Boyle cuts Colorado rotation to nine

Colorado men's basketball will field a nine-player rotation for the 2026-27 season.

The Buffaloes host Abilene Christian on Nov. 2 for their season opener, marking the 10-day mark before the start of play under head coach Tad Boyle.

The core group includes guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. Forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez complete the group. Gomez’s minutes may be limited while he recovers from foot surgery performed a year ago.

This approach marks a sharp change from last season, when Colorado went 17-16 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12. That team featured 11 players who appeared in at least 20 games, and seven who made at least 10 starts.

Four freshmen have been assigned to practice squad roles. These players are Chase Hill, Amir Jones, Rider Portela, and Eric Jacobsen.

Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 forward, said the transition required adjustment. "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose," Jacobsen said. "Just trying to earn what I can." Hill described his goal as development. "Just develop," Hill said. He noted he could have chosen Division III to achieve similar growth but opted for Colorado to develop over the next four or five years.

Portela signed with the team last November. Jacobsen and Hill joined as late additions last spring. Jones reopened recruiting after a coaching change at Georgia State. Boyle stated the lineup is fluid. "It's a fluid situation," Boyle said. He noted that Jones had a strong practice on Friday and that the group lacks consistency due to age. He expects their standing in December to differ from mid-October.