Tad Boyle said it would be a bit of an eyebrow-raiser if anyone on the Colorado men’s basketball team didn’t want to keep competing.
As it turned out, the Buffaloes were happy to keep the season going as long as possible. They’ll just have to keep competing with three fewer starters than they had just three weeks ago at the Big 12 Conference tournament.
The Buffs will have a chance to continue their season, and maybe earn a little cash, when they take on Oklahoma in the first round of the second annual College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas. CU, though, goes into battle without three key players — Isaiah Johnson, Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik — who already have opted to leave the program via the transfer portal, which opens April 7.
Johnson set CU’s freshman scoring record and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. Dak led the Buffs in rebounding and blocked shots while averaging 11.5 points per game. Rancik ranked third on the team in scoring (12.3) and second in rebounding (5.6). Thatap 40.7 points and 15 rebounds per game that will be out of the rotation Wednesday as the Buffs take on a largely intact Oklahoma team that was one of the last teams left out of the NCAA Tournament.
“I think this tournament gives you quality competition on a national stage,” Boyle said. “And it also allows you to be with your team an extra two weeks. And be in the gym for two weeks. The timing of this tournament was unlike the NIT, which we decided not to play in, but this one we decided to play in because our players said they wanted to.
“You’ve got to make sure you’ve got buy-in from your players. Now, you may not have 100% buy-in. Obviously we don’t this year. But it kind of gives you a feel as a coach a little bit ahead of time of who’s in, who’s out. And the guys that are in, letap use as a springboard to next year.”
The Buffs played in the inaugural CBC last year, suffering a first-round loss against Villanova. The tournament reduced the field from 16 teams to eight this year but the payout remains the same, with the winner pocketing $300,000 and the runner-up netting $100,000. The two semifinalists will earn $50,000 apiece.
At least the Buffs might be able to split that potential pot in bigger slices, but Colorado will be challenged to keep pace with a Sooners team that nearly played its way into the NCAA Tournament field. Oklahoma was done in by a 1-9 start in SEC play, but the Sooners won eight of their next 10 games before losing to Arkansas in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.
“I look at this as a springboard into next year,” Boyle said. “Itap an opportunity to for your guys that are coming back, your core, to have extra time to develop. I look at it as an opportunity to compete. Any time as a coach or a player that you’re given the opportunity to compete, and you choose not to, I wonder. I’m excited to use this as a springboard and give the guys who are going to be coming back have an opportunity to go show what they can do against a quality team.”
CU Buffs men’s basketball vs. Oklahoma Sooners
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 6 p.m. MT, MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas.
TV/RADIO: Fox Sports 1/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Colorado 17-15, 7-11 Big 12 Conference; Oklahoma 19-15, 7-11 SEC.
COACHES: Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (329-219, 385-285 overall). Oklahoma — Porter Moser, 5th season (93-74, 386-316 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (14.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, .531 FG%, .485 3%); F Alon Michaeli, 6-9, Fr. (6.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg); G Jalin Holland, 6-5, Fr. (5.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (4.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .515 FG%); G Josiah Sanders, 6-5, Fr. (4.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .475 FG%). Oklahoma — G Nijel Pack, 5-10, R-Sr. (16.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, .452 3%); G Xzayvier Brown, 6-2, Jr. (15.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, .360 3%); F Tae Davis, 6-9, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, .502 FG%); F Derrion Reid, 6-8, So. (11.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .504 FG%); F/C Mohamed Wague, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, .612 FG%).
NOTES: The winner will play either Baylor or Minnesota in the semifinals Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. … Without Dak and Rancik, the Buffs’ leading rebounder becomes Michaeli, who averaged just 3.9 rebounds in 30 games off the bench. … The Sooners played two Big 12 teams during their nonconference schedule, losing to Arizona State before defeating Oklahoma State. … Once longtime rivals in the Big 12, Oklahoma had moved on to the SEC by the time CU rejoined the Big 12 ahead of the 2024-25 season. This is the first matchup between the teams since Jan. 22, 2011. … The Sooners lead the all-time series 88-49. … Oklahoma ranks second in the SEC with a .368 3-point percentage. Colorado ranked last in the Big 12 in defensive 3-point percentage with a matching .368 mark. … Although Malone is headed to offseason shoulder surgery, Boyle said the senior center will be available in Las Vegas.
