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Games thread- MEN'S BBall opens season hosting Montana State (Mon., 11/3/25, 7:00 PM MT; ESPN+) and Eastern Washington (Sat., 2:00 PM MT, ESPN+)

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CU Men's basketball (Last season - 14-21 overall; 3-17 in regular season conference play) opens their 2025/26 season hosting a couple Big Sky Conference schools. 1st off, tomorrow (Monday) evening, the Montana State Bobcats (MSU; Last season - 15-18, 10-10), head to Boulder for the season opener which is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM MT. That's followed up with a Saturday afternoon game with the Eastern Washington Eagles (EWU; Last season -10-22, 6-12).

Not that they mean much if anything, but just for a little reference - in last season's final NET rankings (for games played through 4/7/25; available at https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/43833), CU was at #87, MSU #186 and EWU #287.

As is true for many home games (especially in the pre-season), both of these games are scheduled to be available on an ESPN+ stream. (Further info and links for media options available near the bottom of this post.)

Go Buffs!!!

(Information for those attending the game(s):
Buff parking and transportation info - https://www.colorado.edu/pts/special-events/basketball#:~:text=Basketball Parking Map-,Public Parking,436 (based on availability.)
Parking map - https://www.colorado.edu/pts/sites/default/files/attached-files/basketball_parking_map.pdf
CU Events Center Information and Policies (Includes list of permitted and prohibited items) - https://cubuffs.com/sports/2003/8/16/events-center-policies )

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Links with more more info on the opponents:

Montana State:
Roster - https://msubobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats (Last season) - https://msubobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024-25
Schedule (Last season) - https://msubobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25
Their preview article - Not available as I type this.

Eastern Washington:
Roster - https://goeags.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats (Last season) - https://goeags.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2024-25
Schedule (Last season) - https://goeags.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2024-25
Their preview article - Not available as I type this.
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Media links:

Live video: The games are scheduled to be available on (the usual) ESPN+ premium ($) subscription service, with it available on the ESPN app and at:
Montana State - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8eb8c120-5a36-4da5-9496-e43fdee85aab
Eastern Washington - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/9792d6e2-b919-43fd-9cb1-6fb10d799431

Live audio: All games will usually be available on 850 AM and 94.1 FM in the Denver/ Boulder area and maybe other stations in the Buff radio network. In addition, free audio streams for the games will be available at:
Montana State - https://cubuffs.com/watch/?Live=3093&type=Live
Eastern Washington - https://cubuffs.com/watch/?Live=3152&type=Live

Link to link to live stats (All games) - http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=colo
For these specific game, the links are (If blank, not available as I type this.):
Montana State - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=611122
Eastern Washington - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=611123

Game notes (Note- Left empty for games that don't have any as I type this.):
Montana State - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2025/11/2/CU_Game_Notes_Montana_State.pdf
Eastern Washington - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2025/11/7/CU_Game_Notes_Eastern_Washington.pdf
 
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The Loud House Animation GIF by Nickelodeon
 
Preview from cubuffs for the MSU game - https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/11/2/mens-basketball-buffs-open-season-against-montana-state

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Barrington Hargress
Photo by: Tyler Davis

Buffs Open Season Against Montana State​

By: Troy Andre, Associate Director/Athletic Communications

Game 1 - Montana State, Monday, November 3, 2025
CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
Tip: 7:01 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN+ (Mark Johnson, Scott Wilke) https://buffs.me/4ny9znq
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (Jerry Schemmel)
Listen Online: Sirius XM 380, SXM App 970
Live Statistics:http://statb.us/b/611122

OPENERS: Colorado is 87-35 (.713) in all-time season openers and has won its last nine. The Buffaloes are 13-2 under head coach Tad Boyle and 40-5 in overall season openers since 1980-81.

The Buffaloes are 98-24 (.803) all-time in home openers, have won their last 17 and 23 of their last 24. Boyle's teams are 15-0 in home openers.

NONCONFERENCE NUMBERS: Colorado is 136-41 (.768) in nonconference regular season games under head coach Tad Boyle including an 89-24 mark (.788) since the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

Colorado is 104-8 (.929) in nonconference home games under Boyle, a record which includes a 7-2 mark in postseason action.
...


EXHIBITION RECAP: Colorado used a huge second half to run away with a 92-66 exhibition win over Grace (Ind.) College, Oct. 19 at the CU Events Center.

After trailing by three points at halftime, the Buffaloes surged ahead with a dominant 58-point second half. The Buffaloes capitalized on Grace's 20 turnovers, converting them into 21 points, while also outscoring Grace 46-24 in the paint. The Buffs' bench contributed 40 points to secure the win.

Isaiah Johnson led the scoring with 21 points, shooting 7-for-10 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and added two steals. Jalin Holland contributed 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting and collected three steals while also dishing out four assists. Alon Michaeli posted 12 points and recorded two steals, adding five rebounds. Josiah Sanders tallied 11 points and distributed a team-high five assists, along with two rebounds.

A defensive mindset is what sparked the Buffaloes in the second half. Michaeli had back-to-back steals, the first resulting in a pair of free throws and the second a breakaway dunk that gave the Buffaloes a 49-44 lead, their best since the opening minutes of the game.

Elijah Malone scored on a 3-point play to give Colorado it's first double-digit lead at 58-48. Grace's Hunter Walston countered with one of his own to briefly knock CU's lead back to seven.

From there, Colorado took control of the game, thanks to a 16-0 run. Andrew Crawford hit a 3-pointer and Felix Kossaras scored on three-straight fast-break layups. A Holland dunk capped off the run as the Buffaloes took a 74-51 lead with just under six minutes remaining.

Colorado forced 15 of Grace's 20 turnovers in the second half. The Buffaloes held the Lancers to 29 second-half points, compared to allowing 37 in the first period.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Montana State was 15-18 in 2024-25, placing fifth in the Big Sky Conference at 9-9.

The Bobcats have five returning players and 10 newcomers on their squad this season. Redshirt senior guard Patrick McMahon is Montana State's leading returning scorer at 9.9 points per game, shooting 51 percent from the field last season. Senior Jed Miller is the only other Bobcat with significant playing time in 2024-25, averaging 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 33 games off the bench. MSU does get back Jeremiah Davis, who saw action in just eight games before an injury ended his season.

Montana State brings in seven transfers including Chris Hodges (Wisconsin), Christian King (Washington), Waka Mbatch (Florida State) and Jaden Steppe (Colorado State).

Montana State was picked to finish fifth in the 2025-26 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and sixth in the media's version of the preseason poll.

THE SERIES: This will be the ninth all-time meeting between Colorado and Montana State, with the Bobcats holding a 6-2 series lead. The Buffaloes one the last meeting a 94-90 overtime decision on Nov. 9, 2021 in the season opener. The last two meetings have gone to overtime. Montana State's last win was an extra period session at the CU Events Center, defeating the Buffaloes 85-82 on Nov. 18, 2008. The series is tied 2-2 in Boulder.

BOYLE MILESTONES: Head coach Tad Boyle, entering his 16th season, is the winningest men's basketball head coach in program history with a career record of 312-204. He picked up milestone win No. 300 against his former team, Northern Colorado, on Nov. 8, 2024.
...

PRESEASON POLLS: For the second-straight season, Colorado was picked to finish 15th in the annual Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll released Oct. 16. The conference debuted a Media Preseason Poll this which also slated the Buffaloes for a 15th place finish. Arizona State took the bottom spot in both polls.

Houston was the consensus favorite to repeat its Big 12 title. Both polls had the same teams in the top five. BYU was second in the coaches' poll and Texas Tech third with those teams swapping places in the media version. Arizona was picked fourth with Iowa State fifth in both polls.
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jumped ship said:
Montana State is a good opener. Historically solid program but in the midst of a rebuild.
Click to expand...
I want to play them every year until we have a winning all-time record against them. I'd make a list of other mid majors we can clean up our craptastic history against while I was at it.
 
Looking forward to seeing what Tad has wrought.

#11 CU soccer is on TV at the same time, 1st round B12 tourney.
 
Really looking forward to seeing Rancik + Dak + Hargress. I think that’s a good three headed monster than add a few more pieces to the puzzle.
 
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