The Colorado men’s basketball team is at its best when the whole roster gets involved - and right now, that collective rhythm is exactly what the Buffs are trying to rediscover.
There’s no single superstar carrying this squad. That’s been clear all season.
Instead, Colorado’s success hinges on balance - top-to-bottom contributions, everyone pulling their weight. Head coach Tad Boyle has emphasized that point repeatedly, and with good reason.
When the Buffs are clicking, it’s because the rotation is sharing the load. But over the last few weeks, that balance has been hard to find, and the results speak for themselves: seven losses in the last eight games.
Two players who loom large in Colorado’s formula - literally and figuratively - are Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik. Both are versatile, experienced forwards with high ceilings.
And both have struggled to find consistency during this rough stretch. As the Buffs prepare to host Arizona State on Saturday night, the spotlight is back on Dak, Rancik, and the rest of the rotation to get things moving in the right direction.
Inconsistency at the Core
Let’s be clear - this isn’t about prolonged slumps. It’s more about the up-and-down nature of performances, the kind that makes it tough for coaches to know what they’re going to get on any given night.
Take Bangot Dak. Over the past eight games, he’s alternated between single-digit and double-digit scoring.
One night he’s efficient and active - like his 7-for-8, 14-point outing in a win over TCU. The next, he’s struggling - like the 2-for-8, five-point showing in a loss at Baylor.
Even in that Baylor game, Dak led the team with six rebounds, but for the third straight contest, he didn’t record a blocked shot - a surprising stat for a player on pace to notch one of the best shot-blocking seasons in program history.
Sebastian Rancik’s recent stretch tells a similar story. Against TCU, he was sharp - 6-for-8 from the floor, 17 points, six rebounds.
But at Baylor? Just 1-for-5 shooting, five points (matching a season low), and zero rebounds - the first time he’s been held off the glass since the season opener.
After a stretch of 10 straight games scoring at least 11 points, Rancik has been alternating between single- and double-digit scoring nights over the last seven games.
Boyle didn’t mince words when talking about the inconsistency.
“There’s no better two games to look at than the TCU game at home and the Baylor game on the road that sheds a light on their inconsistency,” he said. “But they’re not the only ones.
At home, they’re 13-for-16 with 10 rebounds between them. They had six rebounds (at Baylor), and one guy didn’t get one.”
It’s not just about where the games are played. It’s about bringing the same energy and production night in and night out - something Boyle says is still missing.
“I’m just looking for consistent effort, consistent production,” he added. “And if you don’t have it, it’s like throwing darts at the dart board as a coach.
Because you don’t know what you’re going to get from a certain guy on any given night. And that’s frustrating.”
Another Shot at Redemption
The good news? The Buffs have a chance to bounce back at home - just like they did against TCU - when they welcome Arizona State to the CU Events Center on Saturday night.
Colorado opened Big 12 play with a win at ASU back on January 3, and while the Sun Devils have had their own struggles (they’ve lost five of their last seven), they’re coming off a solid road win at Utah and have shown growth since that early January meeting.
“The challenge is to make our guys understand how much better Arizona State is today than they were when we played them in January,” Boyle said. “Their record may not reflect it.
But I just know watching Arizona State on tape, they gave Central Florida all they wanted on the road. They played Arizona tough two times.
They just beat Utah on the road. Arizona State, they’ve gotten better.”
Scouting the Matchup
Saturday’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2, with radio coverage on KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM. Both teams enter with identical 3-7 records in Big 12 play - Colorado at 13-10 overall, Arizona State at 12-11.
The Sun Devils are led by senior guard Maurice Odum, who’s averaging 17 points and over six assists per game while connecting on nearly 37% from three. Freshman center Massamba Diop brings size and scoring efficiency inside, shooting nearly 60% from the field while putting up 13.6 points and 5.8 boards per game.
Colorado counters with a talented backcourt duo in Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress. Johnson leads the team at 16.3 points per game and is shooting over 41% from deep.
Hargress has been a model of efficiency, hitting over 52% from three and averaging 13.7 points and 4.4 assists. Rancik and Dak round out the frontcourt, and their ability to find consistency will be a key storyline once again.
Extra Motivation at Home
CU is also looking to juice up the home atmosphere with some added incentives for students. Every remaining home game - men’s and women’s - will feature giveaways like Eldora lift tickets and Blenders Goggles. Students who attend all four remaining men’s and women’s games will also get priority access to next season’s Sports Pass.
Looking Ahead
After Saturday’s matchup, the road doesn’t get any easier. Colorado heads out for two tough games next week - first at No.
13 Texas Tech on Wednesday, then at No. 14 BYU the following Sunday.
But before they start thinking about those ranked opponents, the Buffs need to handle business at home - and that starts with showing they can bring the same energy and execution from the TCU win into Saturday night’s contest against a steadily improving Arizona State squad.
If Dak and Rancik can lock in, if the rotation can deliver across the board, Colorado has a real shot to get back on track. But that "if" looms large - and the Buffs know it.