Tad Boyle Narrows Colorado Basketball Rotation to Nine Players for 2026-27 Season

Head coach Tad Boyle expects the Colorado men's basketball team to field a nine-player rotation for the 2026-27 season, a marked departure from the depth displayed in previous campaigns. The Buffs host Abilene Christian on Nov. 2 to open their 17th season under Boyle, a date that has arrived as the 10-day mark before tipoff.

The projected lineup includes guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman, alongside forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez. Gomez's initial minutes may be restricted as he recovers from foot surgery performed a year ago. Last season, Colorado finished 17-16 with 11 players appearing in at least 20 games and seven making at least 10 starts. That level of consistent shuffling is unlikely to return absent a run of injuries.

Four freshmen have assumed practice roles: forward Chase Hill, guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela, and forward Eric Jacobsen. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the program last November. Hill, Jones, and Jacobsen joined the roster as late additions last spring. Jacobsen, a 6-foot-1 post from the Midwest, played at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire after his recruiting prospects were affected by a torn ACL during his junior year. Hill comes from a coaching family; his father is the all-time winningest women's basketball coach at Division III Trinity University, and his grandfather, Bob, helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago. Jones reopened his recruiting process following a coaching change at Georgia State, where he had originally signed.

Hill described his primary goal as development, noting he chose Colorado over a potential Division III path to build his skills over four or five years. Jacobsen acknowledged the difficulty of accepting a limited role initially. He stated that he is realizing he can go as hard as possible every day without much to lose, focusing on earning what he can.

Boyle characterized the roster situation as fluid, emphasizing that the four freshmen have the capability but lack consistency due to their age. He cited a strong practice performance by Jones on Friday and noted that Jacobsen and Hill have also done good things. The coach expects their standing in December could differ significantly from mid-to-late October, asking the group to prepare daily so they are mentally ready when called upon.

This third five at the end of the bench is not expected to play regularly barring injuries or unexpected setbacks. Their daily work in practice will support a Buffs team aiming to compete in the Big 12, where Colorado went 7-11 last year.