Colorado Basketball Freshmen Accept Bench Roles Ahead of Tad Boyle's 17th Season

For the first time in recent memory, the Colorado men's basketball team is facing a season where depth is not a guaranteed asset. Fans and players alike must adjust to a reality where the bench is significantly shorter than last year. This shift means that the four newest members of the roster are starting the 2026-27 campaign with a clear understanding of their initial role: development rather than immediate contribution. The change in roster composition places a premium on the work habits of these young athletes, as the program prepares to open its season in just ten days.

The Buffs will host Abilene Christian on November 2 to launch their 17th season under head coach Tad Boyle. Last year, Colorado finished with a 17-16 overall record and struggled with a 7-11 mark in the Big 12. Despite the uneven results, the previous squad possessed a deep pool of talent. Eleven different players appeared in at least 20 games, and seven secured at least 10 starts. That level of constant rotation and shuffling is unlikely to happen again this season, barring a significant run of injuries.

Coach Boyle has not yet finalized the exact minutes or specific roles for every player, but the core rotation is taking shape. It is expected to feature guards Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Jalin Holland, Josiah Sanders, and Ian Inman. On the frontcourt, the primary options are forwards Justin Neely, Noah Feddersen, Goc Malual, and David Gomez. Gomez's early playing time may be restricted as he continues his recovery from foot surgery that was performed a year ago.

The four players expected to sit at the end of the bench are forward Chase Hill, guards Amir Jones and Rider Portela, and forward Eric Jacobsen. These athletes arrived in Boulder through different paths. Portela, a wing from Phoenix, signed with the team last November. The other three were late additions to the roster in the spring. Hill comes from a prominent basketball family, with his father serving as the all-time winningest women's basketball coach at Division III Trinity University in San Antonio. His grandfather, Bob, was a longtime NBA coach who helped recruit Boyle to Kansas 45 years ago.

Jacobsen grew up in the Midwest, primarily around Chicago and Wisconsin, before moving to Colorado Springs. He played his prep basketball at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. The 6-foot-1 post player saw his recruiting momentum slow down after suffering a torn ACL midway through his junior season. Jones, meanwhile, reopened his recruiting process following a coaching change at Georgia State, the school where he had previously signed his letter of intent.

Hill has been candid about his expectations for the coming year. He stated that his primary goal is simply to develop. He noted that he could have chosen to attend a Division III program with the same objective and then attempted to transfer up later. Instead, he decided to come to Colorado first, planning to spend four or five years there to reach his full potential. This long-term perspective allows him to accept a limited role without frustration.

Jacobsen admitted that accepting a limited role was difficult at first. However, he has found a positive mindset in the situation. He said, "I'm realizing I can go as hard as I can every single day and I don't really have anything to lose." He added that he is just trying to earn what he can, focusing on daily effort rather than guaranteed minutes.

While this group is not expected to play regularly barring unexpected setbacks, their daily work in practice will be crucial for a Buffs team hoping to make a splash in the Big 12. Boyle emphasized that he does not want these players to feel permanently shut out. He described the situation as fluid, noting that Jones had a very good practice on Friday. He also pointed out that Jacobsen and Hill have done good things, though they lack consistency due to their youth.

The coach stressed that the standing of these players in December could look very different from how it appears in mid-to-late October. He asked them to prepare every single day so that they are mentally ready when called upon. This approach transforms the end of the bench into a development lab, where the focus is on earning future opportunities through consistent daily effort.