After a few seasons in neutral, the Buffaloes are poised to make a big leap

Before the season college basketball season began, Colorado was quietly getting some national attention. The Buffs, coming off of a 23-13 season that didn’t earn them an invite to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, were a trendy pick to make some noise this year.

In his preseason Power 36, Andy Katz had CU at No. 31. Here’s what the long-time college basketball writer had to say about Tad Boyle’s team:

“The Buffaloes are ready for the breakthrough. McKinley Wright IV and Tyler Bey were on the preseason first team (10 players). Wright IV said he can get his turnovers down. If that happens, then he can be the player of the year in the conference.”

Those two players shined in Colorado’s opener. Wright had a team-high 17 points, as well as 7 rebounds and 5 assists, in the team’s win over Arizona State in China, while Bey chipped in for 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The win was enough for Katz to move the Buffs up a few spots, putting CU at No. 27 in his latest Power 36. But that’s not the only list that Boyle’s team is making.

In the preseason polls, Colorado was on the outside looking, but they were included among the “others receiving votes” category, a sign that they were knocking on the door. After one week, they’ve cracked the top 25, earning enough votes to be ranked 25th in the latest AP poll.

Next up for the Buffs is their home opener, as they take on the University of San Diego on Saturday night in Boulder. That’s the first of five-straight winnable games, four of which will be at the CU Events Center.

Colorado has a chance to start 6-0, which would set up one of the biggest regular-season games in recent program history. On Dec. 7, the Buffaloes travel to Lawrence to take on Kansas (currently ranked No. 5) in historic Allen Fieldhouse. There’s a chance that CU will be in the top 20 heading into that game, giving them an opportunity to catapult the team into uncharted territory.

It provides a tremendous opportunity for Boyle to get the Buffs to the next level. Since 2012, the head coach has gotten Colorado to the NCAA Tournament four times, an impressive feat for a team that had made just two trips to the big dance since 1969. But CU had plateaued; they haven’t been in the tourney since 2016 and have only won one game during their four recent appearances.

Now, Colorado has a chance to be a legit factor come March. Getting a top-five seed would be huge. Advancing beyond the opening weekend for the first time in more than 50 years would be a historical accomplishment.

Those are realistic goals for a top-25 team. And right now, that’s what a lot of people around the country think of the Buffaloes.

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