Colorado’s Frontcourt Shuffle Continues as Freshman Tacko Ifaola Emerges as a Viable Option
AMES, Iowa - When you’re in the grind of Big 12 play, sometimes opportunity doesn’t knock - it kicks the door in. That’s been the case for Colorado freshman Tacko Ifaola, who’s found himself thrust into meaningful minutes as the Buffaloes search for answers during a rough midseason stretch.
Colorado head coach Tad Boyle has had little choice but to dip into his bench, and Ifaola’s name has come up more often lately - not just out of necessity, but increasingly, out of trust.
The 6-foot-10 freshman didn’t see the floor in Saturday’s loss to UCF, which extended the Buffs’ losing streak to five. But before that, Ifaola logged back-to-back appearances in Big 12 play for the first time this season.
Both instances came under pressure: starting center Elijah Malone fouled out in just nine minutes at West Virginia, and then exited early again due to injury in the following game against Kansas. In both cases, Boyle turned to Ifaola - and while the box score won’t wow you, the impact was quietly significant.
In limited minutes, Ifaola grabbed an offensive rebound in each of those outings - a small stat, sure, but one that stands out on a team that’s struggled to generate second-chance opportunities. Against West Virginia, CU pulled down just nine offensive boards on 34 missed shots. Ifaola had one of those - in only five minutes of action.
He’s still a raw product, especially on the offensive end, but there’s no question that Ifaola brings something different to the table. His length, energy, and rebounding instincts give him the highest defensive ceiling among Colorado’s current rotation of bigs. And with Malone and backup forward Alon Michaeli both struggling to produce, that ceiling is starting to look more and more appealing.
Malone, who has seen his minutes dwindle, has scored just four points over the last four games - despite logging more than 38 minutes combined. Even more concerning: he’s collected just one rebound over his last three appearances. Michaeli, once a reliable shooter in nonconference play, has gone cold in Big 12 action, shooting just 33% from the field and a rough 6-for-23 from deep.
“Tacko’s got a physical presence. He plays hard,” Boyle said. “That’s something we’ve talked about as a staff, for sure.”
Turnovers, Toughness, and the Road Test Ahead
Colorado’s next test is a big one - a road trip to No. 8 Iowa State on Thursday.
The Cyclones are 18-2 and rolling, especially at home. For the Buffs to have any shot at pulling off an upset, it starts with taking care of the basketball - something they’ve actually improved on this season.
A year ago, Colorado averaged 17 turnovers per game in three losses to Iowa State. This time around, the addition of UC Riverside transfer Barrington Hargress and freshman Isaiah Johnson has helped stabilize the backcourt. That ball security will be critical against a Cyclones squad that thrives on creating chaos and turning defense into offense.
“They try to create offense with their defense,” Boyle said. “So I think taking care of the ball and getting great shots for us is key.
And then we’re going to have to make some. Against Kansas, we couldn’t make a shot in the second half.
I continue to work on our defense and rebounding, because without those two things, you’re not going to beat Iowa State. If we don’t defend and we don’t rebound at a high level, it doesn’t matter how good our offense is.
That’s just the bottom line against this team.”
Respect for the Opponent
Boyle didn’t hold back when asked about Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger, who’s quietly built a powerhouse in Ames. Now in his fifth season, Otzelberger is closing in on his fourth 20-win campaign - and doing it with a team that plays hard, defends relentlessly, and makes you earn every inch.
“To me, TJ Otzelberger is one of the most underrated coaches in America. I really believe that,” Boyle said. “He does a great job with his team.”
Quick Hits and Numbers to Know
- Colorado enters Thursday’s matchup ranked No. 81 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and No. 80 at KenPom. Iowa State?
They’re sitting comfortably inside the top eight in both metrics - No. 7 in the NET and No. 5 at KenPom.
- The Buffs are still chasing a breakthrough against elite competition. They’ve dropped 10 straight games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 and haven’t won a true road game against a ranked opponent since 2013 - a 23-game drought that stretches back to a win over No.
19 Oregon.
- One bright spot: Bangot Dak had a career night the last time Colorado played in Ames, dropping 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. The Buffs could use a repeat performance.
- Thursday’s game tips off at 5 p.m. MT on Fox Sports 1, with Tim Brando and Nick Bahe on the call.
As Colorado looks to snap its losing streak and find some rhythm in the heart of Big 12 play, the emergence of Tacko Ifaola could be more than just a silver lining - it might be a sign of what’s next.