Op-Ed: Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball deserves more national attention
The attention has been on CU Football this year, which is understandable considering the infused excitement that Deion Sanders brings to Boulder. It’s also “Prime” carrying in a built-in audience. The football season did not end the way the Buffs wanted. The next logical thought is to see what he does in the offseason and what recruits or transfers come into the fold, along with looking forward to next season. However, if you blink, you could miss out on what Tad Boyle and JR Payne have going on in the world of college basketball.
The men’s team kicked off Pac-12 play with a win on Friday night over Washington. For the next few months, if not longer, Cody Williams will be the name most people will hear the most. Especially in national media circles due to his high NBA projections. As recently as last month, Williams has been floated anywhere from last pick in the lottery to the top overall pick. If you’ve never had the privilege to watch the Buffs forward, he oozes lottery pick status. You can’t help but pick up on the 19-year-old and the similarities with Kevin Durant. His game is Smooth and he makes it look effortless. Don’t fall in love with his game because he’ll likely be one-and-done in Boulder
Before we proceed, ask yourself the last time the Colorado Buffaloes basketball team had more than one NBA Draft bound player? I’ll save you some time. It was 2011. Before that? 1968. The point is, the Colorado Buffaloes don’t typically have multiple draft-worthy players. Almost ever. So, when they do, it's noteworthy.
In addition to the hype around Williams, there are two additional names you need to start paying attention to for the Buffs. In the last few weeks, the media masses have begun to notice Tristan Da Silva. It’s actually surprising it took them this long. Da Silva is almost 6-foot-10, and 220 pounds with a reasonably all-around game. He’s one of the veteran leaders on the team and has worked his way up to the national standing he has now. In 4 years, his three-point percentage has gone up from 27% to 40%. He’s currently averaging 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game on a team that has scorers all over the floor. Da Silva at the next level does make sense. He very well could evolve into an NBA prototype stretch four with Euro-game style movement ability with and without the ball.
KJ Simpson is also a future NBA player you probably aren’t considering. The other Buffs leader was a very intriguing prospect last year, but the difference between his progression has been night and day. It is the difference between a very nice college player and a future NBA player. The product on the court today is a player who understood he wasn’t there yet and did things in the offseason and in practice to become a player that is there right now.
Colorado has an impressive roster balance this season. No one player must be the guy and it shows. On any given day, it could be someone else’s day to go off. But every game, Simpson looks like a future NBA guard still in college.
There is a confidence KJ displays that feels new this year. Not to say he wasn’t confident before. That is quite simply the result of when preparation meets opportunity. In games this season, Simpson doesn’t need to consider if he should drive, shoot, or pass. Those decisions are becoming instinctive, reactionary and not predetermined. He is becoming the kind of guard that has the ball on a string. For context, think Kyrie Irving or Rajon Rondo. It’s as if he doesn’t have to think about it. He’s simply reading and reacting. Simpson’s movements are calculated and measured. He is almost at the point where there are very few wasted movements. There is a toughness that was not as easy to see last year. One has to believe that’s a testament to the development from Tad Boyle.
Colorado basketball should not be something that is overlooked, as if we’re waiting for Williams to cross the NBA Draft threshold. This year’s team is good and fun to watch. After the Christmas holiday we will get to see firsthand just how good. The Buffs will begin their conference schedule, including No. 4 Arizona. The aforementioned roster balance should also serve them well as they make their way towards March.
Four guards that can handle the ball with multiple shooters. A shooting big and a physical big. J’Vonne Hadley very well could be their glue guy when the game situations call for it. Even when the stars don’t need to be great to beat the team in front of them, Luke O’Brien has been consistent. The notion of having a team that has balance, developed upperclassmen, and a team that understands what it wants to do, top to bottom should not be a surprise. It might just be a case of everything coming together at the right time to create a CU team ready to make a serious NCAA Tournament run. If you haven’t taken the time yet, tune into a CU Buffs basketball game. You might be surprised at what you see.
