Colorado Basketball Relies on Late Arrivals to Strengthen Bench Ahead of Opening Night

The Colorado men's basketball program is entering its new campaign with a significantly narrower player pool than the one that led to a 17-16 record last year. The Buffs are set to host Abilene Christian on November 2, marking the start of the seventeenth season for head coach Tad Boyle. While the team has not yet locked in specific minutes, the projected starting rotation and primary reserves are taking shape from a core group of guards and forwards.

Last year, the Buffs relied on a deep bench, with eleven players appearing in at least twenty games and seven logging at least ten starts. That level of constant shuffling is unlikely to return this season. Instead, a group of freshmen has effectively joined the roster as developmental assets, focusing on growth rather than immediate game action.

The projected rotation includes guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. The frontcourt will feature forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, and Goc Malual. David Gomez is also in the mix, though his early minutes may be restricted as he recovers from foot surgery performed a year ago.

Forward Chase Hill described his primary objective with a simple directive. "Just develop," he stated. Hill noted that he could have attended a Division III school with the same goal and attempted a transfer later, but he chose Colorado to mature over the four or five years he anticipates remaining at the program.

The four late additions to the roster came to Boulder through distinct paths. Wing player Rider Portela, a native of Phoenix, signed with the Buffs last November. The others arrived as late commitments in the previous spring. Eric Jacobsen grew up in the Midwest, spending time in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Colorado Springs, before playing at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. His recruiting momentum slowed after a torn ACL during his junior year.

Hill comes from a lineage of basketball instruction. His father holds the all-time winning record for women's basketball at Division III Trinity University in San Antonio, and his grandfather, Bob, was a prominent NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas four decades ago. Portela’s father is also a coach. Amir Jones re-entered the recruiting process after a coaching change at Georgia State, where he had originally signed.

Jacobsen admitted that accepting a limited role was initially challenging. He explained that he is now realizing he can give his maximum effort every day without the pressure of guaranteed playing time. "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose," he said. "Just trying to earn what I can."

Unless injuries or other unforeseen issues arise, this group of late arrivals is not expected to feature regularly in games. However, their daily contributions in practice are viewed as essential for a team aiming to create a surprise in the Big 12 Conference.

Boyle emphasized that he does not want these players to feel permanently excluded from the action. He described the situation as fluid, noting that Jones had a strong practice on Friday and that Jacobsen and Hill have also performed well. He stated that while the players possess the talent, they lack consistency due to their youth. The coach believes their standing in December could differ significantly from their current position in October. He has instructed them to prepare daily so they are mentally ready if called upon.