CU men's basketball enjoys historic start ahead of rivalry game

State of play: CU was picked to finish second to last in the Big 12 preseason poll, but the lineup has outperformed projections.

• Leading the way is junior 7-footer Bangot Dak, who has flashed a vastly improved all-around game this year.
• And freshmen Isaiah Johnson, Alon Michaeli and Josiah Sanders are providing key scoring bursts off the bench.

Yes, but: CU has yet to be tested in a true road environment. The Buffs' résumé so far is buoyed by home games and two neutral-site wins that secured the Acrisure Holiday Classic title.

• CU earned one AP Top 25 vote and is ranked No. 43 in the NCAA's NET rankings.
• Advanced metrics are cooler on the Buffs: KenPom ranks them No. 66 and ESPN's BPI has them at No. 59.

Flashback: CU opened last season 9-2 — including a win over defending champion UConn — before collapsing in Big 12 play and finishing 14-21 (3-17 Big 12).

How it works: The NCAA sorts wins into four "quads," with Quad 1 victories carrying more weight for postseason selection.

• The Buffs have zero Quad 1 wins and just one Quad 2 win, meaning they haven't logged a résumé-defining victory yet.

What we're watching: Saturday's trip to Fort Collins offers the Buffs their first hostile road test and a chance to upgrade their résumé.

• CSU enters at No. 65 in NET, giving CU an opportunity to claim a Quad 1 win — and a chance to validate its historic start.
• "We've not played in a true road environment yet," CU head coach Tad Boyle told the Daily Camera. "We're going to sure as hell get one on Saturday."