Men's basketball preview: Metro State at CU Buffs (preseason exhibition)
Oct. 27—Metro State Roadrunners at CU Buffs men's basketball (Exhibition)
TIPOFF: Saturday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center.
RECORDS (2022-23): Metro State — 12-17, 9-13 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference; Colorado 18-17, 8-12 Pac-12 Conference.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS (2022-23 stats): Metro State — F Caleb McGill, Jr. (13.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .548 field goal percentage); G Jaden Kennis, So. (10.0 ppg); G Brayden Maldonado, So. (8.5 ppg, 2.8 apg). Colorado — F Tristan da Silva, Sr. (15.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .496 FG%, .394 3%); G KJ Simpson, Jr. (15.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.8 apg); F J'Vonne Hadley, Sr. (8.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, .525 FG%); F/G Luke O'Brien, Sr. (6.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Julian Hammond III, Jr. (6.9 ppg).
NOTES: The Events Center doors will open at 6 p.m., and the arena's central video boards will broadcast the CU football game at No. 23 UCLA. ... Metro State is in its second season under head coach Dan Ficke, who has a longstanding working relationship with CU assistant coach/director of player development Zach Ruebesam. Ruebesam was on the staff at the University of Denver when Ficke was an assistant there, and when Ficke got the head coach job at Division II Belmont Abbey in North Carolina, Ruebesam followed as an assistant coach. ... Still working his way back from back surgery, new center Eddie Lampkin Jr. did not play in last week's closed scrimmage against Texas but is expected to play against Metro. ... Metro State will be coming off a Friday night exhibition at Wyoming. ... CU opens the regular season at home on Nov. 6 against Towson (5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
