Colorado Buffaloes Rely on Bench Freshmen for 2026-27 Basketball Season

Colorado men's basketball begins its 17th season under head coach Tad Boyle on November 2 with a home game against Abilene Christian. The program faces a thinner roster this year compared to the previous campaign, which ended with a 17-16 record.

Last year, the Buffaloes utilized depth to manage various on-court challenges. Eleven players appeared in at least 20 games, and seven earned starting duties in at least 10 contests. This season, the coaching staff expects a more defined structure. The primary rotation will likely consist of guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman, along with forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez. Gomez may see limited minutes while recovering from foot surgery performed a year ago.

With the starting lineup taking shape, four freshmen have assumed roles primarily as practice players for the 2026-27 season. Forward Chase Hill, guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela, and forward Eric Jacobsen joined the roster through different paths. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the team last November. The other three were late additions in the spring.

Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 forward, grew up in the Midwest before moving to Colorado Springs. He attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where a torn ACL during his junior year affected his recruitment. Hill comes from a family deeply involved in basketball. His father is the all-time winningest women's basketball coach at Trinity University in San Antonio, and his grandfather, Bob, was a longtime NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago. Portela's father is also a coach. Jones reentered the recruiting process after a coaching change at Georgia State, where he had initially signed.

The players view their current position as a developmental phase. Hill stated that he chose Colorado to develop over his four or five expected years at the university. He noted that he could have attended a Division III school with similar goals but preferred the opportunity to play for the Buffaloes. Jacobsen acknowledged the difficulty of accepting a limited role initially but found motivation in daily effort. He said he is trying to earn whatever playing time he can by working hard every single day.

Boyle described the situation as fluid. He noted that Jones performed well in practice on Friday, and both Jacobsen and Hill have shown positive signs. The coach emphasized that the group possesses talent but lacks consistency due to their youth. He expects their standing in the rotation to change between October and December. Boyle asked the players to remain mentally prepared for potential playing time while they continue to build consistency in practice.

The team will face its first regular-season test on November 2. The freshmen will spend the near term in practice, aiming to prove their readiness to the coaching staff before the Big 12 season begins.