Buffs To Honor Seniors At Sunday's Home Finale

BOULDER — They came to Colorado as members of one of the most celebrated recruiting classes in CU history.

They'll leave as one of the most successful classes in Buffs basketball annals — and the final chapter has yet to be written.

Sunday afternoon, CU will honor four seniors who will be playing their home finale at the Coors Events Center. Josh Scott, Xavier Talton, Eli Stalzer and Brett Brady will make their final appearances before their home crowd when the Buffs play host to Arizona State in a 2:30 p.m. game.

Already, this group of CU seniors has played in two NCAA tournaments and won a total of 80 games. If, as expected, the Buffs earn a third NCAA Tournament berth, they'll be part of only a handful of players in Colorado history to have played in three.

This year's senior class is actually smaller than the original class that arrived in the fall of 2012. Buffs Wesley Gordon and Xavier Johnson were also part of that class, but are only juniors in eligibility. Gordon redshirted his first year in the program while Johnson has not played this season because of an Achilles tendon injury suffered last summer.

"You're talking about a really monster class," CU head coach Tad Boyle said. "It's been a great class and they've done some things that haven't been done before — but there's still more that can be done."

Indeed, if the Buffs do advance to the NCAA Tournament this season, there are three players on the team — freshmen Thomas Akyazili and Mitch Lombard and sophomore George King — who would have the chance to play in four NCAA Tournaments, something no player in CU history has ever done. (King played in the NCAA tourney two years ago as a freshman and redshirted last season.)

Still, this year's senior class will be one that will be regarded as a standard setter, as well as one that helped build a foundation of success seldom seen previously in CU annals.

The current seniors arrived in Boulder season after the Buffs had recorded their first NCAA appearance under Boyle. They added two more in succession, the first time in CU history the Buffs had played in three consecutive NCAA tournaments.

They are also a big part of the reason Boyle is now CU's all-time leader in coaching winning percentage with a 128-77 record in his six seasons in Boulder, and why Boyle owns five of CU's nine 20-plus win seasons.

Most importantly, they contributed to an era in which expectations for the program have grown exponentially. Prior to Boyle's arrival, the Buffs had made two NCAA appearances in the previous four decades.

Now, these seniors will leave a program that is expected to be in the mix for an NCAA berth every season.

A brief look at each player:

JOSH SCOTT: When the season began, Boyle said, "You can make an argument that Josh Scott has been the most important recruit we've had since I've been the coach at Colorado. Obviously we've had some great ones. Alec (Burks) and Cory (Higgins) were here when we got here; we signed Andre (Roberson) and Spencer (Dinwiddie). We've signed some great players. But Josh Scott, being an in-state kid, big guy, has been a cornerstone of our program."

Boyle hasn't changed his mind. The Buffs' big man has made his senior year one to remember.

A four-year starter, Scott is a finalist this year for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation's top big man. He will leave with his name firmly etched throughout CU's record books, as he's currently among the all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding, minutes played, double-doubles, games started, blocked shots and free throws made.

He's also leading the Buffs this year in scoring and rebounding. But maybe his most important contribution has been as the clear leader — on the floor and in the locker room — of a team that sorely needed one in the wake of last season's difficult times.

Now, he has one last game in Boulder.

"It's kind of sentimental, sad, bittersweet … I don't know how to describe it," Scott said recently. "This place means the world to me, my teammates mean the world to me, this coaching staff means the world to me. It's just all gone by so fast.

"I don't know that there's one single thing that will be with me as much as the whole experience. I've enjoyed classes here. I've had some great professors, great classmates. It's a great community, a great school and it's honestly a little weird to think won't be living here in another four or five months. I'm just really appreciative for the time and the opportunity I've had at CU-Boulder."

XAVIER TALTON: CU's active leader in games played (currently 130), the CU guard will leave Colorado near the top of the list of most games ever played by a Buff.

Talton has been a key contributor in each of his seasons in Boulder, starting 13 games as a sophomore and 15 last year. He's started just six this year, but has been an extremely valuable cog in the Pac-12 season, playing a key role in some of CU's biggest wins.

"He's brought leadership, consistency," Boyle said "One of the problems we've had this year is consistency and that's why he's moved into the starting lineup, because he's provided some stability and some consistency. He's had his ups and downs like everybody on our team, but the thing about Xavier Talton the last six to eight weeks is he's been dialed in. You can see it in shootarounds, you can see it in scouting reports, you can see it in film sessions, you can see it in practice, you can see it in games. That's what he's brought, that mental stability to a team that really needs it."

Boyle has praised Talton's senior leadership throughout the year, as well as his willingness to play whatever role is asked of him.

"It's been a great learning experience," Talton said. "Coach Boyle and I have talked about being ready to play whenever my number is called, whether it's as a starter or off the bench. It's one of those things that you have to be ready to do whatever you can that's going to help us win a game."

Talton freely admits another NCAA Tournament berth would be the perfect way to cap a career.

"You grow up wanting to be in March Madness," he said. "I've already done that a couple of times, but I want to do it one more time. There's no feeling like it in the world. Being 20, 21 years old, in your prime of athleticism and being able to play the game that you love with the team that you love and coaching staff … that's what college basketball is all about."

ELI STALZER: Stalzer's playing time has diminished as his career has progressed, but his dedication to the program has not. He appeared in 27 games as a sophomore, 19 as a junior and has played in just seven this year — but Boyle said Stalzer's attitude has remained positive throughout his career.

"He hasn't had a chance to play a lot, but he's handled it very, very well," Boyle said. "I think he's accepted his role. One thing we knew about Eli when we recruited him is he had a high degree of character. He's been a great help in practice and he's had a great attitude this year. That's not easy. Every player comes here with the idea and hopes and dreams of playing and playing a lot. For him it didn't work out that way. But that doesn't mean he hasn't helped our program. It doesn't mean I'm not proud of him."

Stalzer has made his most of his time at CU. An accomplished pianist, he'll leave CU with a degree in music along with a richness of basketball memories.

"I'll remember playing in so many big games, so many different environments with a bunch of great guys that I'm confident I'm going to be friends with the rest of my life," Stalzer said. "It's always fun to tell people you've been to the tournament and played in the big dance. I also hope we'll leave a legacy, something that sets the foundation and continues to grow."

BRETT BRADY: A walk-on, Brady has earned the enduring respect of his teammates — and CU fans — for his uncanny 3-point shooting ability and tireless work ethic.

Boyle has a favorite story about Brady from last year's Pac-12 Tournament.

"I'm going into the hotel gym to get a workout, and as I go in, Brett Brady is coming out, just in a full sweat," Boyle said. "This is on game day. I say, 'Brett what are you doing?'

"He says, 'I'm just trying to stay ready, Coach.'"

As Boyle notes, players who don't play much can lose their conditioning if they don't work out on their own on game days. It's not something many players choose to do.

"It speaks volumes of the kid," Boyle said. "He's not playing, he's not in the rotation, but he's preparing himself so if that opportunity comes, he's ready for it. That's the kind of guy he is. Pretty special."

Brady, who is literally a unanimous choice among his teammates as the best H-O-R-S-E player on the team, actually has a year of eligibility remaining, as he did not play his freshman year. He could return next year, or transfer and play one year elsewhere. Boyle, however, said, they will definitely honor Brady on Sunday because of his contributions the last four years.

Brady hasn't decided, but there's no doubt he values his time at Colorado.

"It will no doubt be among my best memories ever," Brady said. "All the players I've played with, all the coaches, the fans — the whole experience has been great. I'm very proud of what we accomplished, and I hope that we've helped create a program that will continue to have success in the future."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu