Colorado Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Buffaloes
Projected starting lineup
Point Guard – Keeshawn Barthelemy, Frosh.
Keeshawn Barthelemy has an opportunity to shine at the floor general spot for Colorado basketball after appearing as a reserve in 2020-21. He made 30 appearances (1 start) this past year to average 3.7 ppg and 1.4 apg across 11.5 minutes per contest.
After appearing in the backcourt primarily as a backup, Barthelemy looks ready to move into the starting lead guard spot where he’s set to get more minutes. His experience should carry and he’s one of their leading returning assist-makers.
Guard – Eli Parquet, Junior
Eli Parquet is one upperclassman in this group that will set a tone in the backcourt, especially defensively. He appeared in 31 games, all starts, this past season for Colorado basketball, producing 5.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, and 1.3 apg while shooting 41.8 percent from 3-point range and 47.6 percent from the field.
While he wasn’t a prolific scorer this past season, he was efficient when he did shoot. Look for his average of 4.0 field goal attempts from 2020-21 to rise this season.
The 6-foot-4 guard was a top defender, nonetheless, finishing as a first-team All-Pac-12 performer in 2020-21. He posted a defensive rating of 99.1 across his 28.0 minutes per contest and with a bigger role on the horizon look for his stock to rise as a combo guard in the league.
Forward/Wing – Jabari Walker, Frosh.
Jabari Walker is a versatile prospect at 6-foot-8 that made a good first impression in 2020-21 on the wing for the Buffaloes. He put up 7.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 52;6 percent from the field in 14.2 minutes of action off the bench.
Walker had quite the debut in 2020-21 for Colorado basketball, showing he belonged out there, especially on the perimeter. He shot 52.3 percent (23-of-44) from behind the arc and with more shooting opportunities on the table in 2021-22, look for that number to even out a bit. All in all, seeing him in the starting rotation poses good potential.
Forward – Evan Battey, Junior
Evan Battey is 6-foot-8, 269-pound load in the paint set to lead by example down low. He produced 10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 1.0 apg while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor this past season.
Battey is set to play the proverbial leader of this group, both scoring-wise and on the rebounding front. He’ll be relied upon heavily to play a big role in the success of this group. He’s a big presence in the paint on both ends and also quite the effective free throw shooter. He shot 82.5 percent from the free-throw line in 2020-21.
Center – Lawson Lovering, Frosh.
Lawson Lovering is a 7-foot big man set to debut at the 5-spot for Colorado basketball, hypothetically. He’s a true freshman with an opportunity to set quite the tone down low with his size and energy around the rim.
The newcomer out of Wyoming produced 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks per contest as a senior at Cheyenne Central High this past season and took home a Wyoming State title. He’s one of a few new faces set to make an impact in the Buffaloes rotation in 2021-22.