Ian Inman is heading into the offseason with a clear checklist, and the Colorado guard knows exactly where the work has to happen.
After returning to Boulder for the 2026 season, Inman is positioned as one of the Buffaloes’ most intriguing pieces from their 2025 freshman class. He’s part of the returning trio, and among that group he’s seen as the biggest wild card - but also one of the most talented. With a bigger role likely coming on both ends of the floor, Inman laid out the areas he wants to sharpen before the season gets here.
Conditioning is at the top of the list.
“[My offseason goal] is being in condition,” Inman said. “Steve [Englehart] is always trying to get us right in the weight room, doing sleds and different stuff to stay in condition.”
That emphasis lines up with what Tad Boyle said after Inman announced he was coming back. Boyle made it clear that the weight room will be a major part of Inman’s next step.
"Everybody knows that [Ian] is a good shooter," Boyle told CU Athletic Communications. "The biggest thing we've got to challenge him with is to get bigger and stronger in the weight room this summer and become more than just a shooter, which he's very, very capable of doing, because he can put the ball on the floor."
That kind of physical growth matters because Inman is a strong candidate for the Buffs’ sixth-man role, which would mean a noticeable jump in minutes. In the Big 12, that kind of workload doesn’t come easy. It takes a body that can hold up and a player who’s ready for the grind.
Defensively, Inman wants to become more dependable and more versatile.
“[My goal] on the defensive side is just being more solid on that end,” Inman said. “Being able to guard one through three, one through four, just being able to guard every position.”
That would be a meaningful boost for Colorado, which is still sorting through some depth questions on that side of the ball. Jalin Holland and Goc Malual are both known as strong defenders, and Noah Feddersen brings solid defense as well, but there are still question marks beyond that group. If Inman can grow into a trustworthy defender, it would give Colorado another piece it can lean on.
He’s not stopping there. Inman already showed he can light it up from deep in 2025, stringing together hot stretches that led to double-digit scoring nights.
But the shooting came with some inconsistency, and he didn’t do much damage inside. That’s the part of his game he wants to expand.
“[My goals] on the offensive end are attacking more and showing my whole game, not just shooting the 3-ball,” Inman said.
For a player whose offense already stands out, that next layer could be what changes his ceiling in 2026.
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For Colorado, the bigger takeaway is how Marion wants to use him. The 2026 offense is being described as physical and built to create one-on-one chances for Lewis, with the line expected to do more to keep him comfortable and upright. If that plan comes together, Lewis could become the centerpiece of a scheme that is designed to let his talent show up early and often, even if the full picture of his role is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]