The Colorado Buffaloes took another tough loss on Sunday, falling 65-56 to Kansas State in Manhattan. It was a frustrating game that felt like a microcosm of CU’s season—cold shooting, turnovers, and a lack of consistency when it mattered most. Let’s break down three key takeaways from the Buffs’ latest defeat.
1. Turnovers and slow starts are killing this team
We’ve seen this story before. Colorado started flat, falling into a 12-2 hole right out of the gate. The Buffs coughed up 15 turnovers, leading to 20 Kansas State points—essentially the difference in the game. You simply can’t give away possessions like that, especially on the road in the Big 12. Head coach Tad Boyle put it bluntly: “We can't take care of the ball. That’s been who we are.” He’s not wrong. If CU ever wants to turn the corner, limiting self-inflicted wounds has to be priority number one.
"'We can't take care of the ball. That’s been who we are.'"Colorado head coach Tad Boyle
2. Shooting woes continue to haunt the Buffs
Colorado shot just 39% from the field and an abysmal 4-of-23 (17%) from three. Yikes. This has been a recurring issue all season, and the absence of leading scorer Julian Hammond III (who exited early with a back injury) certainly didn’t help. The Buffs had some open looks but couldn’t capitalize, and when shots aren’t falling, you have to crash the boards or get to the free-throw line—neither of which CU did effectively. This team needs a go-to scorer who can take over in key moments. Right now, that guy isn’t on the floor.
3. The defense deserved better
Despite the offensive struggles, CU’s defense actually played pretty well. The Buffs held Kansas State to 34% shooting, which should have been enough to at least make this a winnable game. But when your own offense is sputtering, even a strong defensive effort can’t save you. Boyle praised his team’s defensive effort, and he should. The issue isn’t stopping teams—it’s keeping up on the other end of the floor.
Final thoughts
With just two games left in the regular season, CU sits at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. It’s been a brutal introduction to the conference, and this game was another reminder of just how tough life in the Big 12 can be. The Buffs will need to find some sort of offensive identity if they want to close the season on a high note. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long offseason in Boulder.
Up next, our Buffs head to Texas Tech on Wednesday before finishing at home against TCU. Let’s hope they can steal a win before it’s all said and done.