Even in the midst of a frustrating stretch for Colorado basketball, forward Sebastian Rancik found a silver lining this past week - a visit from his mother and grandfather, the latter seeing him play in person for the first time. The timing wasn’t ideal, as the Buffaloes dropped a hard-fought 75-69 battle to No.
19 Kansas, marking their fourth straight loss. But for Rancik, having family in the stands was a moment of personal significance.
“I just want to see them and go out and compete for 40 minutes,” Rancik said during last week’s road trip. “My grandpa has never been here yet.”
Now, with Colorado sitting at 12-7 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 play, the Buffaloes are looking to regroup as they prepare to host Central Florida on Saturday. And while the losses are piling up, Rancik remains a key piece of the puzzle - even as he battles through a tough stretch of his own.
Rancik’s Rough Patch
Rancik was at the center of a controversial moment late in the Kansas game - an inbounds pass that was tipped by KU’s Melvin Council Jr., who appeared to be out of bounds before the deflection led to a Jayhawks layup. It was a frustrating sequence, but not one that falls squarely on Rancik’s shoulders.
Still, the play seemed to encapsulate the sophomore’s recent struggles. Despite ranking third on the team in both scoring (12.9 points per game) and rebounding (5.5), Rancik’s production has dipped during Colorado’s four-game losing streak.
Over that span, he’s averaged just 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from the field. From beyond the arc, the numbers are even tougher - just 5-for-23 (.217) in six Big 12 contests.
One area where Rancik has typically thrived is at the free throw line. He went a perfect 9-for-9 in Colorado’s win over Utah, but since then, he’s drawn just nine free throw attempts across four games. For a player who excels when he plays downhill and draws contact, that’s a sign he’s not getting to his spots as often.
It’s Not Just Rancik
Rancik isn’t the only Buffalo struggling to find rhythm lately. Starting center Elijah Malone has seen limited action in the past two games - just 15 minutes and 41 seconds combined - due to a combination of injury and foul trouble. After contributing 11 points and five boards as Colorado opened Big 12 play 2-0, Malone has added just eight points and five rebounds during the current four-game skid.
Freshman big man Alon Michaeli, who’s stepped into a larger role behind Malone, has had his own growing pains, shooting just 32.7% in conference play. And starting forward Bangot Dak has also cooled off, hitting just 15 of his last 40 shots (.375) during the losing streak.
Boyle Preaches Patience and Shot Selection
Despite the struggles, head coach Tad Boyle remains confident in his group - and he’s putting an emphasis on shot quality as the Buffaloes look to right the ship.
“I believe in every one of our guys. You name the guy, I believe in them.
I really do,” Boyle said. “I know it’s frustrating for them.
Again, my thing is, are we getting good shots? And are we taking good shots?”
Boyle was quick to point out that not every player can make something out of nothing. Some guys - like standout freshman Darryn Peterson - have the talent to convert low-percentage looks. But for the rest of the roster, discipline and efficiency are key.
“We can’t take bad shots, this team,” Boyle added. “We’re not good enough players.
Some guys are good enough to make bad shots. Darryn Peterson’s one of them.
Some guys are talented enough to do that. Some guys aren’t.”
The message is clear: stay in the gym, keep working, and trust that the shots will start falling.
Big 12’s Player’s Era Shakeup
In a notable scheduling update, the Big 12 announced its eight representatives for the 2026 Player’s Era tournament - and Colorado isn’t among them. Originally, the plan was for the top eight teams in the league standings to earn automatic bids to the following year’s event, beginning with the 2026 tournament.
However, the league revealed that Baylor, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia will be the eight teams heading to the Player’s Era event. That’s a surprising move, especially considering neither TCU nor Kansas State finished in the top eight of last season’s regular-season standings.
Where the Buffs Stand
Through six conference games - roughly a third of the Big 12 schedule - Colorado ranks 13th in league play in three-point shooting percentage at just 30.4%. That’s a stat that speaks volumes about the team’s current offensive challenges.
But there are bright spots, too. Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson continues to make noise, with 304 total points on the season - good for 13th in program history among freshmen. At his current pace of 16.0 points per game, and with at least 13 games remaining, Johnson has a legitimate shot at surpassing Alec Burks’ freshman scoring record of 512 points set back in 2009-10.
Looking Ahead
Colorado’s current skid has exposed some growing pains - both from veterans like Rancik and from younger players still adjusting to the grind of Big 12 basketball. But there’s no panic in Boulder. The pieces are there, and the belief inside the locker room hasn’t wavered.
With UCF coming to town and a chance to snap the streak at home, the Buffaloes have an opportunity to reset. It’s about getting back to fundamentals - smart shots, strong defense, and trusting the process. The Big 12 doesn’t offer many soft landings, but for Colorado, the next step is simple: compete for 40 minutes and let the work speak for itself.