The next few weeks could be pivotal for Tad Boyle and the Colorado Buffaloes. After a swift exit from the Big 12 tournament with a first-round loss to Oklahoma State, the focus now shifts to what comes next.
Despite the early exit, the Buffaloes showed significant improvement over last season when they finished last in the Big 12. This year, they managed to bookend their road schedule with wins at Arizona State and Utah, despite some tough blowouts along the way. They finished 7-11 in the conference, a step up from last year's three-win campaign.
The Buffs had a mixed bag of results, going 1-10 against teams above them in the standings. Their standout victory came against TCU, a win that seemed to spark the Horned Frogs' late-season surge.
Against teams below them, the Buffs went 6-1 before the Oklahoma State loss. Yet, even those lower-ranked teams pulled off surprising upsets, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.
Boyle acknowledged the progress but also the gap that remains. "We won the games we were supposed to win, except for Oklahoma State.
But we never beat a team that we’re not supposed to beat," he said. He emphasized the need for offseason growth, urging his players to improve both physically and mentally to become contenders.
Boyle's future in Boulder is uncertain, but the immediate concern is the transfer portal, which opens April 7. Keeping the talented backcourt duo of Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress is crucial.
If they stay, the Buffs could enter the 2026-27 season with one of the Big 12's most promising backcourts. However, losing either could mean another uphill battle.
The challenge for Boyle is balancing his traditional program-building approach with the realities of modern college basketball. With a new athletic director and declining attendance, there’s pressure to revitalize the program. The next few weeks will be critical in shaping the future of Colorado basketball.