Buffs Blown Out by No. 8 Iowa State, but Tad Boyle’s Squad Still Searching for a Spark
Thursday night in Ames was about as rough as it gets for Colorado. The Buffs walked into Hilton Coliseum hoping to stop the bleeding. Instead, they got run out of the gym.
Iowa State, ranked No. 8 in the nation and playing like a team with something to prove, handed CU a 97-67 loss - the kind of defeat that doesn’t just sting, it lingers. That’s six straight losses now for the Buffs, and this one was easily the most lopsided of the bunch.
But even after watching his team dismantle Colorado on both ends of the floor, Iowa State head coach TJ Otzelberger had nothing but respect for the Buffs - and especially for CU head coach Tad Boyle.
“There’s not a coach I look up to and respect more than coach Boyle,” Otzelberger said. “He’s done this for so long with tremendous character and leadership.
They do a great job bringing in freshmen and developing players. All it’s going to take is a big win to get their confidence going again.”
That vote of confidence from a coach whose own team is now 19-2 - the best start in Iowa State history - is a reminder that the Buffs aren’t short on talent. But right now, they’re short on answers.
A Skid That’s Starting to Leave a Mark
Thursday’s blowout marked the third-longest losing streak of Boyle’s tenure in Boulder. Only the seven-game slide in 2016-17 and last year’s 13-game drought have been worse. That’s not the kind of company this team wants to keep, especially with Big 12 play in full swing.
The Buffs’ frontcourt, which has struggled throughout this skid, had another tough night. Starters Bangot Dak and Elijah Malone, along with top reserve Alon Michaeli, combined for just six points - all from Dak - and five rebounds.
That trio also coughed up six of CU’s 10 turnovers. It’s hard to win in the Big 12 with that kind of production from your bigs.
Malone, in particular, saw limited action again - logging just over six minutes. But there was at least one bright spot in the post: freshman Tacko Ifaola.
Tacko Ifaola Shows Signs of Life
Ifaola made the most of his extended run, playing a season-high 15 minutes and grabbing three rebounds - two of them on the offensive glass. That might not jump off the stat sheet, but it matters.
Colorado had just four offensive rebounds all game, and Ifaola had half of them. Fellow freshman Josiah Sanders grabbed the other two.
No other Buffs player had one.
“The one thing about Tacko is he plays hard,” Boyle said. “He brings a physicality to the game.
We’ve got some guys who think they play hard, but they don’t. Until they figure it out, it’s going to be tough to win.
But Tacko’s earned his time. He’ll get more of it if he keeps earning it.”
That’s the kind of praise that means something coming from Boyle, who’s not one to hand out compliments lightly. Ifaola’s effort won’t solve all of CU’s problems, but it’s a step in the right direction - and a sign that this team still has some fight in it.
A Chance to Reset?
The Buffs don’t have much time to dwell on what went wrong in Ames. They return home Sunday to face TCU - a more manageable matchup at the CU Events Center.
After that, they hit the road to play a Baylor team that’s just 1-7 in Big 12 play and still searching for a home win in the conference. Then it’s back to Boulder to host Arizona State, a team CU already beat on the road to open Big 12 play.
In other words, the schedule is offering a lifeline. Whether the Buffs grab it is up to them.
This stretch could be the turning point - or the point where things unravel further. But Otzelberger’s not the only one who believes a breakthrough is still possible.
The pieces are there. The question now is whether Colorado can put them together in time to salvage their season.