Colorado opens its men’s basketball season Monday against Abilene Christian, with defense emerging as the clearest test of whether the Buffs can contend in the Big 12. Last season’s early home wins masked defensive weaknesses that persisted throughout a 17-16 campaign. Coach Tad Boyle says the defense will improve; its performance from the opening tip may reveal whether that promise is taking hold.

By the Numbers
  • Colorado finished 17-16 last season.
  • The Buffs ranked 13th in the Big 12 in defensive field-goal percentage (.460) and 15th in defensive 3-point percentage (.363).
  • Three of Colorado’s first five opponents last season shot at least 51% from the floor.
  • Barrington Hargress set CU season records with a 3.61 assist-to-turnover ratio and 48.1% 3-point shooting.
Yes, But

Strong results in the nonconference home schedule are not, by themselves, proof of Big 12 readiness: Colorado won its first eight home games last season but finished below .500. The Buffs say they are emphasizing defensive principles and rebounding, but those improvements still need to show up in games.

State of Play
  • Colorado begins the season Monday at 7 p.m. ET against Abilene Christian, streaming on ESPN+.
  • The frontcourt is being rebuilt around Goc Malual, Noah Feddersen and Justin Neely; David Gomez could add depth as his foot recovers.
  • Hargress returns after a record-setting season, though he was not named to the preseason Bob Cousy Award watch list.
What's Next

Colorado’s opening games will show whether its defensive focus translates into better stops and rebounding. Those are more meaningful early indicators of Big 12 potential than a string of nonconference wins alone.

Bottom Line

For the Buffs, the key measure is not how quickly they win at home—it’s whether their defense has changed enough to hold up when conference play raises the stakes.