're going to acclimate, how quickly they are going to acclimate, but that kid's got some toughness to him. He's kinda got a baby face, but he doesn't play a baby game.
"Jalin Holland is really getting better and better. Josiah Sanders, he's really good as well. Ian Inman is our best shooter. We got a guy late, a big kid, Alon Michaeli that is gonna be a special, special player."
A young Colorado team will take some lumps, but should be fun to watch
The number of young players who are going to get playing time on this Colorado team will likely lead to some frustrating play, especially early in the season. This team is going to take some lumps, but if Boyle can keep them engaged - and better yet, keep most of them together beyond this year - then that will pay major dividends down the stretch of this season and could set the Buffaloes up to be a legitimate Big 12 contender next season.
That's the tricky part of this era, however. With NIL, the Transfer Portal, and now revenue-sharing, keeping a group together for multiple seasons is next to impossible. Boyle still has an old-school approach to the game that may not work moving forward. But he's not going to change.
"Our sport has become more transactional," Boyle said. "I got into coaching to affect young men's lives in a positive manner. We wanna transform lives at Colorado. That doesn't happen in one season."