After a slim round-one loss last year, Team Colorado is ready for another go at The Basketball Tournament (TBT) after wrapping up its training camp.
Colorado Buffaloes assistant coach and CU alumni Zach Ruebesam is back at the helm, gaining head coaching experience in his second year with the team. Ahead of Saturday’s start to TBT, Ruebesam believes he’s more prepared:
“It was a learning experience last year,” Ruebesam said. “I think at any head coaching position, you learn a lot as you go through it. I feel much more prepared to do it this year. Getting these guys back on campus is the biggest thing for me, having an opportunity where there’s a mutual respect between me and these guys. I’m not going to teach them anything they don’t already know. But for me to give them insight and they hear that, it’s great.”
Hoping to bounce back with Ruebesam while improving Team Colorado’s 8-6 all-time record, former Buffs Shannon Sharpe, George King, Shane Gatling, D’Shawn Schwartz and Evan Battey, who recently accepted an assistant coaching job with the Buffs, are back on the roster.
Contrary to last year, last-second changes forced Team Colorado to get creative with its roster. While a few new faces repped the black and gold in college, others have different ties. The first-year players who attended CU are former NBA forward Andre Roberson and guard Daylen Kountz, who closed his college career at Northern Colorado. Those coming from other programs include guards Jaizec Lottie (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Flagler College) and Joshua Adams (Wyoming) and centers Ibrahim Sylla (Northern Colorado, North Carolina A&T) and Michael Holyfield (Sam Houston State).
Team Colorado is playing in the Wichita region as a No. 5 seed. Round one begins Saturday with Team Colorado taking on No. 4 seed Purple Reign (Kansas State alumni) at 1 p.m. MT on FS2. Purple Reign lost in round two last year and holds a 5-7 all-time record.
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