Colorado Buffaloes
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #62
Conference Rank: #6 Pac-12
Colorado hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2016, but there is optimism that this year’s team can return to that stage. The Buffaloes won 8 of their last 10 regular season games before reaching the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. Colorado earned just a 4-seed in the NIT, but their top six scorers are returning this season. The Pac-12 has been an underperforming conference as of late, and Colorado’s stability and experience could vault them towards the top of the standings.
2018-19 Record: 23-13, 10-8
2018-19 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Tad Boyle
Coach Record: 189-123 at Colorado, 245-189 overall
Key Departed Players:
Namon Wright, Guard, 7.0 ppg
Deleon Brown, Guard, 4.1 ppg
Namon Wright, Guard, 7.0 ppg
Deleon Brown, Guard, 4.1 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Tyler Bey, Junior, Forward, 13.6 ppg
McKinley Wright, Junior, Guard, 13.0 ppg
Shane Gatling, Senior, Guard, 9.7 ppg
D’Shawn Schwartz, Junior, Forward, 9.2 ppg
Lucas Siewart, Senior, Forward, 8.9 ppg
Evan Battey, Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 ppg
Daylen Kountz, Sophomore, Guard, 5.6 ppg
Alexander Strating, Junior, Forward, 1.9 ppg
Eli Parquet, Sophomore, Guard, 1.2 ppg
Dallas Walton, Junior, Center, DNP last season
Tyler Bey, Junior, Forward, 13.6 ppg
McKinley Wright, Junior, Guard, 13.0 ppg
Shane Gatling, Senior, Guard, 9.7 ppg
D’Shawn Schwartz, Junior, Forward, 9.2 ppg
Lucas Siewart, Senior, Forward, 8.9 ppg
Evan Battey, Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 ppg
Daylen Kountz, Sophomore, Guard, 5.6 ppg
Alexander Strating, Junior, Forward, 1.9 ppg
Eli Parquet, Sophomore, Guard, 1.2 ppg
Dallas Walton, Junior, Center, DNP last season
Key New Players:
Maddox Daniels, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Junior College
Jakub Dombek, Freshman, Forward
Maddox Daniels, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Junior College
Jakub Dombek, Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Colorado has its top six scorers back, including all five starters from a year ago. All-Pac-12 First Team members Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright return to form one of the best duos in the conference. Bey led the team in points (13.6 per game), rebounds (9.9) and blocks (1.2). Bey was top-20 in the entire NCAA in double-doubles and rebounding. Wright averaged 13.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while leading the team in assists (4.8) and steals (1.1). While Bey does most of his damage in the paint, Wright is a bit more balanced, shooting a team-high 36.5% from three. Both players were just sophomores last season and any improvement as upperclassmen will make Colorado quite a dangerous team. Shane Gatling and D’Shawn Schwartz were full-time starters last year. Gatling was third on the team in scoring and led Colorado in three-pointers made and attempted. Schwartz started all 35 of his games as a sophomore and was second on the team in minutes per game. Schwartz rarely came off the court after Namon Wright’s injury in early January. Lucas Siewart started the first 26 games at center, while freshman Evan Battey started the final ten games. Siewart had a solid year with 8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, but he scored just 3.6 points per game in ten games off the bench. Battey averaged 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a freshman. Battey’s scoring average increased to 9.3 points per game in March, and he should see similar production if he retains his starting role as a sophomore. Daylen Kountz played 17 minutes per game as a freshman and will be a key reserve this season. Alexander Stratling and Eli Parquet also return as added depth and experience. Dallas Walton is not a new acquisition to the team, but his return will be welcomed after he missed all last season with an ACL injury. Walton is a seven-footer who averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a freshman two years ago. Maddox Daniels will also add some key depth as a 6-foot-6 transfer from junior college. Daniels averaged 13.9 points and shot 43.1% from three in juco last season. Rounding out the roster is freshman Jakub Dombek, a power forward from the Czech Republic. Experience and consistency are important factors to college basketball success and Colorado has plenty of both. With a deep and veteran roster led by all-conference players Tyler Bey and McKinley Wright, the Buffaloes are a sneaky threat to challenge for the Pac-12 title this season.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.6 (144th in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.5 (66, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.4 (114, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.4 (98, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.4 (298, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.3 (281, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.3 (30, 2)
Rebound Margin: 6.3 (20, 1)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (188, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (220, 7)
Madness 2020 NBA Draft Rankings:
#39 Tyler Bey
