Ian Inman taking next step for CU Buffs men’s basketball

Ian Inman showed he has the range.

This year, he plans to show the Big 12 he has game.

Inman’s long-range touch provided the occasional spark during his freshman season with the Colorado men’s basketball team. As he steps into what is expected to be an expanded role this season, Inman is hoping to provide that spark more consistently, and from other spots than beyond the arc.

“For my game, I feel like I’ve always been able to score at all three levels,” Inman said. “I feel like last year, (3-point shooting) was just kind of my role. Especially late in the season. Just come in and knock shots and be that surprise guy for our team. Then this year, I’m playing free. I’m not looking over my shoulder. I’m playing free and going out there and hoopin’ and do what I do offensively and be that guy to get buckets for this team.”

While classmates Jalin Holland and Josiah Sanders received playing time out of the gate, Inman weathered a more gradual ascension. During one stretch beginning early in nonconference play into the early weeks of the Big 12 schedule, Inman didn’t play in eight out of nine games.

That slowly changed in late January and February. A native of Houston, Inman turned heads in his first collegiate appearance in his home state, going 4-for-6 overall and 2-for-4 on 3-pointers in a blowout loss at Baylor.

Inman recorded four more double-digit scoring efforts over the final nine games, including a season-high 17 points with five 3-pointers in a home win against Kanas State. Inman recorded a whopping 77% of his overall field goal attempts on 3-pointers, and while the 6-foot-6 wing might still be one of CU’s top long-range threats, taking the next step will likely require a reduction of that 3-point ratio.

“I think I just worked on being more physical. Being able to play throughout the first half and second half,” Inman said. “I made sure in the offseason to stay in shape, make sure my body is right. And then being able to score at all levels, and getting to my shots at all levels. Defensively, just being a solid guy that can guard all positions.”

Big 12 poll

Expectations are low for the Buffaloes among the coaches across the Big 12.

The league announced its preseason poll Thursday, with the Buffs finishing in a tie for 14th alongside Kansas State. CU finished with 34 points, ahead of only 16th-place Utah (24).

Arizona received 12 of 16 first-place votes to edge Houston for the top spot. Kansas, Iowa State, Texas Tech and BYU rounded out the top six.

Notable

The Big 12 announced its tipoff times and television information for the 2026-27 season earlier this week. ESPN platforms will handle 21 of the Buffs’ 32 regular-season games, with 16 of those 21 slated for ESPN+. CU will have two games apiece on FS1, Peacock, CBS Sports Network and TNT/truTV/HBO Max, as well as one date on USA Network — the Nov. 7 matchup against San Diego State at the inaugural Bill Walton Classic. … Sanders and Barrington Hargress will represent the CU men alongside coach Tad Boyle at the Big 12 Conference basketball media day Tuesday in Kansas City. The format is changing this season, with each member school featuring its men’s and women’s team on the same day, as opposed to one day for the men and one day for the women. Aniya’ Foy, Logyn Greer, Zyanna Walker and coach JR Payne will represent the women.