The game always has been about defense and rebounding for the Colorado men’s basketball team under Tad Boyle.

It still is. Yet for the first time since the first of Boyle’s 14 seasons at CU, the Buffaloes boast an offense that ranks among the best in the nation.

With nonconference play winding down and the start of the Buffs’ final Pac-12 Conference schedule less than three weeks away, the lofty early numbers are certain to level out to an extent. Nonetheless, CU goes into Friday’s home date against Northern Colorado (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network) among elite company nationally in several offensive categories.

Not that the Buffs are satisfied, despite coming off their most impressive win of the season on Sunday against Miami.

“Even (Tuesday) at practice, we were working on stuff we can improve on,” CU’s J’Vonne Hadley said. “You can always get better. But that (Miami win) is a good example of a textbook example of the five-out (offense). But you can always get better. Sometimes you miss open things and we’re trying to perfect those.”

Through Monday’s games, Colorado ranked in the top 10 nationally in field goal percentage (.525, fifth), 3-point percentage (.409, eighth) and free throw percentage (.789, 10th). CU also ranked 12th in assists per game (18.4) and was tied for 27th in scoring (84.4).

The Buffs have shot at least .500 in seven of nine games (hitting at least 52% in all seven) after hitting 50% in just seven of 35 games last year. CU goes into Friday’s game against UNC having hit at least 50% in four consecutive games for the first time since the first few weeks of January 2010.

“The spacing was great. The cutting was great,” Boyle said of the effort against Miami. “I thought our reads and ball-screens were great. Eddie (Lampkin) was really active in terms of giving us a presence inside. Our decision-making was good as well. That’s how it’s supposed to look. I think we’re in the top 10 in the country in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage. That’s a testament to our players.”The Buffs have continued their recent run short-handed. Bench guard RJ Smith has missed the past two games due to a lower leg issue and remains sidelined indefinitely. Standout freshman Cody Williams missed the Miami game due to an injured left wrist, and on Tuesday Boyle said any further update on Williams’ status will not be available until later in the week.

Still, even without Williams, who posted consecutive 21-point games before getting sidelined, the Buffs put together their top offensive performance of the year against the Hurricanes.

“This is the way it should be,” Boyle said. “Not that we’re going to have it every night, but our guys did a fantastic job of sharing the ball. The one thing I think that gets lost, obviously Tristan (da Silva) was terrific. But I look at J’Vonne Hadley’s line. He’s (5-for-7) from the field. He’s got four assists, no turnovers. Six rebounds. Guys like Luke (O’Brien) who came in off the bench. Guys like Julian (Hammond) who answered the bell with Cody being out. Every person on our team is important.

“That’s the kind of stuff that we need. Everybody is so important on this team, and everybody’s valued. And I think they value each other. We have to continue to honor those guys that are doing the little things.”