The Colorado Buffaloes Men’s Basketball team will look a lot different in 2017-2018. Whether it was due to graduation, transfer or personal reasons, CU lost seven of 16 players on the roster from last season. Head Coach Tad Boyle assembled his best recruiting class this season in preparation for the passing of the torch. Eight freshman, including walk-ons, take the place of what was a very experienced group in 2016-2017.
Senior Tory Miller-Stewart is one of five returning upperclassmen who will be charged with leading a young, albeit talented group. Following the departure of five-year player’s Wesley Gordon and Xavier Johnson, the Buffs need Miller-Stewart to play a critical role this upcoming season.
Colorado has to replace nearly 22 rebounds per game from the roster last year. With Coach Boyle’s ‘defense and rebounding’ mantra, it will be need to be a collective effort, but one that Tory has a large role in. Miller-Stewart has averaged just under four rebounds per game through 95 contests in his career.
During their preseason trip to Italy, Miller-Stewart ranked fourth on the team in rebounds, just under five per game, despite playing just the seventh-most minutes on the team. He has been a large part of the Buffaloes depth in the front court over the last three years, but foul trouble and inconsistency have plagued his tenure at Colorado. In Italy, Miller also ranked second on the team in personal fouls. The Buffs need him on the floor this season and cleaning up those things have certainly been a focus through the first week of practice.
At the end of his Junior season, Miller was voted Most Improved Player by his teammates. It’s a new role, but one that Tory has to get accustomed to quickly in order for the Buffs to maximize their successes in 2017-2018.
