At least one scholarship spot remains open for the Colorado men’s basketball team. And, for the first time since the CU program began planning for the expected move to a 15-player roster limit, head coach Tad Boyle hinted the Buffaloes may not remain at 13 scholarships after all.

The addition this week of Denver transfer guard Jon Mani, plus CU’s previous signing of former UC Riverside guard Barrington Hargress, likely ends the stockpiling of potential parts for the perimeter rotation.

Currently at 12 scholarship players for next year, the remaining spot, or spots, will be used to address vacancies in the front court. The Buffs were a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team in the Big 12 and lost three of their most capable rebounders in Trevor Baskin, Andrej Jakimovski and Assane Diop.

“We need to get some length, some size, up front,” Boyle said. “So we’ve got to add a frontcourt player for sure. And possibly two.”

The college basketball world, along with the rest of college athletics, still is awaiting the finalization of the House settlement, but the roster limit in men’s basketball still is expected to be capped at 15. Boyle previously has said the Buffs will remain at 13 scholarships, leaving two spots open for walk-ons, but for the first time said that plan might be altered.

“The judge has not ruled on the roster limits. We’re assuming we have 15 roster spots next year,” Boyle said. “With 15 roster spots, we actually have three spots to fill. Now, they might not all be scholarship players. We might add two scholarship guys. I don’t know that yet.

“It’s fluid. It just depends on what’s out there. We’re going to make sure we have depth. We’re just going to try to keep getting good players.”

Staff void

The empty spots on the roster aren’t the only vacancies Boyle needs to fill.

Boyle also has begun the process of adding a new assistant coach after Zach Ruebesam was named the head coach at Division II CSU-Pueblo nearly three weeks ago. Ruebesam originally was hired as CU’s director of player development, but during his tenure NCAA rule changes allowed Ruebesam to assume on-court coaching duties. With the CU program set to lose longtime administrative assistant Marge Marcy — who has held her position since Boyle arrived in 2010 but is retiring at the end of the month — Boyle said he will seek a candidate versatile enough to handle administrative duties alongside the typical coaching duties.“I always say what I look for in coaches is what I look for in players. And that is versatility,” Boyle said. “We’re losing our administrative assistant, and I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to replace her. If we don’t, we need somebody that can do some administrative things as well as coach. But definitely somebody that can coach on the floor, somebody that can run a workout and help recruit. We need a multi-talented, multi-dimensional coach that can step in and do a lot of things.

“We’re being diligent. I’m not in a hurry. I’m not in a rush. I’m just going to try to get the best person that I can. We’ll get somebody good, I can promise you that.”

Notable

Former CU guard Javon Ruffin committed to Bowling Green. … NBADraft.net lists Colorado State star and former CU player Nique Clifford as the No. 16 pick in the first round in its mock 2025 NBA Draft. That spot is held by Orlando, and if that happens Clifford would join his former CU recruiting classmate Tristan da Silva, who just finished his rookie season with the Magic.