Sebastian Rancik feared the worst. Legions of Colorado basketball fans did the same.

By the end of a miserable season — a 14-21 campaign that marked just the eighth 20-loss season in program history — those same fans were desperate for a reason to buy into hope for the future. The play of Rancik down the stretch provided one of those reasons.

Yet Rancik, the Buffaloes and their fans were forced to hold their collective breaths when Rancik collapsed to the floor, holding his knee, during CU’s loss against Houston in the Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Any extended absence would rob Rancik of a key offseason and, even worse, possibly impact his start to the 2025-26 season. It would have been a cruel twist of fate for a program hoping for better things next year.

“Very scared, honestly,” Rancik recently told BuffZone. “That was the first time that something like that had happened to me in my career. It was really frightening. Obviously your mind goes to the worst. It was important for me to stay grounded and trust God’s plan and know that whatever happens that comes out of it, I’ll do great no matter what.”

As it turned out, Rancik’s knee suffered no structural damage, and although he missed the Buffs’ season-ending loss against Villanova in the College Basketball Crown on April 1, he has been cleared to be a full participant in summer workouts.

The 6-foot-9 Rancik was a bright spot in a season that offered few of them, earning more playing time as Big 12 play unfolded and eventually starting 11 games in a row down the stretch. Rancik posted five of his eight double-digit scoring efforts during a seven-game run that began with a 19-point, nine-rebound performance at No. 17 Kansas on Feb. 11. Those numbers remained season-highs for Rancik.

Still, while Rancik showcased clear progress, it didn’t happen without growing pains. He shot just .425 overall and .258 on 3-pointers (16-for-62). After going 4-for-5 from the 3-point arc during his collegiate debut in the season opener, Rancik went just 12-for-57 (.211) from long range the rest of the way, with that shortcoming turning into one of Rancik’s offseason focal points.

Rancik also averaged just 2.8 rebounds, another number the Buffs will be counting to jump appreciably next season. Frontcourt depth will remain a huge question mark for CU going forward, meaning the returning trio of Rancik, Bangot Dak and Elijah Malone will be leaned upon heavily.

“Just about developing my game, being a better ball-handler,” Rancik said. “I’ve been really locked-in on my ball-handling so I can get to my spots way easier. Obviously, next year there’s going to be a way bigger emphasis on me within the offense and the scouting report. So I have to be skilled enough and good enough to get to my own spots whenever I want to get to them.

“And then just continuing to develop my shot. I shot a low volume of threes and not a good percentage. Next year I’m prepared to shoot more threes and shoot at a way better clip. So, continue working on my shot and developing my game as a whole.”