Colorado is hoping some new additions up front will help patch a few holes left behind by the transfer portal.
Noah Feddersen, David Gomez and Justin Neely are expected to play key roles when the Buffaloes open their season against Abilene Christian on Monday in Boulder, Colo.
Feddersen is a 6-foot-10, 235-pound center who was the Summit League Sixth Man of the Year at North Dakota State last season.
Gomez is a 6-9, 245-pound power forward who missed most of last season at Charlotte with a foot injury.
And Neely (6-6, 230) is a power forward who averaged 17.9 points and 11.5 rebounds at UNC Greensboro last season, earning first-team Southern Conference honors.
“Those three bigs are going to be key to us being able to compete in this league,” said Colorado coach Tad Boyle, whose team was picked to finish 14th in the 16-team Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll.
Four of the top five scorers from last season transferred to other programs, leaving shooting guard Barrington Hargress as the top returner for Colorado after averaging 14.7 points in his first season with the Buffaloes in 2025-26.
Regardless of the departures of Isaiah Johnson (16.9 ppg), Sebastian Rancik (12.3), Bangot Dak (11.5) and Alon Michaeli (7.1), Boyle likes the makeup of this team.
“It’s going to be a fun team to watch and a fun team to coach,” Boyle said. “They’re great kids that listen and they’re coachable.”
The Buffaloes opened last season with eight straight victories before losing to in-state rival Colorado State on Dec. 6.
They’ll open against an Abilene Christian team that went 14-19 last season, including 5-13 in the United Athletic Conference.
The Wildcats will have 11 newcomers this season after losing their top two scorers to the transfer portal. Timeo Pons (New Mexico), Victor Yimga Moukouri (Howard College) and Evan Boisdur (Grand Canyon) are among those expected to contribute right away.
Senior guard Yaniel Rivera is the top returning scorer (7.2) for Abilene Christian.
“It’s a very different look from teams we’ve had in the past, even in my time as an assistant,” Abilene Christian coach Brette Tanner said. “I think our supporters are going to be really excited and will enjoy watching the team play.”