Colorado University Athletics
Boyle Reflects On Season, Looks Ahead To Future
March 23, 2012 | Men's Basketball
As Boyle fielded questions, it became clear that the leadership that was one of CU's greatest strengths in their run to the Pac-12 Tournament title and into the Big Dance is also one of their biggest question marks heading into next season.
"The one thing about this team is we had great leadership this year that was apparent as we played in close games down the stretch," Boyle said. "We had guys like Nate (Tomlinson), Austin (Dufault), and Carlon (Brown) that really stepped up and led this team, so it will be interesting to see who those guys that step forward next year are."
Boyle added that Brown was especially vocal during the Buffs' late season run, often talking as much as CU's coaching staff during timeouts, and shared a moment from Tomlinson that may have served as a rallying point for the team's five straight wins in March.
Following Oregon and Oregon State's sweep of CU to conclude the regular season, the team watched film from the trip of getting outhustled and failing to get back in transition defensively, and, as Boyle puts it, the head coach "got after them" and "got some things off (his) chest." He then put it out to the team to see what was on their mind, and had some guys step up and say some "appropriate" things. Not among those to step up was the senior point guard. So Boyle asked, "'Nate, you've been kind of quiet, what do you think?'"
Boyle recalls Tomlinson's response: "He looked at me straight in the eye and said, 'Coach, do you really want to know?' I said, 'Absolutely I want to know,' and I had no idea what was going to come out of his mouth. He said, 'I don't think we're that good. We've played against Kansas and Texas since I've been here and, no disrespect to anyone in this room, but I don't think we're that good. The only chance we have is if we guard, we rebound, and we compete our (tails) off.' It was the right words at the right time by the right guy ... I don't know if that's why we went to L.A. and played the way we did, but I do know that his teammates got it."
"Who it's going to be next year? I don't know," Boyle said on who fills those leadership roles. "We've got some quiet guys that have to get their vocal cords ready because they have to step up. I think there were some great examples set for them this year, which is a good thing."
The returning Buffs will have a golden opportunity to develop this summer as the team will travel to France for ten days in August to play four games against European professional teams. While Boyle looks forward to those games, he believes the ten days of practice that CU will be allowed before they travel to France will be most beneficial, especially since the incoming freshmen will be able to participate.
The Buffs have already signed five players to join the team for next season and "get their feet wet" in France: Wesley Gordon (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sierra HS), Chris Jenkins (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit HS), Xavier Johnson (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS), Josh Scott (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer HS), and Xavier Talton (Sterling, Colo./Sterling HS).
ESPN ranks CU's class No. 22 in the nation as both Johnson and Scott are widely considered to be top 100 national recruits. Boyle believes than any of the five has the ability to fill a role and contribute as a freshman: "I love all the guys we signed early. We're going to continue to recruit here late, but the five that we signed early all have the physical ability to come in and step in and play right away. Who emerges and who doesn't will be an interesting thing to watch ... I think our foreign trip is really going to help."
Boyle also will use the summer trip to see whether bench players from this past season can develop into expanded roles for next season: "We know what Andre (Roberson) can do. Ski (Booker) and Spencer (Dinwiddie) have proven themselves. It will be good to find out and develop depth."
Returning players such as Jeremy Adams, Sabatino Chen, and Shane Harris-Tunks will be given the opportunity to have a "longer leash" to show what they're capable of, as Boyle added, "Because of the (shorter leash), it was hard for them to get into a rhythm and gain a lot of confidence because they didn't get extended minutes like some of the other guys did ... With the opportunity that you're going to play and you don't have to worry about coming out of the game if you mess up, I think that will really help (them)."
Also discussed at the press conference were non-conference opponents that have been confirmed for next season. CU will host Colorado State and Air Force, as well as take trips to Wyoming and Fresno State. The Buffs will also participate in the Charleston Classic in November, a tournament featuring host Charleston, Baylor, Boston College, Dayton, St. John's, and Southern Illinois. Contracts to round out the remaining portion of the non-conference slate are still in the works.
Boyle is proud of what the Buffs have accomplished in his first two seasons at the helm, but his focus is now on where the program is headed going forward: "As we reflect back on the year we had, another 24-win season, it was a great run at the end. I'm really happy with where the program is today and, probably more importantly now, where it's going in the future."
