Colorado University Athletics
Never Stop Improving A Hallmark Of Scott Wedman's Career
October 24, 2015 | Men's Basketball
The fourth of 11 CU Athletic Hall of Fame profiles, leading up to induction ceremonies on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Coors Events Center. This year's class will also be honored during the Colorado-Stanford football game on Saturday, Nov. 7. Click here to see the CU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Click here for induction ceremony information and registration.
Modest confidence accurately describes the personality of former Colorado basketball star Scott Wedman.
Asked if he thought his skill set would transition into today's game filled with lanky scorers, technicians distributing the ball and franchise players lasting more than three decades, á la Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Tim Duncan, respectively, Wedman remarked slyly:
“Oh, I think I'd probably find a way. I'd sure like to think I could.”
Scott Wedman and each one of the aforementioned NBA stars share common characteristics: a combination of that quiet confidence and a love for the game of basketball.
Coming out of Mullen High School in Denver, Wedman was a solid, hard-working prep star. However, he was still developing as a player and seemed quite far from the prestigious basketball career that he ultimately delivered.
“It was so funny. When I went to Colorado, I had one other offer,” Wedman said. “I was a work-in-progress my entire, not only college career, but even when I went to the pros. I was always working on improving.”
This improvement began to show up during Wedman's sophomore season (1971-1972), after taking his freshman year off to mature physically and mentally. Despite CU finishing 7-19 overall and 4-10 in the Big Eight Conference, the first-year standout averaged nearly 13 points and nine rebounds per game.
Throughout the season, Wedman demonstrated an astounding versatility, demonstrated by the fact that he notched 13 double-doubles on the season. This mark tied him with four other Buffs, including current Buff Josh Scott, for 12th most in a single season. He finished his career with 35 double-doubles, sixth most in school history.
Wedman said, “It wasn't until I actually retired from the NBA for a couple years, that I actually appreciated what I had done to a full extent. I had always just loved to play and just always tried to get better. It's great to be known as a versatile player, but that wasn't my driving force. I enjoyed the game.”
However, the 1972-73 Colorado Buffaloes took a big step forward, scoring almost six more points per game as a team than the previous season. The Buffs finished 13-13 overall, with a 9-5 record in Big Eight play. CU beat a nationally ranked Missouri team in overtime and handled Iowa State by shooting a blistering 66.7 percent from the field.
Wedman led the way for Colorado in more ways than one. He finished his junior season leading the team in scoring (17.7 points per game), rebounding (9.3 rebounds per game), field goal percentage for players with more than 10 field goal attempts on the season (.483), and free throw percentage (.811). Wedman was like a Swiss Army knife, uncorking sweet jumpers from everywhere on the court and cutting through the opposition to get to rebounds.
“I think the kind of success we had my junior year, when we finished second in the Big Eight. We had some memorable road wins. That team was the best; we really came together as a team that year,” Wedman recalled.
Even with his much improved play and post-season accolades – he was elected to the '73-'74 Big Eight all-Conference first team – Wedman strived to put the play of his team first.
Expectations were high coming into the 1973-74 Colorado basketball season. Wedman was a senior leader and fellow big man Dave Logan was becoming more of a force on the backboards, while also carrying more of the offensive load. High-profile opponents were chomping at the bit for their chance to play the Buffs. Unfortunately, the home team finished 9-17 overall and 4-10 in conference again. Of CU's 17 losses throughout the season, the Buffs finished 10 games within 10 points of their opponent.
The season started off with promise before going downhill, winning two of their first three games. The second win for Colorado was a thriller against Long Beach State, featuring a career scoring high for Scott Wedman.
“The Long Beach State game was pretty significant, from the standpoint that it was a ranked team. Lute Olson (776-285 career coaching record spanning 34 years) was the coach; it was his first Division 1 coaching job at that school. That was a pretty significant victory for us. The 32 points was great, but the fact that we won was even better,” Wedman remembered.
This game proved to be more of a peak than the beginning of something special for the Buffs. Despite the losing record, Wedman would have another outstanding year. He led CU again in scoring (20.0 points per game), rebounding (9.3 rebounds per game), and field goal percentage for players with more than three field goal attempts on the season (.535). Wedman's scoring average put him in rare company among Colorado basketball players: only 11 other Buffalos averaged more in a single season.
These impressive individual statistics sparked the interest and respect from his teammates and his peers. So much so that Wedman was another Big Eight all-Conference first team selection for the '73-74 basketball season. However for Wedman, the most important praise throughout his playing career in college and the pros came from the appreciation he received from his teammates and opponents.
“I got attention from people that counted, whether it be a scout or my peers that selected me to the All-Star Game a couple times,” Wedman said. “I wasn't thirsty for publicity, but I always enjoyed being appreciated. In my NBA career, three of my coaches were selected as Coach of the Year; I took a lot of pride in that and being a part of their team. I never really felt underappreciated; I never sensed that. Obviously Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, they're getting a lot of attention, and deservedly so, but I was always very comfortable with my role.”
Thus a dynamic collegiate career ended. One that included staggering numbers: 1,251 points (16.7 ppg), 684 rebounds (9.1 rpg), two 30-point games, and two 15-rebound games. Wedman was also selected 1970s Big Eight all-Decade second team.
It was no surprise that Scott Wedman continued his career in the professional ranks.
Fun fact: Scott Wedman is actually the highest drafted basketball player in CU history. He was selected by second overall in 1974 by the Memphis Sounds of the American Basketball Association. However, Wedman was also drafted sixth overall by the Kansas City/Omaha Royals of the National Basketball Association in the same year, therefore putting him as the second highest Buff drafted to the NBA behind only Chauncey Billups in 1997 (third overall, Boston).
Scott Wedman signed with the Royals and played for 12 years in the NBA with Kansas City, Cleveland, and Boston, averaging nearly 13 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the free throw line. He won two championships with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986.
Another Fun Fact: Scott Wedman still shares the mark for single-game field goal perfection in the NBA postseason with two others, which he earned when he hit all 11 of his shots (including four three-point baskets) for 26 points in the win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals.
At present, Wedman is a prominent figure in the real estate industry in Kansas City and owes his success, after playing collegiate and professional basketball career, to his academics.
“The most significant was the fact that I went to CU, and I was in the business school, and I graduated in four years with an emphasis in real estate. My dad – I had always been involved in real estate and just dabbled in it – I learned from him,” Wedman detailed.
Throughout Scott Wedman's collegiate career he understood his role. He knew that he was a student-athlete for a prestigious university. He knew that he had to perform on the court and in the classroom. Now, Wedman is being honored for his contributions as a CU basketball player.
“I'm thrilled, it's quite an honor. There are a lot of people who probably should have been inducted before me, or after me I'm sure. I'm very humbled by the award,” Wedman said.
Today, Scott Wedman is still the same person that exhibited modest confidence as a Colorado Buffalo.
