Colorado opened its 2026 season with a tight 67-64 win over North Texas in the Mile High Hoops Classic exhibition, and three Buffs stood out right away at the Auraria Events Center in Denver.
Alex Dickeson was the headliner. The freshman did a little bit of everything in his first showing, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and going 3-for-4 at the line. He also added four rebounds, an assist, a block and two steals, showing the kind of all-around impact Colorado was hoping for.
“I thought he was good, especially for an 18-year-old freshman playing in a different country and a different set of rules,” said Colorado coach Tad Boyle postgame. “FIBA rules, which he’s grown up playing, are totally different from NCAA rules. But Alex is a smart player, he’s a tough player, his teammates love playing with him, he’s effective, he’s mature beyond his years…He’s going to be an important part of this team this year.”
Justin Neely gave Colorado another major piece in the frontcourt. After a slow start, he settled in and nearly posted a triple-double in his Buffs debut. Neely finished with eight points, nine rebounds, six assists, one block and a steal, though he left early in the second half with a minor knee injury.
“I feel like as the game went on, Justin got better,” Boyle said. “...
But Justin’s going to be a matchup problem. Now, he’s got to handle double-teams better…you’ve got two guys on you, someone’s open, make the play.
He’s willing to do that; he just didn’t do a great job of it today. But he did lead us in assists.
Justin’s a willing passer, and this is a step up for him too, but he’s going to be better as he goes; there’s no doubt about that.”
The strongest performance from Colorado’s returners belonged to Bangot Dak, who looked more complete than he did a year ago. Boyle had challenged him to broaden his game during the offseason, and Dak responded with a steadier, more aggressive outing. He was the only Buffs player to play more than 20 minutes without committing a turnover.
Dak scored 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting, hit one 3-pointer, and showed more willingness to attack the rim than he did last season. He also added two rebounds and two assists while defending well throughout the night. Coming off the bench, he logged 30 minutes and finished as the most productive returning player in the opener.
In Other News...
Jace Holleys Return Could Change Colorados Attack In A Hurry
A long rehab stretch and a pair of doctor clearances finally put Jace Holley back on the field for Colorado, giving the Buffaloes another attacking option just when the season was starting to find its rhythm. The junior forward worked through the physical grind of recovering from an ankle injury and the mental strain that comes with watching the early portion of a season unfold from the sideline, then made her season debut on Sept. 24.
Since returning, Holley has already shown why her presence matters, adding assists and goals as she worked her way back into game shape. For Colorado, the next question is how quickly she can settle into a regular attacking role and add another layer to a group that suddenly looks more dangerous with her available. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Just Raised A Bigger Danny Scudero Question For Colorado
Danny Scuderos return remains on hold as Colorado continues to manage the wide receivers foot injury, the kind of nagging setback that can linger well beyond the original timetable. The injury showed up before the 2026 season and has already limited his playing time, leaving the Buffaloes to weigh whats best for a player they clearly still see as part of their future.
Deion Sanders has made it clear the program is thinking beyond the next game, even with Oklahoma State coming up on the schedule. Colorado does not want to rush Scudero back, and the conversation around his status has shifted toward whether he plays again this season at all, with medical redshirt eligibility now part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Gets A Chance To Prove Utah Was No Fluke
Colorado heads to Boone Pickens Stadium looking to show the Utah loss was more than a near miss, and that the Buffaloes can still hang with a stronger Big 12 opponent on the road. The matchup with Oklahoma State comes at a tricky point in the season, with the Cowboys sitting at 4-2 and Colorado trying to steady itself at 2-4 after a game that offered plenty of encouraging signs even in defeat.
Oklahoma State has the benefit of the home field and the more comfortable record, so this is the kind of spot where Colorado has to clean up the details and make the most of every possession. The Buffaloes do not need a statement win to prove they belong, but a competitive showing against a favored Cowboys team would go a long way toward backing up what was seen against Utah and hinting that the Colorado run game, defense and overall composure may be trending in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]