Imagine watching your favorite sports team turn a potential setback into a thrilling comeback opportunity with every missed shot—now, picture the Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball squad embracing that very mindset this season. It's an exciting shift that's got fans buzzing, and it's all about mastering the art of offensive rebounding. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this aggressive pursuit worth sacrificing some defensive speed in transition? Stick around as we dive into how Coach Tad Boyle is shaking things up for the Buffs, potentially rewriting their playbook after a disappointing campaign.
During the very first public peek at Colorado's revamped men's basketball team, a standout moment showcased how a key preseason emphasis might already be bearing fruit. Head coach Tad Boyle, steering the ship into his 16th season, has long championed rebounding and defense as foundational pillars of the program. Yet, offensive rebounding—snagging those extra chances after your own shots clang off the rim—hasn't been a top priority until now. Boyle is determined to flip the script this year, urging his players to dive harder for those elusive second and third possessions.
This evolution was on full display during the Buffs' annual Black and Gold intrasquad scrimmage at the CU Events Center on Saturday. With a roster boasting 10 fresh faces, the team is aiming to rebound from a dismal last-place finish in the Big 12, where they stumbled out to a 0-13 start. This new group promises to be taller, more versatile, and deeper, setting the stage for a more dynamic squad. And if Boyle gets his wish, they'll also become masters of the offensive glass, transforming potential misses into momentum-shifting opportunities.
Earlier this week, Boyle didn't mince words: 'Our offensive rebounding isn't good enough. We’re standing and watching,' he shared. 'It’s something that we’ve really as a coaching staff tried to change relative to years past, maybe be more aggressive on the offensive glass. Getting more possessions, get those second and third opportunities. We’re not doing that right now.' For beginners in basketball lingo, think of it this way: Offensive rebounding is like giving your team extra turns at bat in a game of baseball—every grab means another shot at scoring before the defense can fully reset. Last season, the Buffs were solid overall rebounders, sitting ninth in the Big 12 for average rebounding margin at a modest plus-0.9. But they lagged far behind in offensive rebounds, ranking 14th out of 16 teams with just 9.4 per conference game. And this is the part most people miss: With their enhanced frontcourt depth and bigger guards ready to crash the boards, the Buffs could slash their league-worst turnover rate while boosting offensive rebounding, leading to more plays for an offense that, when not fumbling the ball, performed far better than their 14th-place standing suggested.
Boyle elaborated on the strategy: 'The (size) and the depth and just the fact that one of the hardest things we have to do as coaches is teach our guys to box out defensively,' he explained. 'And so if it’s a problem for us, it’s probably a problem for other coaches. I’ll bet if you talk to every coach in America, I’d bet they say boxing out and transition defense are two areas they have to get better at. And that’s no different for us.' For those new to the game, boxing out means positioning your body to block opponents from grabbing the rebound, much like claiming your spot in a crowded elevator. Boyle's point is intriguing: 'If boxing out is a problem, let’s take advantage of that problem. We may give up more points in transition doing that. But we should get more second and third opportunities. I’m not saying we have to be bad in transition defense, but the more guys you crash the glass with, the more chances you have for second and third possessions. And that’s what we want.' It's a bold trade-off—prioritizing aggressive rebounding might mean conceding some fast-break points, but the payoff could be a flood of extra scoring chances. Imagine a team like the Golden State Warriors in their prime, where versatile players like Draymond Green would box out and rebound to keep possessions alive; Boyle wants the Buffs to emulate that hustle.
The scrimmage kicked off with a promising sign: Freshman forward Alon Michaeli notched the first basket on a putback, capitalizing on an offensive rebound right out of the gate. The starting five for the Black team featured Michaeli alongside Isaiah Johnson, Josiah Sanders, Andrew Crawford, and Tacko Ifaola, while the White squad countered with Barrington Hargress, Felix Kossaras, Jon Mani, Bangot Dak, and Elijah Malone. Lineups shuffled frequently across the four 10-minute quarters, giving fans a taste of the fluidity and options Boyle now commands.
This open scrimmage marks another milestone in the Buffs' buildup to their November 3 season opener, with an exhibition matchup against Elijah Malone's former team, Grace College, slated for next Sunday, September 19. Boyle took a backseat as an observer, entrusting assistants Mike Rohn and Nate Tomlinson with the on-court calls, but he was far from passive. 'I made about seven to 10 notes as the scrimmage went on. Just the things I saw,' Boyle revealed. 'I’m going to dissect this thing tonight. Monday morning, we’ll have a lot of film to evaluate with our team.' It's a meticulous process, like a detective reviewing footage to crack a case, ensuring every detail refines their approach.
So, as the Buffs gear up for redemption, one has to wonder: Is Boyle's gamble on offensive rebounding a stroke of genius, or could it leave the team vulnerable on the break? And in an era of high-speed offenses, does chasing extra possessions outweigh the risks of a leaky transition defense? What do you think—will this strategy propel Colorado back into Big 12 contention, or is it a risky overcorrection? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own take on balancing rebounding aggression with defensive priorities!
