Post by mhbruin on May 3, 2023 15:15:48 GMT -8
CHANGES
Tristan da Silva withdraws from the draft.
Added recruit Bangot Dak.
...
June 16: Javon Ruffin's uncooperative knee is going to cost him a second college basketball season.
Colorado's highly touted 2021 recruiting class has suffered another setback as Ruffin will miss the entire 2023-24 season due to a knee issue that has plagued him since his arrival in Boulder two years ago.
Ruffin, who also redshirted during his true freshman season of 2021-22 while recuperating from the initial injury, endured his third knee procedure in less than two years in April. A spark at times off the bench this past season and a bright spot from long range on a Buffaloes team that struggled from the 3-point arc, Ruffin was limited to 24 games due to recurring knee problems.
---------------------------------
Next are the 8th-9th place Colorado Buffaloes. This matched the Buffaloes worst Pac-12 season in the Tad Boyle era. They were a solid defensive team at #30 at KenPom, but only #128 on offense.
Generally they have been good under Tad Boyle, but they have never finished higher than 3rd in the Pac-12.
They are never bad. They are never great. By Colorado standards, that makes him a great coach. He has the best winning percentage for a Buffs coach since Frosty Cox, who coached there from 1936 to 1950. I don't remember him either.
Under Boyle, they have been to 5 NCAA tournaments, and they have two tournament wins in his 13 seasons.
Quite a few think 2023-24 could be Tad Boyle's best year in Boulder. Let's look at the reasons. Here's an example:
CU Buffs are second-highest Pac-12 team in ESPN’s way-too-early men’s basketball top 25
GRADUATING
IN THE DRAFT OR TURNING PRO
At this point, it seems likely da Silva returns for next season. He's their leading scorer, and a very good all around player.
TRANSFERRING OUT
Lovering and Clifford leaving means the Buffs are losing two starters, but neither of them provided much scoring. They were the 7th and 8th leading scorers for the team. Lovering did lead them in blocks, but only averaged 1.0 per game.
Clifford may have started 33 games, but he wasn't a great player. You don't figure a player headed to Colorado State will be a big loss.
RETURNING
This may be the best returning roster in the Pac-12.
Coach Boyle always plays a lot of players, so even though 2 starters are leaving, he returns 8 experienced players. Other than da Silva, every one is listed as a guard. Luke O'Brien is 6'8" and led them in rebounds, so I will coulnt him as a forward. He played a bit of center for them. However, overall, they will be playing a lot of wings.
As we will see, with a redshirt, 2 freshmen, and a transfer, Boyle has a lot of candidates to play center.
The redshire is Joe Hurlbut, who is 6'11" 230, but is listed a a forward. RJ Smith is another redshirt who could play. Freshman Assane Diop could be the answer at center.
Tristan da Sliva was first-team All-Pac-12, which reflects that he was a very good all-around player. He scored in double figures in most of their game, scored over 20 points eleven times, and had a season high of 30.
KJ Simpson is a stat sheet stuffer. He was All-Pac-12 second team and lead the team in assists and steals. However, his shooting percentages and A/TO ratio are nothing to write home about.
Earlier in his career, I didn' think much of Luke O'Brien, but has turned into a solid player and a very good rebounder.
The Buffs do lead the country in players whose names sound like "Javon".
RECRUITS
(#32 class, #4 in Pac-12)
McDonald's AA Cody Williams is the second-highest-ranked recruit in the Pac-12 (after USC's Collier), and he is expected to be an immediate impact player. His older brother Jalen Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
TRANSFERRING IN
After brining in two Ivy League transfers last season who didn't exactly light things up, this year Boyle is going to the Big 12 to find a center. Lampkin played a lot for a very good TCU team, but he wan't a big-time scorer. However, unless the freshman Diop has a surpising year, Lampkin is likely to play a lot of minutes at center for the Buffs.
CONCLUSION
With Tristan da Silva, KJ Simpson, and Cody Williams, Colorado starts with 3 players who could be all-league. They have a bunch of good experienced players to fill out the roster. This could be Tad Boyle's best team, and they should be an NCAA tournament team.
Last season weren't a great shooting team. If they improve offensively, they should be a serous contender for the Pac-12 title..
Wilner:
3. Colorado
On the final day of May, the Buffaloes became a threat for March. Tristan da Silva’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft gave CU the final piece needed to contend for the Pac-12 title and an NCAA Tournament bid. Combine the versatile forward with returning point guard KJ Simpson, five-star prospect Cody Williams and big man Eddie Lampkin, a transfer from TCU, and the Buffaloes have their best core in years — better, even, than the McKinley Wright-led group that reached the second round of the NCAAs in 2021. Previous: 4
Max Vrooman:
Colorado also got good news with their star Tristan da Silva spurning professional ball. He’ll combine with KJ Simpson off a 15.9 ppg season plus the highest rated freshman in Colorado history, Cody Williams (#7 overall). The bench has some question marks but that triumvirate will contend for the best in the conference and any of those 3 could end up 1st team all-Pac-12 at season’s end. If you want a sleeper to win the conference, this is it.
Tristan da Silva withdraws from the draft.
Added recruit Bangot Dak.
...
June 16: Javon Ruffin's uncooperative knee is going to cost him a second college basketball season.
Colorado's highly touted 2021 recruiting class has suffered another setback as Ruffin will miss the entire 2023-24 season due to a knee issue that has plagued him since his arrival in Boulder two years ago.
Ruffin, who also redshirted during his true freshman season of 2021-22 while recuperating from the initial injury, endured his third knee procedure in less than two years in April. A spark at times off the bench this past season and a bright spot from long range on a Buffaloes team that struggled from the 3-point arc, Ruffin was limited to 24 games due to recurring knee problems.
---------------------------------
Next are the 8th-9th place Colorado Buffaloes. This matched the Buffaloes worst Pac-12 season in the Tad Boyle era. They were a solid defensive team at #30 at KenPom, but only #128 on offense.
Generally they have been good under Tad Boyle, but they have never finished higher than 3rd in the Pac-12.
They are never bad. They are never great. By Colorado standards, that makes him a great coach. He has the best winning percentage for a Buffs coach since Frosty Cox, who coached there from 1936 to 1950. I don't remember him either.
Under Boyle, they have been to 5 NCAA tournaments, and they have two tournament wins in his 13 seasons.
Quite a few think 2023-24 could be Tad Boyle's best year in Boulder. Let's look at the reasons. Here's an example:
CU Buffs are second-highest Pac-12 team in ESPN’s way-too-early men’s basketball top 25
GRADUATING
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| None |
IN THE DRAFT OR TURNING PRO
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Can Return? |
At this point, it seems likely da Silva returns for next season. He's their leading scorer, and a very good all around player.
TRANSFERRING OUT
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Destination |
| Lawson Lovering | 34 | 34 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 0.9 | Utah |
| Nique Clifford | 35 | 33 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 1.8 | Colorado State |
| Quincy Allen | 11 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.1 | James Madison |
| Amondo Miller Jr. | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | Fort Lewis |
Lovering and Clifford leaving means the Buffs are losing two starters, but neither of them provided much scoring. They were the 7th and 8th leading scorers for the team. Lovering did lead them in blocks, but only averaged 1.0 per game.
Clifford may have started 33 games, but he wasn't a great player. You don't figure a player headed to Colorado State will be a big loss.
RETURNING
| Player | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3Pt% | A/TO | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Tristan da Silva F | 35 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 5 | 1.3 | 50% | 39% | 0.7 | Sr | Unranked | |
| KJ Simpson G | 29 | 28 | 32 | 16 | 4 | 3.8 | 40% | 28% | 1.5 | So | 4 | 86 |
| J'Vonne Hadley G | 22 | 19 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 1.1 | 53% | --- | 1.2 | Sr | JUCO | |
| Julian Hammond III G | 35 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 2.0 | 40% | 33% | 1.2 | Jr | 3 | 234 |
| Luke O'Brien G | 33 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 43% | 29% | 1.3 | Sr | 3 | 419 |
| Jalen Gabbidon G | 27 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1.1 | 38% | 28% | 1.2 | Sr 5 | Unranked | |
| Ethan Wright G | 35 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0.8 | 39% | 35% | 1.0 | Sr 5 | Unranked | |
| Joe Hurlburt F | Rs Fr | 3 | 130 | |||||||||
| RJ Smith G | Rs Fr | 3 | 305 |
This may be the best returning roster in the Pac-12.
Coach Boyle always plays a lot of players, so even though 2 starters are leaving, he returns 8 experienced players. Other than da Silva, every one is listed as a guard. Luke O'Brien is 6'8" and led them in rebounds, so I will coulnt him as a forward. He played a bit of center for them. However, overall, they will be playing a lot of wings.
As we will see, with a redshirt, 2 freshmen, and a transfer, Boyle has a lot of candidates to play center.
The redshire is Joe Hurlbut, who is 6'11" 230, but is listed a a forward. RJ Smith is another redshirt who could play. Freshman Assane Diop could be the answer at center.
Tristan da Sliva was first-team All-Pac-12, which reflects that he was a very good all-around player. He scored in double figures in most of their game, scored over 20 points eleven times, and had a season high of 30.
KJ Simpson is a stat sheet stuffer. He was All-Pac-12 second team and lead the team in assists and steals. However, his shooting percentages and A/TO ratio are nothing to write home about.
Earlier in his career, I didn' think much of Luke O'Brien, but has turned into a solid player and a very good rebounder.
The Buffs do lead the country in players whose names sound like "Javon".
RECRUITS
(#32 class, #4 in Pac-12)
| Player | Size | Position | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank | Offers |
| Cody Williams | 6-8 180 | SF | 5 | 7 | UCLA, Arizona, Texas |
| Assane Diop | 6-10 210 | C | 4 | 97 | Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor |
| Courtney Anderson | 6-5 180 | SF | 3 | 222 | Arizona State, Cal, Nevada |
| Bangot Dak | 6-9 180 | C | Unranked | No other offers. |
McDonald's AA Cody Williams is the second-highest-ranked recruit in the Pac-12 (after USC's Collier), and he is expected to be an immediate impact player. His older brother Jalen Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
TRANSFERRING IN
| Player | Size | Games | Starts | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG % | 3-Pt % | From | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Eddie Lampkin, Jr. | 6-11 263 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 1.2 | 55% | --- | TCU | Sr | 3 | 316 |
After brining in two Ivy League transfers last season who didn't exactly light things up, this year Boyle is going to the Big 12 to find a center. Lampkin played a lot for a very good TCU team, but he wan't a big-time scorer. However, unless the freshman Diop has a surpising year, Lampkin is likely to play a lot of minutes at center for the Buffs.
CONCLUSION
With Tristan da Silva, KJ Simpson, and Cody Williams, Colorado starts with 3 players who could be all-league. They have a bunch of good experienced players to fill out the roster. This could be Tad Boyle's best team, and they should be an NCAA tournament team.
Last season weren't a great shooting team. If they improve offensively, they should be a serous contender for the Pac-12 title..
Wilner:
3. Colorado
On the final day of May, the Buffaloes became a threat for March. Tristan da Silva’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft gave CU the final piece needed to contend for the Pac-12 title and an NCAA Tournament bid. Combine the versatile forward with returning point guard KJ Simpson, five-star prospect Cody Williams and big man Eddie Lampkin, a transfer from TCU, and the Buffaloes have their best core in years — better, even, than the McKinley Wright-led group that reached the second round of the NCAAs in 2021. Previous: 4
Max Vrooman:
Colorado also got good news with their star Tristan da Silva spurning professional ball. He’ll combine with KJ Simpson off a 15.9 ppg season plus the highest rated freshman in Colorado history, Cody Williams (#7 overall). The bench has some question marks but that triumvirate will contend for the best in the conference and any of those 3 could end up 1st team all-Pac-12 at season’s end. If you want a sleeper to win the conference, this is it.