Tad Boyle didn’t just tweak the starting lineup on Sunday - he sent a clear, resounding message. After six straight losses and a stretch of uninspired play, the Colorado head coach turned to youth, rolling out four true freshmen alongside sophomore point guard Barrington Hargress. It was a bold move, the kind that could either spark a turnaround or deepen the rut.
Turns out, it sparked something big.
The young Buffaloes brought energy, effort, and an edge that had been missing in recent weeks. And the rest of the roster followed their lead. Colorado snapped its six-game skid in emphatic fashion, dominating TCU 87-61 at the CU Events Center in what was easily one of their most complete performances of the season.
This wasn’t just about ending a losing streak - it was about rediscovering an identity. The Buffs played with urgency on both ends, defending with purpose and moving the ball with confidence.
That one-point edge late in the first half ballooned into a 13-point lead thanks to a 12-0 run, and from there, Colorado never looked back. By halftime, it was 38-25.
By the final buzzer, it was a 26-point statement.
Defensively, this was Colorado at its best. TCU’s 61 points were the fewest allowed by the Buffs all season, and the Horned Frogs shot just 33.3% from the field - the lowest mark by any CU opponent in Big 12 play and tied for the lowest overall this year. That’s the kind of defensive intensity Boyle has been preaching, and on Sunday, it finally showed up in full.
Offensively, the Buffs shared the wealth. Five players finished in double figures, and perhaps no one embodied the team’s renewed spirit more than Sebastian Rancik.
Coming off the bench for the first time this season, the sophomore forward delivered a near-flawless performance - 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, six rebounds, and three assists. It was the kind of all-around impact that shows up in the box score and on the film.
What made this win more than just a relief was how complete it felt. The freshmen didn’t just hold their own - they helped set the tone.
The veterans responded. The defense locked in.
And the offense flowed. For a team that’s been searching for consistency, this was a glimpse of what it looks like when everything clicks.
Now, the question becomes: can they build on it? The Big 12 grind doesn’t slow down, and Colorado’s margin for error remains thin.
But if Boyle’s lineup shakeup was meant to inject life into a team that had lost its way, mission accomplished. The Buffs looked like a team ready to fight again - and that’s a dangerous version of Colorado for anyone to face.