Ian Inman, a freshman wing for the Colorado men's basketball team, is poised to make an impact as an instant-offense threat from the bench. With Tad Boyle's leadership, the team is shifting focus to defense, and Inman is embracing this challenge. As the season progresses, Inman and his fellow freshmen are navigating the typical hurdles, from adapting to the Division I pace to balancing athletics and academics. The team's next significant test is an exhibition match against Grace College, featuring former CU center Elijah Malone.
Inman's early concerns centered on off-ball defense, being in the right position, and jumping to the ball. He acknowledges the importance of playing sound defensively, emphasizing that it's a key to winning in college basketball. Inman's height and ability to get deflections make him a valuable asset on defense. Meanwhile, his shooting touch from the 3-point line could provide an immediate boost to the team, which struggled from the arc last season, ranking 15th in the Big 12 with a .321 mark.
The graduation of Julian Hammond III and RJ Smith's transfer to DePaul have left a significant void along the perimeter. Inman's shooting ability, however, is expected to give him an initial chance to stick in the rotation. Boyle praises Inman's knock-down shooting skills, noting that he was known for his shooting ability when recruited from Texas. Inman's mental toughness was also on display during an intrasquad scrimmage, where he quickly recovered from missing a tough three-point shot and made the next one without hesitation.
Despite his growing pains, Inman's offensive game and ability to shoot the ball are considered to be at the Big 12 level. As he continues to develop consistency and trust from his teammates defensively, Inman is set to make a significant impact for the CU Buffs men's basketball team.
