Colorado
Colorado men’s basketball begins two-game Big 12 road swing at Cincinnati
At the moment, Bangot Dak is going up and getting ‘em as well as any rebounder during Colorado’s Tad Boyle era.
Yet even a performance on the defensive glass unseen in years wasn’t enough to curb the Buffaloes’ habit of surrendering offensive rebounds.
The CU men’s basketball team has struggled defensively throughout the season and, more recently, it has also struggled on the glass. Yet CU has an opportunity to correct both shortcomings on Wednesday, as it begins a two-game Big 12 trip against a Cincinnati team that has struggled offensively.
“Coach just tells me to go get it at the highest point. I feel like if I can do that, there’s not a lot of people that we’re going to play against that can go up and get it,” Dak said. “I’m starting to realize that and I’m just going up to get it at the highest point.
“Coach has just been on us about getting those rebounds. I feel like if no one else is going to do it, I’ve got to do it. Coach says no one is going to do the dirty work for you, so somebody has got to step up and do it. I’m trying to make sure teams can’t get offensive rebounds against us.”
Dak has recorded double-digit rebounding totals in each of the past three games and four of the past six, grabbing a career-high 13 during Saturday’s loss against Texas Tech. All 13 of those rebounds occurred on the defensive glass, giving Dak the most defensive rebounds in a game since Jabari Walker recorded 14 against California on Feb. 17, 2022. It’s the most rebounds by a CU player without grabbing a single offensive rebound since Andre Roberson recorded 14 against Dayton on Nov. 15, 2012.
Dak’s rebounding surge, however, hasn’t kept the opposition off the offensive glass, as the Buffs have surrendered at least 12 offensive rebounds in each of the past three games and five of the past seven. While CU will be challenged to correct that against the Bearcats, the matchup also presents an opportunity for the Buffs to put together an improved defensive performance.
Cincinnati began the week ranked last in the Big 12 in scoring (73.6), field goal percentage (.425), 3-point percentage (.311) and free throw percentage (.638). Those struggles can be partially attributed to a few personnel issues as Jizzle James, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last year, missed the first 10 games of the season while dealing with a personal matter. James has averaged 11.8 points in six games since returning.
And although the Bearcats enter Wednesday’s matchup 0-3 in the conference, they lost those games by a combined 10 points, opening the Big 12 slate with a seven-point defeat against No. 7 Houston. Last week, Cincinnati lost road games against West Virginia and Central Florida by a combined three points.
“Everybody says they’re struggling offensively. I watched them play Central Florida and they looked pretty good to me,” Boyle said. “They’ve got some guys that can shoot the ball. Cincinnati has got players. They’ve got dudes. Now, they’re a little bit snakebit. They’re 0-3, but to me they’re the best 0-3 team in any league I’ve seen. Cincinnati’s talented. They’re not going to roll over.
“I always say the most dangerous kind of animal is that wounded one on the side of the road. I’m sure that’s how Cincinnati feels right now. It’s not going to be easy. They’ve got talented guys. And I think they’re better offensively than maybe their numbers show. They’ve got good players. We’ve got to be ready.”
CU Buffs men’s basketball at Cincinnati Bearcats
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 5 p.m. MT, Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio.
TV/RADIO: Peacock/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Colorado 12-4, 2-1 Big 12 Conference; Cincinnati 8-8, 0-3.
COACHES: Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (324-208, 380-274 overall); Cincinnati — Wes Miller, 5th season (90-67, 275-202 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Cincinnati — F Baba Miller, 6-11, Sr. (12.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, .570 FG%); G Day Day Thomas, 6-1, Gr. (12.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, .451 3%); C Moustapha Thiam, 7-2, So. (11.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .573 FG%); G Jizzle James, 6-3, Jr. (11.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 rpg); G Shon Abaev, 6-8, Fr. (8.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg); G Kerr Kriisa, 6-3, Gr. (7.3 ppg, 3.8 apg); G Sencire Harris, 6-4, Jr. (6.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Colorado — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (15.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.3 apg, .504 FG%, .444 3%); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (13.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (13.6 ppg, 4.8 apg, .567 FG%, .528 3%); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (11.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .483 FG%); F Alon Michaeli, 6-9, Fr. (9.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .459 FG%); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, .586 FG%); G Felix Kossaras, 6-6, So. (6.2 ppg, .547 FG%).
NOTES: Cincinnati leads the all-time series 8-1, including a win last year at the CU Events Center. The Bearcats have won all three of their home games against the Buffs, but CU hasn’t visited Cincinnati since Dec. 28, 1981. … Dak enjoyed a big game against Cincinnati last year, recording 19 points and eight rebounds in a loss at the CU Events Center. … Kriisa, a familiar CU foe from his time at Arizona, has missed the past two games due to a shoulder injury. … While Cincinnati has struggled offensively, the Bearcats began the week ranked fourth in the Big 12 in points allowed (65.8) and sixth in defensive field goal percentage (.407). … The Buffs lead the Big 12 with a .781 free throw percentage. CU has recorded an .874 free throw percentage over the past six games. … CU’s road trip continues on Saturday at West Virginia (4 p.m. MT, CBS Sports Network).
Former Colorado Buffaloes stars Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak announced their transfer portal decisions on Sunday with Rancik committing to Florida State and Dak committing to Vanderbilt, per On3’s Joe Tipton. They join former Buffs guard Isaiah Johnson (now at Texas) as the third former Colorado player to leave the Big 12 conference as Rancik opts for the ACC and Dak heads to the SEC.
The trio of Johnson, Rancik, and Dak make up three of Colorado’s four most productive players with rising senior guard Barrington Hargress, and the Buffs are now tasked with replacing such production with Hargress as the only returner.
Rancik’s season ended prematurely with an injury, but he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Buffs. Dak was Colorado’s leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per game, scoring 11.5 points per contest as well.
While each player has his respective reasons for transferring, the most expected ones are for seeking better NIL deals or more development on a better team in a better league. The Buffs finished 12th in the Big 12, and the allure of the SEC was too strong for the program to hold onto key talent like Johnson and Dak.
Still, Colorado coach Tad Boyle proved his ability to recruit and build up a solid core, one that saw its headliners of Johnson, Dak, and Rancik all depart in the portal. Can he do it again?
Colorado Buffaloes Roster Outlook
Boyle and the Buffaloes did retain Hargress as well as three freshmen guards: Jalin Holland, Ian Inman, and Josiah Sanders.
As a freshman, Holland averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as one of Colorado’s key pieces coming off of the bench. Meanwhile, Sanders appeared in 33 games as a constant presence in the Buffs backcourt, averaging 4.4 points and 1.7 assists per game.
Inman played the fewest minutes of the returning trio, but he flashed with a couple of double-digit scoring performances as a true freshman.
“When I think of those three together, I think of toughness. I think of the improvement they made over the course of the season and the togetherness they have. They’re great friends and have formed a bond during their freshman year. Their toughness, energy and work ethic, when you have those attributes to go along with talent, which they all have, you get a chance to have three really good sophomores next year that will take the next step,” Boyle said in a release announcing the return of the three freshmen.
With eight outgoing transfers to replace, the Buffaloes will certainly have a new look to them for the 2026-27 season.
Colorado has landed one transfer portal prospect so far in former North Dakota State foward Noah Feddersen. On the recruiting trail, Boyle and company are bringing in four-star forward Rider Portela as well as two prospects from the NBL in Australia: forward Goc Malual and guard Alex Dickeson.
The transfer portal for men’s college basketball closes on Tuesday, April 21, meaning players have to enter their names by then. Transfer athletes do not have to commit before the portal closes, though, so Colorado is expected to continue hosting prospects on visits while building out the roster.
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Colorado
Colorado faces LA in first round as Kings captain Anze Kopitar embarks on final Stanley Cup chase
DENVER — Anze Kopitar wrapped up the last regular season of his storied career. The Los Angeles Kings captain wants to prolong his final playoff run for as long as possible.
Kopitar, who announced in September his plans to retire, instantly becomes a postseason rallying point for the Kings. They have a tall task ahead of them against the Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the league, with the top goal scorer in Nathan MacKinnon and one of the best defensemen in the game in Cale Makar. Game 1 is Sunday at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche are 26-9-6.
“Playoffs,” said the 38-year-old Kopitar, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Kings. “I’m not going to say anything can happen, but we’ll go in and we’ll play hard and we’ll see where that takes us.”
This will be the third postseason series between the two teams and the first in 24 years. Colorado won in seven games during both the 2002 conference quarterfinals and the 2001 conference semifinals.
It’s been a record season for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche as they amassed the most points (121) in franchise history. That broke the mark set by the 2022 team, which went on to win the Stanley Cup title. MacKinnon had a career-best 53 goals.
Goaltenders Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood shared the net this season and surrendered a league low in goals. They earned the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is presented to the goalies who have played a minimum of 25 games — Wedgewood suited up in 45 and Blackwood 39 — for the team with the fewest goals allowed. The other goaltender to win that honor for Colorado was Hall of Famer Patrick Roy (2001-02).
“We’re in a good spot,” Colorado forward Brock Nelson said. “The mentality of this group throughout the year, right from the start of training camp, (was) set on a mission to be the best team.”
Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates the goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) during shoot-out NHL action, in Edmonton on Monday, April 13, 2026. Credit: AP/JASON FRANSON
Record against each other
The Kings went 0-3 against Colorado this season and were outscored by a 13-5 margin.
“You hear the hype. They have good players,” Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke said. “We’re a scrappy team. We keep it close with everybody. That can really frustrate them.”
Leading after two
The Avalanche were 41-0-0 when leading after two periods. They’re the first squad to have a lead after two periods on 40 or more instances and capture each one, according to team research.
“Even though we’ve been smart, we’ve been committed, we’ve been relentless at times, it’s going to have to go to a whole new level now,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I have faith in our guys.”
Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, who is retiring after this season, acknowledges the crowd after being recognized after losing to the Vancouver Canucks during overtime NHL hockey action in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Credit: AP/DARRYL DYCK
Remember the season opener?
Six grueling months ago, the Avalanche and Kings opened the season against each other. The Avalanche won 4-1 in Los Angeles behind a pair of goals from Martin Necas, who would go on to register his first 100-point season (38 goals, 62 assists).
The two teams join an exclusive club by becoming the fifth pair since 2015-16 to open the regular season and the playoffs against each other, according to NHL Stats. The other pairs to do so were Montreal and Toronto (2020-21); Colorado and St. Louis (2020-21); St. Louis and Winnipeg (2018-19); and Los Angeles and San Jose (2015-16).
Of those teams that won the season opener only San Jose went on to win the series. It’s a trend Kopitar and the Kings wouldn’t mind joining.
Kopitar and the playoffs
Kopitar helped the Kings to the Stanley Cup title in 2011-12 and 2013-14 along with goaltender Jonathan Quick, who now is with the New York Rangers and recently said he’s retiring. Kopitar has played in 103 postseason games with 27 goals and 62 assists.
“The intensity ramps up, everything ramps up,” Kopitar said of the postseason. “Every mistake, every little play, magnifies now.”
Familiar faces
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was in net for the Avalanche when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. In addition, Kuemper and Drew Doughty were teammates with MacKinnon, Makar and Devon Toews when Canada won silver at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
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