Departures Highlight Challenges for Colorado Basketball

Buffs struggle to retain top talent as players seek bigger paydays elsewhere

Apr. 4, 2026 at 5:30pm

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The departure of star players like Bangot Dak exemplifies the difficulties the Colorado men's basketball program faces in maintaining continuity and competing with wealthier programs that can offer more lucrative deals to top talent. Head coach Tad Boyle's 'sign-and-develop' approach has produced many success stories, but the lure of the transfer portal and the chance to cash in on name, image and likeness deals has made it increasingly difficult for the Buffs to hold onto their best players.

Why it matters

Colorado's struggles to retain top talent highlight the broader challenges facing mid-major programs as the landscape of college basketball continues to evolve. The Buffs' inability to keep pace in bidding wars for players threatens to undermine the progress the program has made under Boyle and could make it difficult for CU to remain competitive in the Big 12 Conference.

The details

The loss of players like Isaiah Johnson, Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak, all of whom developed into key contributors for the Buffs, exemplifies the dilemma facing Boyle and his staff. While Boyle's program has traditionally thrived by identifying and developing under-the-radar prospects, the current climate in college sports makes it increasingly difficult for the Buffs to hold onto those players once they blossom.

  • Bangot Dak was a late signee for Colorado in June 2023 after originally planning to spend a year at a prep school.
  • As a freshman in 2023-24, Dak averaged 7.0 minutes in 23 appearances off the bench for the Buffs' NCAA Tournament team.
  • Dak endured growing pains as a sophomore, making 20 starts and averaging 8.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 35 games.
  • This season, Dak raised his game, averaging 11.2 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds.
  • Dak has now entered the transfer portal, likely seeking a more lucrative deal elsewhere.

The players

Bangot Dak

A former under-the-radar prospect who developed into a key contributor for the Colorado Buffaloes over the past three seasons, Dak has now entered the transfer portal in search of a more lucrative deal.

Tad Boyle

The head coach of the Colorado men's basketball team, Boyle has built the program around a 'sign-and-develop' approach that has produced many success stories but is now struggling to retain top talent in the face of the evolving college sports landscape.

Isaiah Johnson

Another former overlooked prospect who thrived at Colorado, Johnson is in a similar category to Dak, seeking a more lucrative deal elsewhere after developing his skills in Boulder.

Sebastian Rancik

The loss of Rancik, who had two seasons of eligibility remaining, was also frustrating for the Buffs as he was a player with the potential to contribute in multiple ways.

Fernando Lovo

The new athletic director at Colorado, Lovo is reportedly set to 'double its commitment to men's basketball,' but sources indicate that investment will only bring the program closer to the Big 12 mean, not serve as a game-changer in terms of attracting and retaining top talent.

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What they’re saying

“It's disheartening. I'll leave it at that.”

— Tad Boyle, Head Coach, Colorado Buffaloes

What’s next

The Buffs will need to be active in the transfer portal this offseason to replace the 40.7 points per game left behind by the departures of Johnson, Rancik and Dak. While there are certainly impact players available, Colorado will need more hits than misses to remain competitive in the Big 12.

The takeaway

Colorado's struggles to retain top talent like Bangot Dak exemplify the broader challenges facing mid-major programs as the college sports landscape continues to evolve. The Buffs' inability to keep pace in bidding wars threatens to undermine the progress the program has made and could make it difficult for CU to remain competitive in the Big 12 Conference.