Rookies finding their way for CU Buffs men’s basketball

The Colorado men’s basketball team still has plenty of goals ahead in the 2024-25 season.

The Buffaloes certainly want to prove the Big 12 Conference coaches wrong after getting selected 15th in the 16-team league’s preseason poll, and CU hopes to surprise a few of the league’s powerhouses along the way.

Yet a glimpse of the future of the CU men’s basketball program was on display during Saturday’s exhibition matchup against Pomona-Pitzer.

It was a good workout but hardly a significant test for the Buffs, who cruised to a 95-62 victory. Whether or not there’s a chip on the team’s collective shoulder, there are bound to be growing pains in the return season in the Big 12. None more so than for CU’s freshmen, two of whom — Sebastian Rancik and Felix Kossaras — turned in standout individual performances against Division III Pomona.

The fifth week of the preseason began with the Buffs making the media rounds, starting with CU’s winter sports media day on Monday exactly two weeks ahead of the Nov. 4 season opener at home against Eastern Washington. Next up is meeting the new rivals at the Big 12 media days, with the women’s event on Tuesday and the men to follow on Wednesday in Kansas City.

For CU men’s coach Tad Boyle, entering his 15th season, the veterans will represent the program in Kansas City (Julian Hammond III, Javon Ruffin and Andrej Jakimovski are scheduled to attend). Yet any pleasant surprise by the Buffs in the final Big 12 standings will likely require talented youngsters like Rancik, Kossaras and Andrew Crawford to grow up in a hurry.

“All these freshmen are learning at a really quick rate, but there’s a lot of things coming at them,” Boyle said. “Their heads are spinning. They’re thinking right now more than they’re playing. But Sebastian and Andrew have done some really good things. And Felix Kossaras is a heck of a player as well.

“All three freshmen have an opportunity. What are those roles going to look like as we start the season? That’s a little premature right now. We’re still in the process of going through that as a staff. But all three I think will be great Buffs in the course of time.”

Rancik continued a solid preseason against Pomona, going 5 for 7 with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in more than 22 minutes off the bench. He went 2 for 4 on 3-pointers and didn’t commit a turnover.

Kossaras also finished 5 for 7, going 3 for 3 at the free throw line before finishing with 14 points, three rebounds and two steals. Kossaras also didn’t commit a turnover in 17 minutes of action.

“I’d say it’s the physical game at the college level. That’s probably the biggest thing,” Kossaras said. “You’ve just got to be in shape and be able to take hits. Getting in the weight room with Steve (Englehart, CU’s strength coach), that definitely helps. I already feel a difference from this summer to now. I’m able to be a little more physical and absorb contact as well.”

Rancik figures to at least be a bench component for what is shaping up to be a versatile frontcourt. If Hammond, Ruffin and RJ Smith remain healthy, Kossaras might have more of an uphill fight for a backcourt rotation spot. But all three freshmen could play roles in 2024-25.

“We have a really good team. We still have to get to know each other, build the chemistry, which we have been building,” Rancik said. “Talk, we have to communicate. We have to be a better communicating team. And just being ready to work every day at practice, being competitive. If we do that, I think we’ll be ready.”

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