Colorado Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Buffaloes

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Colorado Buffaloes mascot Chip performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona won 92-78. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Antino Jackson #3 of the New Mexico Lobos covers his face after causing a foul against the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. San Diego State won 82-75. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

Non-Conference Slate for the Buffs in 2018

Nov. 3 (H) – Colorado School of Mines

Nov. 13 (H) – Drake

Nov. 16 (H) – Omaha

Nov. 20 (A) – San Diego

Nov. 24 (A) – Air Force

Nov. 28 (H) – Portland

Dec. 1 (H) – Colorado State

Dec. 4 (H) – South Dakota

Dec. 8 (H) – Illinois-Chicago

Dec. 11 (A) – New Mexico

Dec. 22 (N) – Indiana State

Dec. 23 (N) – UNLV/Hawai’i

The toughest tests for the Buffs will be the games @ San Diego, @ New Mexico, and against UNLV/Hawai’i in neutral territory. Outside of those three, any losses would have to be viewed as disappointing. That being said, I would be surprised if the Buffs were any worse than 10-2 entering conference play. Even though they’re a young team and will be less experienced than many of the opponents listed above, they simply outclass the vast majority of them in terms of talent.

There’s a couple of attitudes that one could have looking at this non-conference schedule. On one hand, very few of these opponents will provide the type of challenge that will prepare the Buffs for the difficulty of their Pac-12 foes. On the other, however, the Buffs will have a chance to get off to an extremely hot start and having momentum as they move into conference play – something that could be very valuable for a young team trying to build confidence. They should also have opportunities to get way ahead against some of their softer foes and give valuable playing time to players like Gatling and Kountz, who will need all the reps they can get to familiarize themselves with Boyle’s system.

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