Colorado Men’s Hoops Hits Holiday Break Looking for Answers After Stanford Setback
The holidays are often a time to pause, reflect, and reset - and that’s exactly what Colorado head coach Tad Boyle is hoping his team will do after a frustrating loss to Stanford sent the Buffaloes into the break with plenty to think about.
Colorado’s 77-68 defeat in Phoenix wasn’t just another mark in the loss column - it was a wake-up call. A team that’s been riding high on offensive efficiency all season suddenly looked out of rhythm, outmuscled, and uncharacteristically careless with the basketball.
The Buffs coughed up a season-high 18 turnovers, shot just 4-for-17 from beyond the arc, and for the first time all year, got beat on the boards. Add in more turnovers than assists - another first this season - and you’ve got a performance that left Boyle and his staff with plenty of film to dissect.
And while Colorado still shot a respectable 47.3% from the field, that number didn’t come close to covering up the cracks elsewhere.
“Soul search,” Boyle said, when asked what he wants from his players during the break. “Young people love to hear about what they’re doing well.
But growth comes from looking at what you’re not doing well - and that’s our job as coaches. We’ve got to show them where we got punked.
We got punked on the glass. Those were rebounds that should’ve been ours.
And until we decide as a team to change that, it’s going to keep happening.”
Boyle’s message is clear: this isn’t about one bad night - it’s about whether this team is ready to take the next step and clean up the things that have held them back.
Offensive Firepower, Defensive Questions
Before Saturday’s stumble, the Buffs had been outperforming preseason expectations, largely thanks to a fluid, high-efficiency offense. But that offensive rhythm only works when it’s paired with discipline - something that was missing against Stanford. The turnovers weren’t just high in number; they were costly in timing and momentum.
Defensively, Colorado has been inconsistent all season, and that trend continued. The Buffs couldn’t string together stops when they needed them most.
And when the shots aren’t falling - especially from deep - defense and rebounding become even more critical. That’s where Colorado fell short.
Time to Regroup
The Buffs will return to Boulder on Thursday night to gear up for their final nonconference test - a home matchup against Northern Colorado on Sunday. That game offers a chance to get back on track before Pac-12 play begins.
And make no mistake, the conference schedule isn’t easing them in. Colorado opens league play on the road against Arizona State on Jan. 3, a team that just received votes in the latest AP poll. It’s the kind of game that will demand toughness, execution, and a whole lot more consistency than what we saw against Stanford.
Around the Big 12 and Beyond
While Colorado was licking its wounds, the rest of the college hoops landscape kept moving. Texas Tech made waves with a statement win over Duke at Madison Square Garden, and the Red Raiders were rewarded - jumping four spots to No. 15 in the AP Top 25. Christian Anderson earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors, while LeJuan Watts was named Newcomer of the Week after their standout performances.
Arizona held onto the No. 1 spot for the third straight week, while Big 12 contenders Iowa State (No. 3), Houston (No.
8), BYU (No. 10), and Kansas (No. 17) all stayed put. Arizona State and Baylor also picked up votes, signaling the depth and strength across the conference.
Buffs Primetime Radio Show Set to Launch
For fans looking to stay plugged in, the Buffaloes Primetime radio show is set to debut on Dec. 29, broadcasting live from Carelli’s in Boulder. Hosted by Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson, the show will feature head coaches Tad Boyle and JR Payne, along with player guests from both the men’s and women’s teams.
The show will air live every Monday from 7-8 p.m. on the Colorado Basketball Network, with a replay from 8-9 p.m. on KOA AM 850 and 94.1 FM. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at both programs - a chance for fans to hear directly from the voices shaping the season.
What’s Next
The Buffs have shown flashes of being a dangerous team - one capable of surprising people in the Pac-12. But flashes won’t be enough.
Saturday’s loss to Stanford was a reminder that talent alone doesn’t win games. It’s about the little things: taking care of the ball, boxing out, playing with urgency on both ends.
Boyle’s challenge to his team is simple: look in the mirror. The break gives them time to reset, but come Sunday - and especially come January - the margin for error gets a lot smaller.