Bangot Dak Aims for Consistency as CU Faces Kansas

BOULDER, Colo. — Despite an impressive showing in the Big 12 Conference, Bangot Dak is still striving for consistency as he and the Colorado Buffaloes prepare to host Kansas on Monday night at the CU Events Center.

The sophomore forward, who has made significant progress since November, experienced both highs and lows during the Buffaloes’ recent victory over Baylor. Dak’s soaring dunk attempt late in the game nearly cost his team, underscoring his ongoing development. Nevertheless, Dak boasts one of the best blocked shot seasons in Colorado’s program history.

“Bangot’s got the ability to be a great rim protector,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “Right now, he’s a sporadic rim protector. Like a lot of our players, the consistency factor has to be there. Bangot’s still learning who he is as a player.”

Throughout the season, Dak’s journey has been filled with challenges. He struggled to block shots during a recent game against Iowa State but bounced back with a block in the win against Baylor, bringing his season total to 39. This statistic places him tied for 24th among CU’s season leaders, and he is poised to join the elite group of CU players with at least 40 blocked shots in a season.

“This has been a good experience for him,” Boyle continued. “I look at this as Bangot’s freshman year, not his sophomore year. Even though he was here last year and he saw, he didn’t really get a lot of experience on the floor.”

Kansas, on the other hand, finds itself at a crossroads after dropping out of the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time this season, landing unofficially at No. 28. The Jayhawks, who have not forced many turnovers this season, currently hold the No. 20 spot in the NET rankings and No. 21 at KenPom.com.

The Buffaloes have shown a marked improvement in their recent performances, winning two of their last three games, while Andrej Jakimovski has contributed significantly with a 44% shooting rate from beyond the arc over the past four games.

As the Buffaloes gear up for the high-stakes clash against Kansas, the expectations are high for Dak to demonstrate his potential. The game is set for 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN with Mike Monaco and Jay Williams calling the action.