Colorado Roster Preview - Take 2

This is a team with theoretical talent based on "stars," but a team sorely lacking in experience.

Sometimes young teams get a lot better during the season, especially if the coaching staff are good at finding players who fit their system so that an unusual number of 3-star players look really good playing for Colorado because the coaches got guys who fit with what they want and good coaches can teach players skills they might not possess coming out of high school and part of the "fit" is that the coaches know the players are going to work hard every year to improve.

I disagree this is a put up or shut up year for Boyle. He is just coming off a 3rd place finish and a Sweet 16 appearance. And he's in a rebuilding year, but some of the guys coming back (Walker especially, but maybe Battey, who knows?) could be all Pac-12 players so there will be less pressure on the FR to shine. And Faulkner likely fits Colorado's system and as a 5th year SR will likely be able to handle a lot of responsibility right away.

So, I think a top 6 finish, but a miss with the NCAA Tournament, doesn't cost him his job.

Dana Altman and NIKE are able to reload with experienced transfers every year. Boyle doesn't have that luxury even though NIKE sponsors Colorado too.

NIKE has its priorities.

Walker likely turns pro and Faulkner is out of eligibility. But Battey is one of those guys who might play 5 years at Colorado.

And the best thing about sophomores is they become juniors. And the best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.

So, Boyle might be ready to go on a run over the next 3-5 years where we see Colorado as a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament and in fighting to finish in the top 3-4 in the league (remember how close Pac-12 teams often are in the standings).

The NCAA Tournament hype seems to have been very good for the recruiting of several Pac-12 schools.

KJ Simpson had Keith Higgins at Chaminade, KJ Higgins is heading for LeHigh and his dad is the coach at Compton College.

But Simpson at 6-3 and Higgins at 6-4 were the two tallest players on the team. Very few guys even 6-0. That was a major challenge for Chaminade and yes, Simpson had few passing options. However, that doesn't entirely explain why he would sometimes go 11-32 from the field, 3-12 from 3 and 10-10 from the FT line en route to his 35 point game.

His team did press a lot and that led to turnovers. Then either Simpson or Higgins would get the ball and usually they let it fly.

Sometimes Simpson would let it fly on a fast break 1 on 3: 1 totally out of control player against 3 defenders. Not a good idea. That won't be tolerated at Colorado. But the coaches recruited him hard out of high school so they must believe he's the right fit. And he had great academics, a very good sign.

The other KJ, Higgins, never did that once. The 1 against 3. Or going 11-32 from the field. But then he was a coach's son.

Don't be surprised if he transfers to a Pac-12 school after spending some time at LeHigh. Maybe as a grad transfer, maybe sooner. He might graduate in 3 years like Myles Johnson.