The Colorado Buffaloes hosted the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers for an exhibition game on Sunday, the first showcase open to the public of the 2024-25 season. Fans got their first glimpse of the newcomer-heavy Buffaloes and the new dynamics of a team coming off so much success last year. The Buffs got their jitters out in front of a home crowd and got the win, 91-46.
There was much to be observed with 10 new additions, including four freshmen making their collegiate debuts. With only four returning players, there was no doubt head coach JR Payne’s offensive systems and strategies would look different from the past few seasons.
CU found a way to incorporate old and new assets and experimented with different lineups over the course of the game. Senior guard Kindyll Wetta looked confident and energized from the jump, directing traffic and making calls while running the point. Also sharing the responsibility of point guard was redshirt freshman Kennedy Sanders, who showed off her ball-handling skills under pressure and gave Wetta relief when she needed it.
“When everyone gets an opportunity to play… that’s a coach’s dream,” Payne remarked when asked about the depth of her team post-game.
Jade Masogayo put on an impressive defensive clinic for the Buffs. Finishing with 13 points and five rebounds, the forward stayed diligent on her assignments and excelled towards the end of the shot clock. Her matchups were frustrated, and her teammates on the bench couldn’t get enough.
Early on in the first quarter, Payne urged her players to be more communicative on defense after a few easy buckets from Mines. On several possessions as CU settled in, the Buffs’ lack of communication on the defensive end was problematic and on several occasions matchups got lost. Transfer student Lior Garzon was pulled early to have a conversation and adjusted well through the remaining three quarters.
Once she got going, Lior Garzon was automatic from three and showed her extensive range. With a quick release and a calm demeanor, Garzon seemed to settle into her groove as she spent more time on the court. Before her long-range shots started falling though, Garzon worked hard to create offense for herself off the dribble. She finished as the leading scorer for both teams with 18 points and three three point field-goals.
“Coach gives me a lot of confidence just to go and do my thing.” Garzon explained about where her comfortability to take those deeper shots stems from.
Despite having some adjustments to make and kinks to work out, the Buffs took the lead early and never lost it by dominating in the post, establishing deep position in the paint and doing their work early. At halftime, the Buffs led 46-26 and had shot 50% from the floor.
Nyamer Diew was a huge offensive spark for CU, draining an early corner three off an extra pass from Wetta and following that up with a steal and a fast break layup. The 6-foot-2 grad student showed her versatility by pushing the ball up the court, knocking down shots from long range, and hitting the floor for hustle plays on defense. Her rebounding and ability to distribute the ball to her teammates brought energy throughout.
Freshman Tabitha Benson looked dominant, collecting offensive rebounds and putting the ball back up on several occasions. Betson showed size and strength against older competition, standing out from her similarly-aged peers. With a strong power dribble and a quick putback, Benson’s potential to be a real threat is untapped.
Another big presence for CU was forward Ayianna Johnson, providing another threat against the smaller opponents. A sophomore transfer from Minnesota, Johnson was eager to make her mark in a new home arena.
“It felt like home,” Johnson said postgame. “I was meant to be here.”
AJ showed her ability to be an outstanding post defender, frequently forcing turnovers on entry passes and hauling in rogue rebounds. She also showed her speed in the open court, hauling in long passes and converting transition layups.
The Buffs pressured inbound sets for Mines from the beginning and were able to fluster the Orediggers into 26 turnovers by the end of the game. Turning around to defend early was a strategy that paid off immediately, and the Buffs got the ball out with such a pace that pressure could not be applied to them.
The lead stretched to 30 midway through the third quarter, and entering the fourth the score was 70-35.
Overall, the team looked explosive and eager to get their season started. 11 of 12 players who got minutes scored and the young Buffs looked comfortable and well-integrated. With the whole season ahead of them and lots still up in the air, this will undoubtedly be a year of learning and adaptation.
Notably, star grad student Frida Formann did not dress due to a foot injury, wearing a walking boot and supporting her team from the sidelines. Said to be “day-to-day,” Formann still found a way to be active on the bench, working through a scenario and demonstrating some defensive positioning to first-year Buff Johanna Teder, showing her leadership qualities even off of the court.
“We can learn something from every possession with such a new team,” Payne said, also mentioning how encouraged her newly added players had started off their CU careers.
CU will play their first non-conference game on the road against Wyoming on Nov. 4 at 5:30 MT.
Cover photo by Owen Lockwood/Sko Buffs Sports