Colorado's Bench Settles In Ahead of Nov. 2 Tipoff

The Colorado Buffaloes are ten days from their season opener against Abilene Christian on Nov. 2, and four freshmen are set to work in practice roles rather than the game rotation. Coach Tad Boyle has not ruled out changes to those assignments. He said Jones had a strong practice on Friday and that Jacobsen and Hill have shown ability, though he noted their inconsistency stems from their age. He told the players to prepare daily so they are ready when called.

Boyle said his current rotation is likely to 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's playing time could be limited while he recovers from foot surgery he had a year ago. Boyle said he would not be permanently shutting out players from the freshman group and described their standing as a fluid situation. He said their positions in December could look different from where they are now in mid-to-late October.

Colorado finished last season with a 17-16 record, including a 7-11 mark in Big 12 play. Eleven players appeared in at least 20 games last season and seven started at least 10 games. Boyle does not expect that level of roster rotation again absent injuries.

Forward Chase Hill, guard Amir Jones, guard Rider Portela and forward Eric Jacobsen arrived in Boulder on different paths. Portela signed with the Buffaloes last November, while the other three were added to the roster last spring. Jacobsen tore his ACL midway through his junior season, which cooled recruiting interest. Hill's father coaches women's basketball at Division III Trinity University in San Antonio, and his grandfather Bob was an NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago. Portela's father is also a coach, and Jones reopened his recruitment after a coaching change at Georgia State, where he had committed.

Jacobsen said accepting a reduced role was difficult at first. "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose," Jacobsen said. "Just trying to earn what I can." Hill described his goal as simply to develop, saying he weighed Division III before choosing Colorado.

Boyle said he wants the four freshmen to prepare each day so they are mentally ready when their number is called. The Buffaloes open the season Nov. 2 at home against Abilene Christian, the program's 17th season under Boyle.