The Colorado Buffaloes are set to tip off the 2026-27 men’s basketball season Monday night, and they’ll do it at home against Abilene Christian with Tad Boyle once again trying to keep his opening-night streak rolling.
Colorado has been reliable in season openers under Boyle, going 14-2 and winning its last 10. This year’s group brings back a few familiar pieces, starting with fifth-year guard Barrington Hargress, who paced the Buffs last season with averages of 14.7 points, 4.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds across 33 games.
The returning core also includes sophomores Ian Inman, Jalin Hollans and Josiah Sanders, all of whom are expected to handle a bigger share of the production this season.
Colorado also added help where it needed it most. Forward Justin Neely arrives after pulling down 11.5 rebounds a game last season at UNC Greensboro, giving the Buffs another body to help on the glass. He’s joined by center Noah Feddersen, a transfer from North Dakota State who was named the Summit League’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Abilene Christian comes in off a 14-19 season and a 5-13 mark in the WAC. The Wildcats’ roster is led by transfer Noah Bolanga, who averaged nearly 12 points per game last season.
It’s the first meeting between the programs, and fans looking to catch it will need ESPN+. The game is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, with a 7 p.m.
MT start from the CU Events Center in Boulder. Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke will have the broadcast call, and the game will stream exclusively on ESPN+ for Colorado’s 2026-27 opener.
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Arizona State Faces A Dangerous Colorado Test At Home
Colorado heads into Nov. 7 with some momentum after its overtime win against Kansas State, and the timing makes the trip to Arizona State feel like more than just another conference game. The Buffaloes have leaned on a mix of playmakers to keep their offense moving, with JaQuail Smith, Richard Young, Isaac Wilson and Joseph Williams all part of the recent push that helped them survive a tight one.
Arizona State, meanwhile, is trying to steady itself after a loss to BYU and will get the chance to regroup at home in what oddsmakers expect to be a close matchup. The Sun Devils are still carrying the edge in the betting line, but Colorado has already shown it can hang in a tense game, which is exactly why this one has the feel of a test both teams will have to earn. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Finally Got A Full-Team Win But One Unit Still Stands Out
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Even with the balanced effort, one phase kept standing out in a different way. The linebackers brought energy and production in the middle, and special teams repeatedly helped tilt field position by pinning Kansas State deep, giving Colorado a chance to play on its terms more often than not. The corners, though, were still part of a shakier picture, leaving a reminder that even a full-team win can come with one unit still demanding attention. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Has A Chance To Prove The Big 12 Wrong Early
Colorados womens basketball team will get its first chance to answer the Big 12s preseason skepticism right away, opening the 2026-27 season at home against Morgan State on Nov. 4. Its a fresh start after a 22-12 campaign last year, but the Buffs enter with a chip on their shoulder after being picked to finish eighth in the conference preseason poll.
A big reason for optimism is senior guard Zyanna Walker, who earned a spot on the 2026 All-Big 12 Preseason Team and landed on the Naismith Trophy Watch List. Walker gives Colorado a proven veteran presence as the Buffs try to turn that outside projection into something sturdier, and the opener should offer an early look at how ready they are to do it. [Read more 🡒]