Buffs Alums Receive Warm Welcome For 'Training Camp'

BOULDER — They came back to Boulder for a "training camp" for The Basketball Tournament, a chance to practice together for a few days before they take their shot at a $2 million, winner-take-all prize in what amounts to the world's biggest — and most lucrative — pickup-tournament.

If nothing else, it was a reunion of sorts.

But in the end, a group of ex-Colorado Buffaloes found much more when they returned to their old stomping grounds this week. They saw new facilities, experienced a warm welcome from current CU head coach Tad Boyle and Athletic Director Rick George — and perhaps most importantly, had the chance to continue to build what everyone associated with CU hoops hopes will be a basketball culture and tradition that will be the kind associated with perennial top programs.

"It's been special," said former Buffs guard Marcus Hall, who just finished a season in Turkey, his eighth year in the pros. "It's a genuine welcome, not just B.S. They look you in the eye and tell you they're glad we're here. Tad had us over to his house. Not his guys, us. Eight of us never played for him, but he welcomed us in. It speaks to the program that he's built and the tradition he wants to build."

Players on Team Colorado represented several eras and three different CU head coaches: Ricardo Patton, Jeff Bzdelik and Boyle. Many of them are still picking up steady paychecks playing overseas, including Hall, Richard Roby, Dominique Coleman, Marcus Relphorde and Austin Dufault.

For a few, it was their first look at CU's basketball facilities that now include practice courts, coaches' offices and a spacious weight room.

For almost all of them, it was their first look at the CU Champions Center, which they toured with CU Associate A.D. for Business Development before meeting with George.

"Mind boggling," said Coleman, who is preparing for his 10th year overseas in a career that has included stops in Spain, France and Italy. "I've seen pictures of the basketball facility, but seeing it live is amazing. It's a lot different than when we were having to practice in three or four different gyms a week during finals and graduation. And the new building (Champions Center) … wow, just incredible."

The alums spent several days practicing in the Coors Events Center under the direction of head coach and former Buff Dwight Thorne, who was announced this week as the Director of Operations for the Denver Pioneers men's basketball program, where he'll work with former CU assistant Rodney Billups and Patton, who is on Billups' staff.

The alums also had a chance to engage in a few pickup games with some current CU players and spend time getting to know them.

"It's been a great week," Roby said. "When you see these facilities, it's what you need to get the best players. It's also really encouraging to come back and visit with the younger players. You can see they're trying to make it like other top programs, where they have a great tradition and the younger guys see what the older guys have done. I really think this is going to continue to grow at Colorado, and it's good to see it happen."

All the players stressed that it was good for current Buffs to see that such a wide variety of opportunities to continue playing exist.

"The NBA is great, and Colorado keeps sending guys there," Coleman said. "But when a recruit comes here and sees that we've had all these guys who have had eight- or 10-year careers making good money playing all over the world, it lets them see what's available to them. What's great is that they are truly interested here in building a tradition and keeping alumni involved. It's really an important piece of the overall program."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

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