Colorado University Athletics
Boyle: Next Year's Buffs Could Be 'Pretty Special'
March 29, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When Tad Boyle was named Colorado's basketball coach six years ago, he talked about building a program of “sustained success.”
Tuesday afternoon, in the wake of CU's fourth NCAA Tournament berth in five years — and CU's sixth postseason appearance in his six years in Boulder — Boyle said he believes the Buffs have established that foundation.
Now, Boyle said, it's time to take the next step.
“We want to move forward and not only get into the NCAA Tournament, but get to the point where we are playing for an NCAA Tournament seed,” Boyle said. “I look at this year's team and I look at the Utah game at home, the Utah game on the road, the USC game on the road — all of those missed opportunities. If we take care of business, instead of being an eight seed, maybe we're a six seed, maybe a five seed — and then maybe we are playing into the second week of the NCAA Tournament and maybe beyond.
“That's where this program, in terms of my vision, is going forward, and I think next year's team has all of the ingredients to be pretty special.”
Indeed, despite losing leading scorer and rebounder and all-Pac-12 first teamer Josh Scott, as well as starting guard Xavier Talton, the Buffs do have a wealth of returning talent next year. The list includes big men Wesley Gordon and Tory Miller, wings Josh Fortune, George King and Tre'Shaun Fletcher, and point guards Dom Collier and Thomas Akyazili. All were key contributors in the just-completed season.
Also returning will be Xavier Johnson, who missed last season rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, as well as transfer Derrick White. It's a group of players Boyle admits is already building expectations, both from within the program and among the fan base, as one that could “make some noise” in the postseason.
“This team has that potential,” Boyle said. “That's our internal expectations and you guys (the media) put those external expectations on us.”
While the returning “known” commodities are plenty of reason for optimism, Boyle is also excited about the potential White, a transfer from UC-Colorado Springs, brings to the table.
“Let's put it this way — he's a special player,” Boyle said. “He is going to be able to affect the game in a lot of different ways. He can score, he can shoot, he can distribute the ball, he can rebound the ball, he can block shots for a guy that's 6'5”, he is a terrific defender. Derrick White is going to have a great year next year, there is no question in my mind. My only wish is that we had him for more than one year.”
But while all the player pieces are in place, there's still one unknown: who will provide the on-court and locker room leadership that fell on Scott's shoulders?
It's a question Boyle will begin addressing as soon as possible.
“As we look to last year's team and this year's team and even next year's team, you all know how important leadership is,” Boyle said. “What I don't know and what the unknown is, is how we are going to replace that leadership. That's going to be the challenge I have to next year's five seniors.”
Buffs fans know what happens when there is a leadership void. Two seasons ago, Colorado struggled to its only losing season in Boyle's tenure when locker room chemistry proved to be an issue the team could never overcome.
“That's the void we have to fill and I have to play an active role in that,” Boyle said. “I can't just wait around and hope it happens. I have to help develop that.”
In the just-completed season, Scott filled that role. His everyday work ethic, on-court performance and locker room leadership were a big reason the Buffs were able to bounce back with a 22-win season and the program's fourth NCAA Tournament berth in five years.
“How we're going to replace that leadership will be the challenge,” Boyle said.
The Buffs will have four fifth-year seniors next season — Gordon, Fortune, Johnson and White — plus fourth-year senior Fletcher. The obvious candidates to begin filling that leadership role are Gordon and Johnson, both of whom have been at CU for all five years of their careers (White and Fortune are transfers).
Somewhere in that mix, Boyle expects leadership to emerge, and he admits he won't be shy in providing a little prodding in the process.
“You've got to walk the walk before you talk the talk,” Boyle said. “(Leaders) have to bring it every single day, and that's the one thing Josh Scott did. When you walk the walk, you have the ability to now talk the talk. You've earned the right to open up your mouth. If you're not coming to practice every day and working your tail off, if you're not going to class or you're not going to study hall or you're not doing the things you're supposed to be doing as a member of this program, you'd better keep your mouth shut.
“That's the challenge that Wesley and XJ are at — and I think they're at the point that they can do that.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
