AllBuffs.com - Covering CU-Boulder Athletics

William Purnell-Imagn Images

The Buffs put up a fight against the second-best team in the nation.

Colorado’s season has officially come to an end, falling to the Houston Cougars 68-77 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

The better team won in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon, as 16-seed Buffs couldn’t hang with the second-best team in the country.

The talent disparity was on display immediately after tip-off, as Kelvin Sampson’s signature defense swarmed the Buffaloes and clogged up lanes, resulting in a dreadful start for the Buffs. Colorado couldn’t make a bucket to save their lives, starting 3-11 on field goals, and quickly falling into a 7-21 hole against the Coogs.

Enter Andrej Jakimovski. The senior forward continued his tear from yesterday against West Virginia, nearly bringing the Buffs back into the game singlehandedly. Jakimovski drilled three first-half three-pointers and another three makes from the field for good measure, tallying 16 first-half points to keep Colorado alive.

Colorado’s defense also tightened up, forcing uncharacteristic Cougars turnovers. Houston, the team with by far the least amount of turnovers in the Big 12, turned the ball over six times in the first half thanks to some pesky on-ball defense by Jakimovski and Julian Hammond.

At the end of the first 20 minutes of play, Colorado found themselves in striking distance of the second-ranked Coogs, trailing only 33-38.

Houston started the second half off feeding Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year JoJo Tugler down low, who cashed in for six quick points to start the period. Colorado would answer back with some clutch free throws from Jakimoski.

Unfortunately, this is where the end begins for the Buffs. Both the Coogs and Buffs pride themselves in the two same areas: rebounding and defense. Houston’s roster is comprised of some of the highest-end talent in college hoops, while this year’s Buffs team was made of some duct tape, DII/NAIA transfers and some younger players looking to develop.

Unsurprisingly, Houston dominated in nearly all aspects of the game down the stretch. They outrebounded Colorado thanks to their superior size and athleticism. LJ Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp’s offense ability proved to be too much for Hammond, Jakimovski and company to handle. With all the cards stacked against them, the Buffaloes folded under pressure, as the Cougs waltzed to a 77-68 win.

Colorado’s season might be over, but they came around to give the fanbase something to cheer for in the end.

This season was obviously a disappointment for a myriad of reasons. Colorado could have easily packed it up and called it quits, and nobody would’ve batted an eye. Instead, this Buffs squad banded together and battled their asses off this last week, which is what they should be remembered for.

by RylandScholes
Continue reading...

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

A herd of Buffs is headed to Frisco ahead of the NFL Draft.

Thirteen Colorado Buffaloes are headed to Frisco, Texas, to participate in Big 12 Pro Day from March 18-21.

The Buffs are bringing their Heisman winner and top quarterback to the Lone Star State, along with nine other players who didn’t get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Colorado’s offensive players in attendance will be:

• Shedeur Sanders - QB
• Travis Hunter - ATH
• Jimmy Horn Jr. - WR
• LaJohntay Wester - WR
• Will Sheppard - WR
• Justin Mayers - OL

CU’s Defensive players in attendance:

• BJ Green - DL
• Chidozie Nwankwo - DL
• Travis Jay - DB
• Shilo Sanders - DB
• Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig - DB
• Herman Smith III - DB

Colorado’s lone special teams player will be:

• Mark Vassett - Punter

Big 12 Pro Day was started in 2024 by Commissioner Brett Yormark as a way to maximize his player’s value ahead of the NFL Draft. Big 12 Pro Day will have no effect on Colorado’s traditional Pro Day in Boulder, which will take place later in March.

Fans can watch their Buffaloes participate in the second edition of Big 12 Pro Day on NFL Network next week.

by RylandScholes
Continue reading...

William Purnell-Imagn Images

Join us for the Colorado Buffaloes - Houston Cougars game today at 1:00 p.m. MT in Kansas City, Missouri.

March 13th, 2025

Who: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars

Where: T-Mobile Arena - Kansas City, Missouri

When: 1:00 p.m. MST

TV: ESPN2

Radio: AM 850 KOA

Houston Blog:

Line: Colorado +12.5

Welcome to the Ralphie Report as the Colorado Buffaloes get ready to take on the Houston Cougars in Kansas City, Missouri for the third game of the Big 12 Tournament.

No need to go anywhere else today, The Ralphie Report has everything you need and we welcome you to weigh in with your live game analysis, critiques, observations and predictions.

Check out the old game thread from the Hawaii game to see how it works. Throw all your comments about the game below and let’s get this thing rolling. If you don’t have an account, sign up here for free and enjoy all that our site has to offer.

Make sure to follow us on BlueSky, X and Facebook. Go Buffs!

by Jon Woods
Continue reading...

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

What’s next for Colorado’s speedster?

Jimmy Horn Jr. entered the 2024 season looking to build on a strong college career, but injuries derailed his ability to put together a full campaign. He missed nearly half the season, finishing with 37 receptions for 441 yards and one touchdown, averaging 11.9 yards per catch. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they don’t reflect his explosiveness when healthy or his ability to create separation, which has been his calling card.

Despite the limited production, Horn still earned an invitation to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, where he had a chance to showcase his athleticism and remind scouts why he’s a legitimate NFL prospect. His testing numbers were solid, though some may have expected slightly better results given his reputation as a speedster.

Combine Results:​

• 40-Yard Dash: 4.46 seconds – a strong time but slightly slower than many expected, as some projected him to break into the 4.3 range.
• 10-Yard Split: 1.54 seconds – only 0.05 seconds off the fastest time at the position, showing elite short-area burst.
• Vertical Jump: 38 inches – tied for 10th among receivers, proving his lower-body explosiveness.
• Broad Jump: 10-foot-8 – an impressive number that ranks among the top for receivers.
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.41 seconds – demonstrating his lateral quickness and ability to change direction.

While Horn’s speed didn’t quite match expectations, his vertical, broad jump and shuttle times were among the best at the position, reinforcing his athleticism beyond straight-line speed.

NFL Combine Grades and Draft Projection​

Horn received mixed results from the official NFL Combine grading system:

• Overall Grade: 5.85, which ranks as a backup or special teamer
• Production Score: 48th
• Athleticism Score: 37th

Horn’s NFL Mock Draft Database projection currently places him as a seventh-round pick, meaning he will likely be a late-round selection or a priority undrafted free agent. His injury-shortened season and less-than-elite top-end speed may cause teams to hesitate, but his versatility, return ability, and quick-twitch athleticism make him a compelling option for teams in need of a slot receiver or return specialist.

NFL Outlook​

While Horn may not be projected as an immediate impact starter, his skill set makes him an ideal late-round flier for teams looking for explosive depth at receiver. His best path to an NFL roster could be through special teams, where his quickness and elusiveness could make him a valuable returner.

If Horn can impress at Colorado’s Pro Day, particularly by improving on his 40-yard dash, he could boost his stock into the sixth round and cement himself as a draftable prospect. His ability to separate in the short game, combined with his agility and return skills, gives him a real shot to carve out a role in the NFL—even if it takes some time to find the right fit.

by Jacob.Thompson
Continue reading...

William Purnell-Imagn Images

Tad Boyle is still Tad Boyle

WOOHOO! What’s more fun than a disgusting game where no one can make shots!?

Tad Boyle and the Colorado Buffaloes have evolved a lot over his 15 years, but CU’s 67-60 win over WVU at the Big 12 Tourney was a classic rock fight. In March, Tad just knows how to win gross. And this was gross. God, this was gross.

I’m stopping myself now from a long diatribe about how horrible the Big 12 Basketball court is. It’s horrible. Truly terrible. I have legitimately gotten multiple headaches from the pattern, but I digress. This team, at least until last week, was also pretty terrible. That’s no longer the case. As soon as Colorado got off the plane in Kansas City, a switch must’ve flipped.

This game was 23-29 at the half, in favor of West Virginia. That’s right. 23-29. Basically a basket a minute. Truly gross stuff. No one could shoot, including West Virginia, and Andrej Jakimoksi’s nine points essentially kept the Buffs in it. First Team all-conference guard Javon Small was quiet for the Mountaineers all game, which also helped, as his explosive scoring is basically the whole offensive scheme for WVU after Tucker DeVries’ went down due to injury.

The second half was also a snoozefest, with two exceptions.

Exception One: Elijah Malone. CU’s center was held to two in the first half, but he got to 12 in the second half by getting deep in the paint and sitting down until someone gave him the ball. That dude knows how to work around the rim. He just needs an entry pass. WVU had no one big enough to handle him one-on-one and he knew it, as Malone went 6-7 from the floor in the period.

The second thing to watch in the second half was the 17-1 run the Buffs went on with five minutes left to seal the game. WVU got bit by the same turnover bug that’s plagued the Buffs all season, coughing the ball up seven times in four minutes to fuel CU’s comeback. Trevor Baskin was playing with his hair on fire on the defensive floor and caused enough chaos to force consecutive turnovers.

It also didn’t hurt that the Buffs couldn’t miss from deep. Shout out to R.J. Smith, who went 3-4 from beyond the arc in the second half. He’s having a great season.

Also of note: true freshman guard Felix Kossaras played 21 minutes for Colorado today and looked phenomenal, shooting 3-4 from the floor and tallying seven points with no turnovers. Kossaras gave the Buffs some great minutes down the stretch against the Mountaineers, showcasing his development throughout the season.

BUFFS ADVANCE #GoBuffs pic.NOPE/mikCjkUz4Y

— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) March 12, 2025​

Click to expand...

As a reward for playing so well the last few days, the Buffs play the second-ranked Houston Cougars tomorrow at 1:00 pm MT. How fun!

by RylandScholes
Continue reading...