The Colorado men’s basketball team is a few weeks away from making certain Isaiah Johnson and the rest of the team’s youngsters are locked in to return next season.
That’s a problem for mid-to-late March, and one critical to the immediate future of coach Tad Boyle’s program. With nearly a full season of college basketball under his belt, Johnson has proven himself as a three-level scorer at the power conference level.
And despite his youth, CU’s standout freshman guard already is embracing a bigger leadership role.
Johnson continues his historic rookie campaign Tuesday, as the Buffs look to shake off a 40-point drubbing at Houston while visiting Utah in the final true road game of the regular season.
“I have a really big role as a freshman on this team,” Johnson said. “Just me being able to be a leader and be vocal is helping my team.”
Johnson has let his play to the bulk of the talking throughout the season.
With 19 points during the lopsided defeat at Houston, Johnson increased his season total to 476 points, passing Chauncey Billups for the third-most by a true freshman in program history. With a minimum of three games remaining, Johnson is on pace to surpass Richard Roby (480 points in 2004-05) and Alec Burks (512 points in 2009-10) for the top freshman points total in team history.
In terms of points per game, Johnson’s team-leading 16.4 mark trails only Billups (17.9 in 1995-96) and Burks’ 17.1 mark as the top freshman scoring average in CU history. He is on pace to become the eighth freshman to lead CU in scoring, and the first since McKinley Wright IV averaged 14.2 points in 2017-18. Johnson’s scoring average currently stands as the fifth-best by any CU player in 16 seasons under Boyle.
Johnson hasn’t been a high-volume rebounder, but he did grab a season-best nine rebounds during last week’s home win against Kansas State. And while the rookie is averaging just 2.9 assists per game, Johnson has averaged 3.3 during Big 12 play and he has an assist-to-turnover rate of 2.02, which is particularly impressive for a ball-handling freshman.
CU has another opportunity to get back in the win column against a Utah club that is tied for last in the Big 12 and has struggled under former Utes player and first-year head coach Alex Jensen.
The Buffs begin the week at 11th in the Big 12, and despite several lopsided road losses against the league’s elite, they have posted a 5-1 mark against the teams below them in the conference standings. In order to keep that trend intact, the Buffs will have to overcome their habitual road woes. Since opening Big 12 play with a win at Arizona State, CU has lost its past seven road games and own a 1-18 mark in true road games since the start of last season.
“Just doing the same thing over and over again, being consistent when we get to practice,” Johnson said regarding another possible bounce-back effort at Utah. “Focusing on our fundamentals and the things we need to execute going into Utah. We need to get this road game for sure, so we’ve just got to be together as a team.”
CU Buffs men’s basketball at Utah Utes
TIPOFF: Tuesday, 7 p.m. MT, Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Colorado 16-13, 6-10 Big 12 Conference; Utah 10-19, 2-14.
COACHES: Colorado — Tad Boyle, 16th season (328-217, 384-283 overall); Utah — Alex Jensen, 1st season (10-19 at Utah and overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, Fr. (16.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, .490 FG%, .375 3%); G Barrington Hargress, 6-1, R-Jr. (13.9 ppg, 4.5 apg, .538 FG%, .489 3%); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-11, So. (12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Bangot Dak, 7-0, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, .475 FG%); F Alon Michaeli, 6-9, Fr. (7.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg); G Jalin Holland, 6-5, Fr. (4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg); G Josiah Sanders, 6-5, Fr. (4.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .449 FG%). Utah — G Terrence Brown, 6-3, Jr. (19.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, .447 FG%, .323 3%); G Don McHenry, 6-2, Gr. (17.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .397 3%); F Keanu Dawes, 6-9, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, .551 FG%); F Seydou Traore, 6-6, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg); F Kendyl Sanders, 6-8, Fr. (5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg).
NOTES: CU posted an 85-73 home win against Utah on Jan. 7, with Dak recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Rancik scored a team-high 19 points. McHenry scored a game-high 24 points for Utah. … The Buffs have lost their past three games at Utah. … Hargress has a chance to break Levi Knutson’s season 3-point percentage of .474 set during the 2010-11 season, although CU’s point guard still has to knock down a few to stay on track for the record. In order to qualify for CU’s season leaders, a player has to average 1.50 made 3-pointers per game. With a minimum of three games remaining, Hargress owns a .489 mark but is only a touch ahead of the curve for being eligible for the list, as he enters the game at Utah averaging 1.55 made 3-pointers per game. … Despite averaging 13.4 turnovers in the past five games, CU is averaging just 10.4 for the season. The Buffs have a chance to be the first CU team to post a sub-11 turnover average since the statistic was first tracked in the 1977-78 season. … With two blocked shots at Houston, Dak increased his season total to 43, the 18th-best season mark in team history. Next on the list is Tyler Bey, who had 44 blocked shots in 2018-19. … The Buffs complete the regular season Saturday night at home against No. 2 Arizona (9 p.m., ESPN2).
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