Julian Hammond III and Javon Ruffin aren’t going to appear in any lists detailing the top backcourts expected to be on display in the Big 12 this season.

It will take an unexpected leap in expectations for either player to land on the Big 12’s all-conference teams, and there is a good chance neither guard will be Colorado’s leading scorer. Yet whatever success the CU men’s basketball team enjoys this year in its return season in the Big 12, solid, healthy seasons by the Buffaloes’ two veteran guards will be a crucial element.

CU begins its 122nd season of men’s basketball, and the 15th under head coach Tad Boyle, with a Monday opening night date against Eastern Washington.

A mix of graduate transfers, youngsters taking on larger roles, players like Ruffin trying to shake off injury histories and untested rookies will be challenged to come together quickly. Yet in a game dominated a little more every year by guard play, the fortunes of Hammond and Ruffin will go a long way toward defining the fortunes of the Buffs.

“(Hammond) is probably our steadiest guard on the floor,” Boyle said. “I’ve got 100% confidence in him. Actions speak louder than words as a coach. If I didn’t have confidence in Julian, or Javon Ruffin, I would’ve signed a point guard in the transfer portal. But I didn’t. I have confidence in both those guys.

“They’re going to play together some. They are two of our guards that have the most experience. So I may not start them together. But certainly they’re going to play together at some point during the game. And I would guess if it’s a late-game, tight-game, those two guys will be on the floor finishing games.”

No one else on CU’s new-look roster has logged as many games in a Buffs uniform as Hammond (88 games) and Ruffin (42), although both guards still have much to prove in their new roles as backcourt leaders.

Hammond, a three-year rotation player, was on pace for a potential career year last year before he was derailed by back and knee injuries.

Ruffin enjoyed flashes two seasons ago, but his three years at CU have been dominated by knee issues.

The Buffs don’t have a traditional backup point guard, like how Hammond backed up KJ Simpson the past two seasons, or Keeshawn Barthelemy backing up McKinley Wright IV during the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament season. Ruffin is expected to fill that role off the bench with a possible assist from third-year junior RJ Smith, another player whose season was cut short by injury last year.

“To me, what makes Ruff and Julian so good is they can both run the team from the point, but they can also play off each other,” Boyle said. “That’s the beauty of having both those guys. So you can have them both on the floor together. They both can shoot the ball. They both can handle the ball.”

“Defensively, the thing about this team with me is I don’t see that we have a defensive stopper, on the perimeter or the post. So who’s playing is who’s guarding. Because we’ve got a lot of guys that can score the ball and shoot the ball and play on offense. What we don’t have is a defensive mentality, yet, that we need to have.”