NCAA Basketball: Baylor rises, Kentucky falls in latest 2023-24 WTE power rankings
By Joey Loose
22. Colorado
Could some good basketball days finally be in order for the Buffaloes? Colorado hasn’t been a bad program by any means but has been largely mediocre across time. Since Tad Boyle was hired in 2010, Colorado has made five NCAA Tournaments, though they’ve won just a pair of first-round games during that time. They transitioned nicely to the Pac-12, though this past season was a slight step back, finishing below .500 in conference play for the first time in five years.
Adding 5-star forward Cody Williams into the mix will help the Buffalo avert that trend. Boyle really hit a home run on the recruiting trail, and things look even better for Colorado considering what they’ll get back next year. Both KJ Simpson and Tristan Da Silva averaged 15.9 points per game last season to lead the Buffaloes and both will be back this year in Boulder. Former TCU big man Eddie Lampkin Jr. is the biggest transfer add and this roster actually looks to be in great shape.
Colorado has the rare combination of returning their best talent and also hitting what looks like a home run in recruiting at the same time. The Buffaloes lost a few starters from last year’s team but do return the scorers and are in better shape to contend in the Pac-12 this season. Nobody thinks of Colorado as a basketball school, especially with Deion Sanders taking over the football program, but this basketball team should be fun this year.