Colorado's Tad Boyle Faces Uncertain Future After Loss to Arizona

Buffs nearly upset No. 2 Wildcats, but late turnovers and shot selection prove costly

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Colorado's men's basketball team put up a strong fight against No. 2 Arizona, but ultimately fell short in the final minutes, raising questions about the future of head coach Tad Boyle. The Buffs led for most of the game and even set a program record for scoring by a freshman, but couldn't hold on as the Wildcats pulled away late. With Colorado's struggles since joining the Big 12, Boyle's job status remains uncertain despite his long tenure and past NCAA Tournament appearances.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the ongoing challenges facing Colorado's basketball program, which has failed to build on its past success under Boyle. A win over the highly-ranked Wildcats could have given the Buffs a much-needed boost, but the late collapse raises doubts about the team's ability to compete at the highest levels of the Big 12.

The details

Colorado led for 51% of the game and held a double-digit advantage at one point, but couldn't maintain their edge down the stretch. The Buffs shot better from the free throw line and forced turnovers, but were ultimately undone by poor three-point shooting and costly mistakes in the final minutes. Freshman Isaiah Johnson set a program record for scoring in a season, but it wasn't enough to overcome Arizona's balanced attack led by Koa Peat and Brayden Burries.

  • Colorado and Arizona faced off on March 9, 2026 in the regular season finale.
  • Colorado freshman Isaiah Johnson set the program record for scoring by a freshman with 526 points, breaking the previous mark of 516 held by Alec Burks.

The players

Tad Boyle

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team, who has been with the program since the 2010-2011 season.

Isaiah Johnson

A Colorado freshman who set the program record for scoring in a season by a freshman with 526 points.

Koa Peat

An Arizona player who scored 25 points in the win over Colorado.

Brayden Burries

An Arizona player who scored 31 points in the win over Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“While speculation has surrounded Colorado's Tad Boyle... seemingly every season, [he is] likely to be back in [his position] for the 2026-27 campaign.”

— Jeff Borzello, ESPN reporter (ESPN)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlights the ongoing challenges facing Colorado's basketball program, which has struggled to build on its past success under Boyle. While the Buffs put up a strong fight against the highly-ranked Wildcats, their inability to close out the game raises doubts about the team's ability to compete at the highest levels of the Big 12 conference.