CU Buffs men’s basketball 2022-23 season in review
The 2022-23 season was a rare downturn for Colorado in the Tad Boyle era. But with another year of experience and a big recruiting class, the Buffaloes have the weapons to make a big turnaround in 2023-24. As the old saying goes, sometimes you have to look back in order to move forward. So what can we learn from this past season?
The closest comp has to be the 2014-15 season. CU had a nearly identical overall record, Pac-12 record, points per game and points against that season. The Buffs had just lost an all-time great to the NBA in Spencer Dinwiddie and relied on a young group, much like CU did this year. CU would rattle off 20-win campaigns in five of the next eight seasons with a 19-win season in that stretch as well.
Check out our season in review for the 2022-23 Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team:
MVP: Tristan da Silva
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Tristan da Silva entered the season with a lot of hype and was able to live up to it as he captured first-team All-Pac-12 honors for his play. Da Silva averaged 15.9 points per game while adding in 4.8 rebounds. The junior forward was also a very efficient scorer, slashing .496/.394/.755 from the field, three-point line and free-throw line.
Defensive player of the year: Lawson Lovering
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Though he transferred out of CU after the season ended, Lawson Lovering made a big impact on the defensive side of the ball last year with Boyle often describing him as an “elite-level defender.” Colorado will now have to contend with that defense next season as Lovering committed to Utah.
Newcomer of the year: J'Vonne Hadley
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
J’Vonne Hadley was a late addition to the roster last offseason, but he made an immediate impact, starting 19 of the 22 games he appeared in. Though listed as a guard, Hadley did a lot of the dirty work for the Buffaloes last year, leading the team in rebounding at 5.9 per game while often matching up against players much bigger than him and playing them tough down low. You could tell that the Buffs missed his play style after he went down with a late-season injury, but everyone in Boulder should be happy to have him back next year.
Most improved player: Luke O'Brien
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
The 6-foot-8 Luke O’Brien grew this season, especially when it came to his rebounding and defense. Like Hadley, LOB was listed as a guard but was often the primary bench post weapon. O’Brien was the second-best glass cleaner on the team, pulling down 5.6 per game. If O’Brien can rediscover his shooting stroke from his sophomore season, 23-24 will be a big senior year for him.
High point of the year: Beating Tennessee in Nashville
Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Colorado stormed into a “neutral-site” matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in Nashville for the third game of the season. The Buffs left the state a 78-66 winner as they dominated the second half against a team that later advanced to the Sweet 16.
Low point(s) of the year: Inconsistency
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
I used to enjoy rollercoasters as a kid, but the 22-23 season was a little too much for me. For every Tennessee win, there was a Grambling State or California loss that would confound even the most die-hard fans. The media would even joke with Boyle about the Jekyll and Hyde nature of his team. Colorado will need to find improved consistency next season to restore the level of basketball that fans have become accustomed to in the Boyle era.
