Boyle Rebuilds Colorado Roster After Johnson and Three Others Leave

Colorado basketball fans will see a new look roster when the Buffaloes open their upcoming schedule. Head coach Tad Boyle has had to rework his lineup following the departure of three of his four leading scorers from last season. The most notable exit was guard Isaiah Johnson, who transferred to Texas after breaking the school record for single-season freshman scoring with 540 points.

The departures create a scoring gap that Boyle expects Barrington Hargress to help fill. The guard returned for the new campaign after leading the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 3.6 mark last year. Hargress also shot 48.1 percent from three-point range during the previous season, providing a reliable perimeter threat for the team.

Two forwards also left the program. Bangot Dak moved on to Vanderbilt, while Sebastian Rancik headed to Florida State. Alon Michaeli also entered the transfer portal and eventually committed to Saint Louis. To replace the lost talent, the Buffaloes added Justin Neely, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 11.5 rebounds per game at UNC Greensboro. The staff also brought in Noah Fedderson, a center from North Dakota State who earned Summit League sixth man of the year honors last season.

With the top scorers gone, three sophomores will assume larger responsibilities. Jalin Holland recorded 24 steals last season, ranking fourth on the team. Ian Inman made 22 three-pointers, also placing fourth on the squad. Josiah Sanders appeared in all 33 games of the previous year and served as the team’s second-best offensive rebounder. These players will be expected to contribute more minutes and points as the season progresses.

The Buffaloes will test their new roster in several early-season tournaments. They will face San Diego State in the Bill Walton Classic on November 7 in San Diego. On November 24, the team will play Stanford in the Acrisure Series in Palm Desert, California. The following day, they will face either Grand Canyon or Saint Louis. The schedule also includes a matchup against Purdue in the Indy Classic on December 19.

Local rivals will meet on December 5 when Colorado hosts Colorado State. The Buffaloes finished the previous season with a record of 17-16, including a 7-11 mark in conference play. Boyle’s total of 329 victories makes him the winningest men’s basketball coach in school history. He has overseen 10 of the school’s 14 seasons with at least 20 wins.