KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It has been just seven months since Bangot Dak and Sebastian Rancik last took the floor at T-Mobile Center.
In that time, the entire universe of Colorado men’s basketball has transformed around the pair of young, versatile forwards.
Only four rotation players remain for the Buffaloes from when Houston eliminated them in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament at T-Mobile Center in March. Role players a year ago who were still finding their footing as significant contributors at the power conference level, Dak and Rancik returned to T-Mobile Center on Wednesday, taking another step in their respective evolutions as leaders of coach Tad Boyle’s program by representing the Buffaloes at the Big 12 men’s basketball media day.
“For me, I’m just trying to be more vocal and kind of lead by example,” Dak said. “I’m trying to show my best effort on the court regardless of what’s going on and show that regardless what the situation is I’m trying to play through it, trying to fight through it. Other than that, I’m just trying to be a leader.”
Rancik’s last memory of T-Mobile Center is a painful one, as he exited the loss against Houston with a knee injury. He recovered in time to take part in CU’s summer workouts, but by then Dak had suffered an offseason knee injury that kept him on the sideline for the Buffs’ exhibition tour of Australia.
Rancik has been slowed lately by a sprained ankle, which kept him out of Sunday’s exhibition win against Grace College. Yet none of the physical setbacks have prevented the duo from ascending into leadership roles that often were lacking last year as the Buffs limped into a last-place finish in the Big 12.
“With both Bangot and Sebastian, they both have personalities that kind of lend themselves to leadership in that you can’t lead if you’re not willing to open up your mouth,” Boyle said. “Sometimes, opening up your mouth in difficult situations — whether that’s after a tough loss, whether that’s when your team is not performing at the level you need them to — both those guys aren’t afraid to do that. That’s what you need to start to become a leader. It doesn’t end there for sure, but it starts there. And they both have that.
“The younger players kind of look to those guys as guys they want to emulate and follow.”
Dak is the final remaining link to CU’s 2024 NCAA Tournament team, a squad that didn’t lack for leaders in standouts like Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson, as well as steady veterans like Luke O’Brien. Stronger leadership may not have prevented last year’s last-place finish in the Big 12, but it certainly could have helped turn the tide in several of the near-misses the Buffs experienced during an 0-13 start in conference play.
Rancik was just a freshman as the Buffs weathered all that misery. Yet once he literally limped off the T-Mobile Center floor in March, Rancik turned his sights to this season. And that included honing his leadership skills right alongside his playing skills.
“Just being more vocal, and even in the summer reading a couple books on leadership and just talking to some great leaders that I know and gaining that experience and their knowledge,” Rancik said. “And kind of putting it all together so I can be the best for my teammates and help this team win as many games as we can.”