Colorado University Athletics
CU Seniors End Careers With Legacy Of Success
March 17, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
DES MOINES, Iowa — Colorado seniors Josh Scott, Xavier Talton, Eli Stalzer and Brett Brady finished their careers by accomplishing more than all but a handful of other Buffs in CU history.
They just didn't plan on their careers finishing so abruptly.
The CU seniors suited up in a Buffs uniform for the last time Thursday when Colorado dropped a 74-67 decision to Connecticut in the NCAA South Region opener at Wells Fargo Arena. It was the third NCAA appearance in four years for the seniors, something that only one other class in CU history has accomplished.
"I'm extremely proud of the teammates I've had, the experiences I've had," said Scott, who capped his career with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double, his 13th of the season and 36th of his career. "Been to three NCAA Tournaments, so I'm very proud of that. I came here to try to help this program be on the national radar and we made it to the NCAA Tournament. So I'm very proud."
But one thing Scott and his teammates didn't accomplish in their CU careers was an NCAA Tournament victory.
"Josh is done," said CU head coach Tad Boyle after Thursday's game. "I don't think I've ever coached a young man that I felt this way about at the end of his career in terms of his deserving to move on in this tournament as well as the other three seniors that are with him. But that's not going to happen. We gotta live with it, but I love these guys. I loved coaching them all year long. Really, really disappointed."
Scott leaves with his name scattered liberally throughout the CU record books, including in the top 10 in career scoring (8th), rebounding (3rd), field goals made (8th), free throws made (2nd), free throws attempted (4th), blocked shots (2nd), double-doubles (tied for 5th), games started (3rd) and games played (6th). He added one more record to his name Thursday when his 13 free throws made and 18 attempts broke CU's NCAA Tournament single-game records.
Talton, meanwhile, is now second on CU's list of all-time games played with 135, trailing leader Austin Dufault by one.
"Xavier Talton has had a very good senior year," Boyle said. "He's bounced back from his junior year, but he's shown great toughness. He had a great attitude. Early in the year he wasn't starting. Later in the year he was starting. He is a kid from Colorado who was overlooked in the recruiting process, and for him to play in three NCAA Tournaments and finish his career the way he did as a senior is awful special."
But neither player counted on finishing their careers with another one-and-done appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Both spoke often during the week about wanting to burnish their legacy with a tourney win.
"It's something we talked about, but just couldn't finish," Talton said. "We played well for a half (CU led by nine at intermission), but we just couldn't finish. But we did play in three tournaments, and we left the program in good shape. They'll be back next year, and it's nice to know that we kind of set the stage for the success of this program."
Boyle will no doubt miss Scott, both as a player and as a team leader. Scott played a major role this season in helping the Buffs bounce back from a sub-par, 16-18 finish at year ago.
"He's grown in so many different ways, and that's why you coach, is to see that transformation of these young men from freshman year to their senior year," Boyle said. "He gives it everything he's got. When a guy loves it that much and cares that much and has done so much to help the program and his teammates, Josh went through the locker room and gave every guy a hug. Not sure I've seen a senior do that. They were waiting for someone else to give them a hug, but he's shown great leadership this year."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
