In case you've been living under a rock recently, Colorado was shorthanded on Wednesday night in the 2026 College Basketball Championship tournament matchup against Oklahoma.
Isaiah Johnson, Bangot Dak, and Sebastian Rancik have all declared their intentions to transfer, but the departure of Johnson, the team's leading scorer at 16.9 points per game as a freshman, is a tough blow for Tad Boyle.
Johnson made a significant impact on the offensive end, captivating not only the Big 12 but also the entire college basketball world. His ability to score, whether through his outside shot or driving to the basket for contact, was truly impressive.
In their absence, junior guard Barrington Hargress, who said he would return for his senior year, led Colorado with a 15-for-16 performance from the free-throw line. He finished the game with a game-high 31 points on 7-of-13 shooting, along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Despite being without their top two rebounders from the regular season, Colorado maintained a +7 rebounding advantage. Freshman guard Josiah Sanders led the team with a game-high nine rebounds, while fellow freshman guard Jalin Holland contributed seven.
Another freshman contributed significantly to the scoring, as Alon Michaeli tallied 18 points from the bench, also adding six rebounds and a steal. We even saw Andrew Crawford get 18 minutes of playing time, even though he rarely played this past season.
However, Oklahoma pulled away in overtime, outscoring Colorado 16-12 to advance and face Baylor in the semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on April 4.
The game's initial spread opened at Oklahoma -5.5, rising to -9.5 after Colorado's transfer news. I can't be upset with the outcome; they fought hard throughout. Being given another opportunity to play, especially in April, is not something many teams get the opportunity to do.
Boyle has a solid base to build on now that he's committed to returning to Colorado in 2026. I'm just wondering if he was aware of the Johnson news before that announcement.