Colorado Basketball

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Colorado Basketball

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December 6th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs fall from the ranks of the undefeated with tough 91-86 loss to Colorado State

From the Daily Camera … For the second straight visit to Colorado State, the Colorado men’s basketball team found itself in an epic battle.

And for the second consecutive time, the Buffaloes fell just short.

CSU’s Kyle Jorgensen recorded a go-ahead three-point play with 1 minute, 18 seconds remaining and Rams guard Josh Pacarelli capped his big game with a clutch late jumper, leading the Rams to a 91-86 victory Saturday afternoon at Moby Arena.

It was the first loss for the Buffs, who fell to 8-1, and their second consecutive road loss at CSU.

Colorado State led 48-41 at halftime and pushed its lead to 13 points before the Buffs caught fire, scoring 16 consecutive points in what turned into an 18-1 run. The teams traded leads down the stretch, but after Isaiah Johnson gave CU an 85-83 lead with 1:46 left, Jorgensen’s three-point play retook the lead for the Rams for good.

Jorgensen also knocked down two free throws with 21 seconds to play.

Pascarelli finished 8-for-10 on 3-pointers with 26 points.

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Undefeated Buffs take to the road to face 6-2 CSU (3:00 p.m., MT, CBS Sports Network)

From CUBuffs.com …

Game 9 – Colorado State, Saturday, December 6, 2025
Moby Arena, Fort Collins, Colo.
Tip: 3:05 p.m. MT
Watch: CBS Sports Network (Jack Gordon, Tre Demps)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 387, SXM App 977
Live Statistics: https://buffs.me/4oCCfMR

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 8-0 for the first time in 76 years after rallying to defeat California Baptist 78-70 on Dec. 1 at the CU Events Center. The 8-0 start is tied for the second-best in school history, last achieved in the 1949-50 season. The Buffaloes still have a way to go to reach the all-time record. Colorado’s 1941-42 team started the season 14-0 en route to its first of the program’s two NCAA Final Four appearances.

Colorado’s offense has been strong during its winning streak, ranking second in the Big 12 Conference in 3-point shooting (.416) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), third in overall field goal percentage (.509) and fourth in scoring (88.8 ppg). The Buffaloes are sixth in the nation in 3-point percentage and 19th in assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Buffaloes have also gotten to the free throw line in bunches. Colorado’s 21.9 free throws made rank eighth and 29.1 attempts per game rank 11th on the early-season NCAA Division I leaderboard.

ABOUT THE RAMS: Colorado State is 6-2 overall, winning two of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis event in the Bahamas last week. The Rams are a great offensive team, averaging 84.0 points per game. CSU leads the nation in 3-point shooting, hitting on 45 percent of its attempts from deep. The Rams are third in the country in free throw shooting at 81.4 percent.

Sophomore forward Kyle Jorgensen leads Colorado State at 14.9 points per game, hitting 64.4 percent from the field and 52.0 percent from 3-point range. The Rams’ top three scorers are within six points of each other. Junior guard Josh Pascarelli is averaging 14.4 points per game and leads the team with 27 3-pointers made. Junior forward Carey Booth averages 14.1 points and tops the Rams in rebounding at 7.4 per game.

THE SERIES: This will be the 133rd meeting between Colorado and Colorado State with the Buffaloes holding a commanding 93-39 series lead. Colorado has won four of the last five encounters, including a 72-55 decision nearly one year ago in Boulder on Dec. 7, 2024. Colorado State won the last meeting at Moby Arena, and 88-83 classic on Nov. 29, 2023, in a match up of two eventual NCAA Tournament teams. Colorado holds an 37-29 all-time series advantage in Fort Collins.

… Read full story here …

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December 2nd

… CU in the Arena …

Buffs overcome double-digit first half deficit, down previously undefeated Cal Baptist, 78-70

From CUBuffs.com … A 16-0 Colorado run spanning more than seven minutes in the second half enabled the Buffaloes to fend off a feisty Cal Baptist squad 78-70 Monday night at the CU Events Center.

In the only Division I match-up of the day between undefeated teams, the Buffs were the ones able to improve to 8-0 on the season, hitting that mark for the first time in 76 years since the 1949-50 season.  The Lancers fell to 7-1 on the season.

“They’re a well coached team,” CU coach Tad Boyle said. “Obviously, they’re 7-0 coming in here, just like we were. We were lucky to get out of here with a win, we were not ready to play from the get go, for whatever reason.  I knew how good they were, Coach (Danny) Manning did the scout, he knew how good they were, but I don’t think our players, for some reason, were ready to play.”

Isaiah Johnson led the way offensively for the Buffs with 17 points, regularly getting to the free throw line where he hit 9-of-11 from the stripe.  Four Buffs hit double figures with Sebastian Rancik and Barrington Hargress both scoring 12 points and Alon Michaeli 11.  Defensively, CU was paced by Bangot Dak, who struggled a bit offensively but had eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.

The Buffs, averaging over 90 points per game, managed to hit the 78-point mark despite scoring just nine points in the first 12 minutes of the game.  CBU built a 14-point first half lead before CU cut it to just two at the half, 34-32.

“I don’t know how, I’ll have to watch it, but I don’t know how we were down two at halftime,” Boyle said. “I felt like we should’ve been down 20 if we play like that. I’d rather learn from wins than losses, but each game gets a little tougher, and we haven’t played in a true road environment since Australia over the summer, but we’re sure going to get one Sunday (at CSU).”

Even after CU’s 16-0 run opened up a 12-point lead with 5 minutes to play, Cal Baptist would not got away, as they quickly cut the lead to five points less than a minute later, 64-59.  The Lancers’ Dominque Daniels Jr. wouldn’t go out without a fight, as he hit a 3-pointer with 2:11 left and a layup with 1:22 left to make it a four point game with just over a minute left before CU was able to hit all six of its free throws in the final 31 seconds of the game to hold on for the win.

… Continue reading story here …

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December 1st – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs taking on dangerous (7-0) California Baptist (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

… Buffs are one of 25 undefeated teams remaining in college basketball (along with California Baptist). In the latest polls, CU received one vote in both the AP and in the coaches poll … 

From CUBuffs.com …

California Baptist, Monday, December 1, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/3XWWhXg
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 385, SXM App 975
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/611113

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 7-0 for the first time in six years after claiming the 2025 Acrisure Holiday Classic title in Palm Desert, Calif. The Buffaloes defeated San Francisco in the first game, 79-69 on Nov. 27, and then just over 24 hours later defeated former conference rival Washington, 81-68, for its ninth multi-team event preseason tournament and first since 2019-20.

Overall the seven-game winning streak is Colorado’s best since an eight-game run at the tail end of the 2023-24 season where the Buffaloes set the single-school record for wins with 26. Colorado will be looking for its first 8-0 start to a season since 1949-50.

Colorado’s offense has been clicking, ranking third in the Big 12 Conference in scoring and field goal percentage and first in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Buffaloes are averaging 90.3 points per game, the 31st best mark in the nation. Colorado is 11th in NCAA Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) and 25th in field goal percentage (.516).

ABOUT THE LANCERS: California Baptist is 7-0, the best start to a season in the program’s NCAA Division I era. CBU started off a five-game road trip in fine fashion, defeating Oregon State, 75-69 on Nov. 29. The Lancers will also face BYU and Utah on this trip. CBU averages 75.4 points on 45 percent shooting. The Lancers are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, ranking fourth in the country in rebounding margin (+14.3) and 17th in offensive rebounds at 15.0 per game. CBU allows 63 points per game, ranking 18th in the nation.

Graduate guard Dominique Daniels Jr leads California Baptist at 17.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. Senior guard Martel Williams averages 15.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Williams led the Lancers against Oregon State with 19 points. CBU has five players averaging at least five rebounds per game led by Thomas Ndong (7.3 rpg) and Jonathan Griman (7.0 rpg).

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and California Baptist.

… Read full story here …

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November 28th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs blow 17-point halftime lead; recover to defeat Washington, 81-68, to run season record to 7-0

From ESPN … Bangot Dak had 15 points and 11 rebounds, four teammates reached double digits in scoring, and Colorado defeated Washington 81-68 on Friday in the championship game of the Acrisure Holiday Classic.

Isaiah Johnson scored 13 points, Alon Michaeli 12, and Sebastian Rancik and Felix Kossaras 11 each for the Buffaloes (7-0). Barrington Hargress had eight assists.

Quimari Peterson scored 18 points for Washington (5-2) and Desmond Claude added 14 points.

Colorado led throughout the first half and the score was 47-30 at halftime. Washington scored the first seven points in the second half. A couple of minutes later a 15-1 run by the Huskies tied the score at 52 with about 11 1/2 minutes left but the Huskies never took the lead.

Kossaras hit two 3-pointers for the Buffaloes, helping them go ahead 62-55 and moments later a 6-0 run had the Buffs back in charge, 72-61. The Huskies were 4 for 13 shooting and attempted only two free throws in the final eight minutes.

In the opening minutes of the game, Colorado scored the first seven points and also led 11-2.

A layup by Rancik made it 20-9 with 12 1/2 minutes remaining in the half and Colorado led by double digits the rest of the half. Colorado outshot Washington 55%-28% in the first half.

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November 27th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena …

Isaiah Johnson scores 17; Barrington Hargress 15 as CU defeats San Francisco, 79-69

From ESPN … Isaiah Johnson scored 17 points, Barrington Hargress added 15 points and Colorado beat San Francisco 79-69 on Thursday in the Acrisure Holiday Classic.

Johnson completed a three-point play with 11:47 remaining to give Colorado the lead for good at 54-51. Sebastian Rancik added a 3-pointer at 5:24 for the first double-digit lead of the game at 71-61.

Hargress made a contested shot in the lane while being fouled and he added the free throw to give Colorado a 74-66 lead with 2:22 left. Hargress added a jumper from the free-throw line with 1:19 left for a nine-point lead and he threw a lob to Bangot Dak on Colorado’s next possession to make it 78-67.

Elijah Malone and six-foot-11 Bangot Dak each had 13 points for Colorado (6-0), which is off to its best start since the 2019-20 squad opened 7-0.

Junjie Wang and Ryan Beasley scored 13 points apiece for San Francisco (5-2). Tyrone Riley IV added 12 points and Guillermo Diaz Graham 10.

Wang scored 10 points in the first half to help San Francisco take a 37-35 lead at the break.

Up next

Colorado: Advances to the championship game on Friday against the winner of Washington vs. Nevada.

San Francisco: Faces the loser on Friday.

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Buffs (5-0) a 1.5-point underdog to University of San Francisco (5-1) at Holiday tournament 

From CUBuffs.com …

 San Francisco, Thursday, November 27, 2025
Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, Calif.
Tip: 12:05 p.m. MT
Watch: CBS Sports Network (Justin Kutcher, BJ Taylor)
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 387, SXM App 977
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/608084

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 5-0 for the first time in six years after its 95-79 win over UC Davis on Nov. 21, which capped off a five-game home stand to open the season. The Buffaloes will be looking to move to 6-0 for the first time since the 2019-20 team won their first seven.

Colorado’s offense has been clicking, leading the Big 12 Conference in scoring, field goal percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio. The Buffaloes are averaging 94.4 points per game, the 13th best mark in the nation. Colorado is 18th in NCAA Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) and eighth in field goal percentage (.534).

For the first time in school history, Colorado has scored at least 80 points in each of the first five games of a season. The 1985-86 season was the only time the Buffaloes had scored at least 80 in the first four.

Colorado has scored at least 90 points in the last four games. It’s the first time the Buffaloes have scored at least 90 in four straight since the 2023-24 team did it four times in mid December that season.

ABOUT THE DONS: San Francisco is 5-1 overall and has won its last four, including a 77-65 win over Minnesota on Nov. 22 in a neutral site game in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Dons average 80.7 points per game, shooting 48.3 percent from the field. USF averages 10.5 3-pointers per game, leading the West Coast Conference and ranking 40th in the nation. The Dons are 17th in the country in 3-point percentage (.412). Defensively, the Dons allow 65.3 points per game while opponents shoot 38.3 percent. Like Colorado, USF gets good production from its bench at 39.2 points per game.

Junior guard Ryan Beasley leads San Francisco at 16.0 points per game shooting 51.9 percent from the field. Junior forward Mookie Cook averages 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds off the bench while shooting 63.3 percent. Junior David Fuchs is USF’s top rebounder at 6.5 per game while pitching in 10.3 points on 52.9 percent shooting.

THE SERIES: This will be the sixth meeting between Colorado and San Francisco with the Dons holding a 3-2 edge. It’s the first meeting since Dec. 3, 2014, when the Buffaloes took a 72-55 decision in Boulder. The most notable game in series history happened on March 18, 1955, in NCAA Final Four semifinal game. Led by the legendary Bill Russell, San Francisco defeated the Buffaloes 62-50 en route to the 1955 NCAA championship.

PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS: Colorado has won eight preseason tournaments – also called MTE’s or multi-team events – most recently the 2019 MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas by defeating Wyoming (56-41) and Clemson (71-67). Four of Colorado’s preseason tournament titles have been won on a neutral court.

… Continue reading story here …

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November 22nd 

… CU in the Arena … 

Bangot Dak leads Buffs past UC Davis, 95-79 – “We wore them down”

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado used a late second-half run to outrun UC Davis 95-79, Saturday night at the CU Events Center.

With the win, the Buffaloes improve to 5-0, their best start since 2019-20. UC Davis falls to 4-2.

Five players scored in double figures for Colorado. Junior Bangot Dak led the way for the second-straight game with 18 points on 8 of 10 from the field. Sophomore Felix Kossaras had a career-high 17 points with a personal-best three 3-pointers. Sebastian Rancik had 15, Barrington Hargress just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine assists. Alon Michaeli pitched in 10 points off the bench.

UC Davis guard Marcus Wilson led all players with 21 points.

“Another good win,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said. “I think UC Davis is good. I think they’re going to win a lot of games this year. They’re well coached. They got good players. I thought our depth kind of wore them down a little bit tonight. People are going to see this score that weren’t here tonight, and they’re going to say, ‘Oh yeah, Colorado took care of UC Davis, as they should have and it was an easy victory.’ It wasn’t easy.

UC Davis held a four-point lead midway through the second half, but Colorado outscored the Aggies 36-16 over the final 9:35 to secure the win. The Buffaloes shot 59.6 percent in the game and shared the ball with a season-high 24 assists on 34 made field goals.

UC Davis had it going on offense as well. The Aggies shot 51.7 percent, making 31 of 60 attempts, and hit all nine free throws.

Colorado used its depth and pace to wear down the Aggies during the stretch run. While the Buffaloes shot well the entire game, they were exceptional at the end. Colorado made 65.5 percent from the field in the second half and made 13 of 15 attempts during that final 20-point run.

“We wore them down,” Boyle said. “I thought our depth really showed down the stretch. I think their lack of depth the altitude is real. There’s no doubt about it. And so that’s why  playing at a pace that we need to play at is so important for teams that come in, especially from sea level. A big part of the game tonight, for sure.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 21st – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs looking to remain undefeated against 4-1 UC Davis (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

From CUBuffs.com …

UC Davis, Friday, November 21, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/3XE90ho
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 387, SXM App 977
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/611124

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 4-0 for the third straight season following its 94-66 win over Alabama State on Nov. 17. The Buffaloes will complete their season-opening five-game home stand against UC Davis, looking to begin 5-0 for the first time since 2019-20.

Colorado’s offense has been clicking, averaging 94.3 points per game ranking second in the Big 12 Conference and 21st in the nation. The Buffaloes are hitting 51.9 percent from the field, which is third in the Big 12 and 27th in the country.

Colorado has scored at least 90 points in the last three games and has started the season with four games scoring at least 80 points. It’s the first time the Buffaloes have scored at least 90 in three straight since the 2023-24 team did it four times in mid December that season. It’s the first time scoring four-straight in the 80s to begin a season since 1985-86 when that Buffaloes’ squad started with four wins at home.

Colorado shot a season-high 53.6 percent from the field against Alabama State, marking the first time since 2009-10 the Buffaloes have shot at least 50 percent in four-straight games to open the season. The percentage against Alabama State was the team’s best since shooting 56.6 percent against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 13, 2024. Colorado is 120-11 since 2010-11, the Tad Boyle era, when shooting at least 50 percent.

ABOUT THE AGGIES: UC Davis is 4-1 overall having won its last two and coming off a solid 75-71 road win at Nevada on Nov. 18. The Aggies are averaging 78.2 points, shooting 46.6 percent from the field. Defensively, UC Davis allows 69.6 points on 40.5 percent shooting. The Aggies top the Big West Conference and are a top 100 team nationally in steals (9.2) and turnovers forced (16.8) per game.

Junior guard Nils Cooper leads UC Davis at 18.5 points and 2.8 steals per game while hitting 68.4 percent from the field, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range. Cooper played against Colorado in 2023-24 with Pepperdine, scoring 10 points with five rebounds and three blocks in the 91-66 Buffaloes’ win. Junior guard Connor Sevilla is averaging 17.0 points, shooting 55.3 percent overall and 88.9 percent from the line. Graduate forward Niko Rocak leads the Aggies in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and blocks (14) while pitching in 7.8 points per game.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and UC Davis.

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November 18th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs open with a 32-9 first half lead, coast to 94-66 win over Alabama State

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado took care of business Monday night as the Buffaloes rolled past Alabama State, 94-66 at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 4-0 with the win, while the Hornets dropped to 2-2.

Leading 11-8, Colorado broke the game open with a 23-3 run that spanned over nine minutes of game time. The Buffs built as much as a 29-point lead in the first half and led by as much as 15 the rest of the way.

Junior Bangot Dak led the way for Colorado by filling the stat sheet. He finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals as well as setting a new career-high in free throws made, shooting 8 of 9. Sophomore Sebastian Rancik added 14 points and five rebounds while also knocking down 10 of 10 from the line.

“I feel like the past couple of games we had, I haven’t been showing my effort, besides the first game,” Dak said. “I’ve been struggling offensively, so if I get myself going defensively, I can get myself going offensively. So that helped me tonight.”
The freshmen trio of Isaiah Johnson, Alon Michaeli, and Josiah Sanders each put in 10 points off the bench.

Asjon Anderson led the Hornets with 15 points.

Colorado finished with a season-best 20 assists while shooting 30-for-56 from the field (53.6 percent), including 6-for-16 from long range. The Buffs also had a 46-33 edge on the boards while holding the Hornets to 36 percent shooting (24-for-67).

“We knew we had to be on point defensively,” Boyle commented. “I thought in the first half our defense was terrific. We made some strides in that area. We got a little complacent on defense in that second half and gave up 44 points. There’s some things to build on, and that’s the one thing you want to do. We were able to play a lot of guys which I was hoping that we could. We have to build some depth here in November, because you never know what’s going to happen as this season rolls on. A good win with 20 assists, 11 turnovers. Really good numbers for this group offensively. I thought we really shared the ball extremely well tonight. That’s the thing I was most pleased with.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 17th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs taking on 2-1 Alabama State, 7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+

From CUBuffs.com …

Alabama State, Monday, November 17, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/4oLBh1H
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 388, SXM App 978
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/611112

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 3-0 for the third-straight season and fourth time in the last five years after a 97-88 win over Providence on Nov. 11. The win over the Friars, out of the Big East Conference, came on the heels of a pair of wins over Big Sky Conference schools in Eastern Washington (102-97 OT) and Montana State (84-78) in the season opener.

Colorado’s offense has been clicking, averaging 94.3 points over the first three games while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Both marks rank third among Big 12 Conference teams and also in the top 35 in the nation.

ABOUT THE HORNETS: Alabama State is 2-1, embarking on its first of 12-straight games away from home. The Hornets have won their last two, after a season-opening loss at Florida State. Alabama State is averaging 88.3 points while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. Defensively the Hornets have allowed 81.0 points per game with opponents shooting 42 percent. Alabama State is averaging 12.3 steals per contest.

Senior guard Asjon Anderson leads Alabama State at 18.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Backcourt mate Micah Simpson is averaging 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. Junior guard Tyler Byrd is averaging 10.0 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the field.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between Colorado and Alabama State.

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November 15th

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs improve to 3-0 with 97-88 win over Providence

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado freshmen combined for 45 points as the Buffaloes outlasted Providence 97-88 Friday night at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle’s Buffs improve to 3-0 while Providence falls to 2-2 on the season.

Colorado led for all but two minutes and 11 seconds, but couldn’t break the game open. The Buffs used the free-throw line to ice the game, with 15 of the final 18 points coming at the charity stripe, and it was an efficient effort as they made 15 of 16 attempts over the final four minutes.

Freshman forward Alon Michaeli led the way for the Buffs with a team-high 20 points, shooting 5-of-5 from the line, while guard Barrington Hargress put up his first double-double at Colorado and the second of his career with 15 points and 11 assists. Elijah Malone chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, and freshman guard Isaiah Johnson finished with 15 points, scoring 13 in the second half.

“Look, his 11 assists, the one turnover we see his assist-to-turnover ratio in practice,” said Boyle on Hargress’ performance. “I thought Barrington really played within himself. Here’s a guy who averaged 20 points a game and had the burden of scoring the ball the last two years on his team at (UC) Riverside, and that burden has been lifted off him. He’s obviously capable of shooting the ball. We saw that tonight. His mid-range game is pretty elite.”

Jason Edwards led the way for the Friars with 24 points and six assists. Oswin Erhunmwunse made his presence felt on the defensive end with seven blocks and five rebounds.

Colorado dominated in the paint, scoring 54 points inside, shooting 19-of-33 on layups and dunks. CU also used 15 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds to control the pace of the game.

Though the final point total might not look like it, Colorado’s defense improved tonight from the opening two games. After failing to hold the opponents below 50% shooting in either half in the first two bouts, the Buffs held Providence to 29-of-65 (44.4%) from the field and 6-of-25 (24%) from deep. Both are the lowest marks for an opponent this season.

“I felt like our scouting report defense took a major step forward tonight,” Boyle said. “So that’s the good news, now we have to talk about playing defense without fouls, because now again, some nights are going to be like that, and Providence has really good guards. They know how to score and how to get to the free throw line. We have to figure out now how to guard without fouling, and when we figure that out, we have a chance to be pretty good. But again, the other thing I like about our team is just our attention to the scouting report tonight, and you could see it, you could sense it, you could feel it. It’s one of the things about coaching this team, their willingness and their desire to get better. We got better tonight defensively, even though 87 points doesn’t look like it, but I thought we took a step in the right direction.”

… Continue reading story here …

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November 14th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs a 1.5-point home favorite at home against Providence Friars (7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+)

From the Daily Camera …

Providence Friars at CU Buffs men’s basketball

TIPOFF: Friday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center.

TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.

RECORDS: Providence 2-1; Colorado 2-0.

COACHES: Providence — Kim English, 3rd season (35-35, 69-64 overall). Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (314-204, 370-270 overall).

KEY PLAYERS: Providence — G Jason Edwards, 6-1, Gr. (17.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, .436 FG%); G Jaylin Sellers, 6-5, Gr. (16.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .486 FG%); G Stefan Vaaks, 6-7, Fr. (16.7 ppg, 13-for-13 FT); G Corey Floyd Jr., 6-4, R-Sr. (11.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .500 FG%); G Ryan Mela, 6-7, So. (11.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, .583 FG%); F Jamier Jones, 6-6, Fr. (10.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .722 FG%). Colorado — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (20.5 ppg, 5-for-9 3-pointers, 16-for-18 FTs); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (18.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 17-for-19 FTs); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (12.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, .524 FG%); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, .471 FG%); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (8.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, .556 FG%).

NOTES: With Boyle and English colliding, it will mark the first time Boyle has faced a former  CU assistant as the head coach of the opposition since Rodney Billups’ Denver Pioneers visited Boulder on Nov. 14, 2017. … Providence has scored 100 points in consecutive games for the first time since early in the 2008-09 season. … CU led the Big 12 in turnovers last year but has averaged just 9.0 through the first two games, which included five extra minutes of play during last week’s overtime win against Eastern Washington. … The Buffs host Alabama State on Monday (7 p.m., ESPN+).

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Not only is it the first matchup between CU and Providence, but it is the first time the Friars have played any game in the state of Colorado. … The Providence program has been mourning the loss of former Friars legend and NBA coaching standout Lenny Wilkens, who passed away earlier this week. Wilkens is a three-time inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — as a player, a coach, and as an assistant coach for the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team. … The Friars were picked fourth in the 11-team Big East in the preseason coaches’ poll. … Once again, CU’s usual radio tandem of Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke will handle the call on ESPN+, while Jerry Schemmel handles the radio broadcast.

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November 8th – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Buffs need overtime to defeat Eastern Washington, 102-97

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado drained 11 3-pointers, and the Buffaloes outlasted Eastern Washington in overtime Saturday afternoon for a 102-97 win at the CU Events Center.

Tad Boyle‘s Buffs improved to 2-0 with the win, while the Eagles dropped to 0-3.

The Buffs trailed 68-67 with 6:32 remaining in the game but rallied to lead by three points with 19 seconds remaining. The Eagles, though, rallied to force overtime, hitting a 3-pointer with just three seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 85-85. The Buffs couldn’t get the potential game-winner to go down in the final seconds of the second half.

Sebastian Rancik led the way for Colorado, scoring a team-leading and career-high 24 points, going 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Freshman Isaiah Johnson added to the hot start to his career with 17 points off the bench. Barrington Hargress added 14 points, and freshman Alon Michaeli put up 10 points off the bench in his first career game.

Isaiah Moses led the Eagles with 30 points, including the game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

The Buffs struggled to slow down the Eagles, who shot nearly 60% from the field and 56% from behind the arc. But in the second half, Colorado forced eight turnovers, leading to 11 points.

… Both teams struggled to get stops, keeping the game close. The Buffs turned defense into offense, scoring off turnovers to retake the lead 67-66.

Leading by two points, Johnson drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to push the lead to 75-70 with 3:25 remaining.

Only leading by one, Rancik kicked it out to Kossaras for his first 3-pointer of the game and the team’s ninth for a 79-75 lead.

Following free throws from Michaeli and a 3-pointer from the Eagles, the Buffs led 81-80. Hargress responded by putting in a runner in the middle of the court to lead 83-80. But just as it had been all game, Eastern Washington responded with a Moses layup to keep the game at a one-point lead.

In the bonus, the ball found Rancik, who hit both free throws to put the Buffs up 85-82 with 19 seconds remaining.

Eastern Washington’s Moses followed that up with a deep 3-point shot with 3.1 seconds to tie the game at 85. Rancik had a shot at the buzzer that missed, pushing the game to overtime.

After making a free throw for the opening points of overtime, Kossaras was called for an offensive foul on the following possession, fouling out of the game.

Following a foul and an ejection of the Eagles’ Straton Rogers, the Buffs got four free throws and made them all with Johnson and Rancik splitting them, giving a 90-85 lead.

The Eagles responded by making two straight shots, including an and-1 by Johnny Radford, to tie the game up at 90-90.

Needing a basket, Johnson knocked down another 3-pointer, this time on the right wing. After a block by Malone, he took his turn behind the arc off a pass by Hargress to the left corner to give the Buffs a 96-90 lead.

Rancik iced the game at the free-throw line, keeping the Buffs ahead for good.

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November 3rd – Game Day!

… CU in the Arena … 

Freshman Isaiah Johnson scores 24 second half points to lead Buffs to season opening 84-78 win over Montana State

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado overcame a seven-point second-half deficit Monday night, led by true freshman Isaiah Johnson’s 24 second-half points, to outlast Montana State 84-78 in the season opener at the CU Event Center.

Colorado improved to 14-2 in season openers and 16-0 in home openers under head coach Tad Boyle.

With the game tied at 62 with 7:09 remaining, Johnson scored 16 of the next 18 points for the Buffs, including the game-winning free throws to put Colorado up for good.

All of Johnson’s game-leading 24 points came in the second half. He went 6-of-7 from the field, 2-of-2 from deep, and 10-of-12 from the line all in the final 20 minutes.

“I just kept wanting to be aggressive,” Johnson said on the second half. “My teammates, my coaches, they kept telling me to be aggressive, even though I struggled in the first half.”

Johnson was one of five true freshmen to see minutes, along with Jalin Holland, Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola, Ian Inman, and Josiah Sanders, who all made contributions.

Four other Buffs reached double-figures in points, transfer Barrington Hargress and returners Bangot Dak, Elijah Malone, and Sebastian Rancik. Malone added 13 rebounds for his first double double of the season and his second at Colorado.

“Ian Inman didn’t get minutes in the second half,” Boyle commented on the freshman class. “He’s going to be a hell of a player. Jalin Holland, really good defender, not afraid or scared of anything or anybody. He’s going to be a terrific player. Josiah Sanders,  tough, strong, a good finisher. I want to play more guys regular minutes. I really shrunk the rotation in the second half there. Taco [Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola] came in, got two rebounds for us. This freshman class is going to be special. It’s going to be special. We got to hold them together. This is going to be a fun team to watch grow and develop. And I told them, I’d rather grow and develop after a win than after a loss.”

Patrick McMahon led Montana State in scoring with 24 points, including 20 of his own in the second half.

Colorado’s offense improved in the second half after struggling to end the first half. After shooting just 42 percent on the first half, CU shot 62 percent in the second half to finish the game 27-of-52 (51.9%).

… Continue reading story here …

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CU taking on Montana State in the 2025-26 season opener

From CUBuffs.com …

Game 1 – Montana State, Monday, November 3, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/4ny9znq
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 380, SXM App 970
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/611122

OPENERS: Colorado is 87-35 (.713) in all-time season openers and has won its last nine. The Buffaloes are 13-2 under head coach Tad Boyle and 40-5 in overall season openers since 1980-81.

The Buffaloes are 98-24 (.803) all-time in home openers, have won their last 17 and 23 of their last 24. Boyle’s teams are 15-0 in home openers.

NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 136-41 (.768) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including an 89-24 mark (.788) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

Colorado is 104-8 (.929) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 7-2 mark in postseason action.

RIGHT AT HOME: At the CU Events Center, the Buffaloes have won:
– 14 of their last 21
– 27 of 35 (27-8)
– 40 of 53 (40-13)
– 63 of 84 (63-21)
– 76 of 99 (76-23)
– 91 of 116 (91-25)
– 103 of 131 (103-28)

In the Tad Boyle era, Colorado is 204-47 at home (.813). The Buffaloes are 517-198 (.723) all-time at the CUEC. The Buffaloes have won at least 10 games at home each of the last 16 seasons.

EXHIBITION RECAP: Colorado used a huge second half to run away with a 92-66 exhibition win over Grace (Ind.) College, Oct. 19 at the CU Events Center.

After trailing by three points at halftime, the Buffaloes surged ahead with a dominant 58-point second half. The Buffaloes capitalized on Grace’s 20 turnovers, converting them into 21 points, while also outscoring Grace 46-24 in the paint. The Buffs’ bench contributed 40 points to secure the win.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 28th 

… CU in the Arena … 

Bangot Dak, Sebastian Rancik plan to lead CU Buffs out of Big 12 basement

… Buffs open the 2025-26 season on Monday, November 3rd, against Montana State … 7:00 p.m., MT, ESPN+ … 

From the Daily Camera … It has been just seven months since Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik last took the floor at T-Mobile Center.

In that time, the entire universe of Colorado men’s basketball has transformed around the pair of young, versatile forwards.

Only four rotation players remain for the Buffaloes from when Houston eliminated them in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament at T-Mobile Center in March. Role players a year ago who were still finding their footing as significant contributors at the power conference level, Dak and Rancik returned to T-Mobile Center on Wednesday, taking another step in their respective evolutions as leaders of coach Tad Boyle’s program by representing the Buffaloes at the Big 12 men’s basketball media day.

“For me, I’m just trying to be more vocal and kind of lead by example,” Dak said. “I’m trying to show my best effort on the court regardless of what’s going on and show that regardless what the situation is I’m trying to play through it, trying to fight through it. Other than that, I’m just trying to be a leader.”

Rancik’s last memory of T-Mobile Center is a painful one, as he exited the loss against Houston with a knee injury. He recovered in time to take part in CU’s summer workouts, but by then Dak  had suffered an offseason knee injury that kept him on the sideline for the Buffs’ exhibition tour of Australia.

Rancik has been slowed lately by a sprained ankle, which kept him out of Sunday’s exhibition win against Grace College. Yet none of the physical setbacks have prevented the duo from ascending into leadership roles that often were lacking last year as the Buffs limped into a last-place finish in the Big 12.

“With both Bangot and Sebastian, they both have personalities that kind of lend themselves to leadership in that you can’t lead if you’re not willing to open up your mouth,” Boyle said. “Sometimes, opening up your mouth in difficult situations — whether that’s after a tough loss, whether that’s when your team is not performing at the level you need them to — both those guys aren’t afraid to do that. That’s what you need to start to become a leader. It doesn’t end there for sure, but it starts there. And they both have that.

“The younger players kind of look to those guys as guys they want to emulate and follow.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 26th 

… CU in the Arena … 

Tad Boyle responds to arrest of CU Buffs basketball legend Chauncey Billups

From the Daily Camera … Only nine months ago, Colorado announced plans to unveil a “Wall of Honor” at the CU Events Center.

Affixed to the northwest wall of the arena, the “Wall of Honor” was created to honor the best of the best in the history of Colorado men’s basketball. CU head coach Tad Boyle wanted the honorees — or, in the case of a couple of the older former players, their families — to be in attendance for the unveiling of their framed jerseys.

Five of the 10 were revealed last season. Five others remain dark for future celebrations. One of those yet-to-be-unveiled frames belongs to Chauncey Billups, possibly the greatest player in CU history.

Arranging a time for Billups to visit the Events Center for that type of event has been problematic due to his duties as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. At the moment, Billups’ job is no longer filling his time. But a night in Boulder celebrating his accomplishments in a Colorado uniform probably isn’t happening any time soon.

After a pair of off days, Boyle’s Buffs resumed practice Friday, about 24 hours after the bombshell news that Billups had been arrested in a sweeping FBI probe targeting illicit and allegedly fraudulent high-stakes poker games. A separate investigation targeted the selling of insider information to manipulate NBA prop bets.

Like the rest of the Colorado basketball community — not just at CU, but across the state — Boyle was shocked by the news.

“I feel awful,” Boyle said. “I’m shocked. You never want to see your friends go through something like this.”

In a bit of a head-shaking coincidence, the Buffs held a program-wide meeting Friday morning with a former FBI agent, who educated a CU team that features seven freshmen on the perils of getting involved with organized gamblers as college athletes. The lecture has been part of the Buffs’ preseason routine for years, and Friday’s session was scheduled three weeks ago.

Boyle said the fact it occurred the day after the shocking news regarding Billups had his young team sitting a little straighter in their chairs during the session. At this point, Billups has only been charged in conjunction with the probe of the illicit poker games. But an anonymous alleged co-conspirator in the probe into the selling of insider NBA information matches Billups’ basketball background.

“Obviously it was a timely meeting, but we didn’t do it because of what just happened. What happened kind of brings everything to light,” Boyle said. “Hopefully we got our guys’ attention. It’s shocking. They can try to get to young college athletes in various ways, and our players have to understand how that happens. We’ve got to do our best to educate them to hopefully not make bad decisions.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 16th 

… CU in the Arena … 

CU picked to finish 15th in Big 12 preseason poll

From the Big 12 … Fresh off an appearance in the NCAA Championship game, Houston was picked as the favorite in the Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll. This is the Cougars’ first time sitting atop the preseason poll, after checking in at No. 2 in each of their first two seasons as part of the Big 12.

Texas Tech’s JT Toppin was named Preseason Player of the Year, returning to Lubbock after capturing postseason player of the year honors in 2024-25. Toppin is the second Red Raider to be named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, and first since the 2003-04 season. The Dallas native averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Kansas’ Darryn Peterson was picked as the Preseason Freshman of the Year, becoming the 10^th Jayhawk to earn that distinction. The Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year, he comes to Lawrence after averaging 30.4 points per game at Napa Christian High School. The Canton, Ohio native was a McDonald’s All-American that was tabbed as the No. 1 recruit in the nation by 247Sports.com and On3.com.

LeJuan Watts joined Toppin as Red Raiders to earn preseason distinction as Preseason Newcomer of the Year. The Washington State transfer averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Cougars in 2024-25. The Fresno, California native is the fourth Texas Tech player to be voted as the Conference’s top newcomer in the preseason, and the first since 2020.

Toppin and Peterson were joined by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Houston’s Milos Uzan as unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big 12 Team. Richie Saunders (BYU), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), Joseph Tugler (Houston), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), P.J. Haggerty (Kansas State) and Christian Anderson (Texas Tech) complete the 10-man team. Lipsey is making his second consecutive appearance on the Preseason All-Big 12 team.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes.

Preseason Poll

1. Houston (14) – 224
2. BYU (1) – 204
3. Texas Tech – 200
4. Arizona (1) – 179
5. Iowa State – 170
6. Kansas – 163
7. Baylor – 137
8. Cincinnati – 120
9. K-State – 117
10. TCU – 90
11. West Virginia – 79
12. Oklahoma State – 77
13. Utah – 50
14. UCF – 39
15. Colorado – 37
16. Arizona State – 34

Preseason All-Big 12 Team
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Richie Saunders, BYU
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Milos Uzan, Houston*
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Darryn Peterson, Kansas*
P.J. Haggerty, K-State
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
*-unanimous selection

Preseason Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Darryn Peterson, Kansas

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