Buffs Hoops Notes: Boyle Promotes Rohn To Associate Head Coach

BOULDER — Colorado basketball coach Tad Boyle announced Wednesday that he has promoted longtime assistant Mike Rohn to Associate Head Coach.

Rohn has been with Boyle for his entire tenure in Boulder, and the two are entering their eighth year working together with the Buffs.

"He's earned that title," Boyle said at Wednesday's Media Day press conference. "He's a guy that's going to be a tremendous head coach. Much like our players, we want (our assistants) to move on and have success. Mike Rohn has everything it takes to be a great head coach. Coach (Bill) Grier, who replaced Coach (Rodney) Billups on our staff, has been a head coach for eight years. Coach (Kim) English, who just replaced Coach (Jean) Prioleau, is a guy who's got a tremendous future ahead of him. I've never felt as comfortable and as confident in our staff as I do today."

Rohn and Director of Operations Bill Cartun are now the only two members of Boyle's staff who have been with him since he took the Colorado job. Former assistant Rodney Billups left two years ago to take the head coaching job in Denver and Prioleau departed over the summer to take the top job at San Jose State.

EXPECTATIONS FOR KING: Buffs senior George King led Colorado in rebounding last season and was third in scoring.

He'll be expected to improve on those scoring numbers this year — but the biggest step the Buffs need from him may come in the leadership department on a team brimming with youngsters.

"What we need from George is leadership and consistency," Boyle said. "He has to be that consistent, stable guy, who knows he's been there, knows he's done that. He has to give those freshmen that rock that they can look to, especially when things get tough."

King two years ago was voted the Pac-12's Most Improved Player, but last year saw his scoring average take a dip as Derrick White and Xavier Johnson led the Buffs. King will no doubt get his opportunities to score this year, but Boyle also wants to make sure King knows his guidance on the floor will be equally important.

"He can't be thinking about just George King, and I think that's the leap a lot of players have to make going from underclassman to upperclassman," Boyle said. "To get into that leadership role, he has to get out of himself. (He has to) get over himself, get out of himself, and see the big picture with this team – to set the example, but now hold his teammates accountable to that example."

BOARD DUTIES: Boyle said senior Tory Miller-Stewart has been having his best camp yet when it comes to rebounding.

"The biggest thing I've talked about with Tory is accepting who he is and not trying to be somebody he's not," Boyle said. "I think he's starting to understand that. He's rebounding the ball better than he's ever rebounded the ball. The scrimmages we've had, the stats we keep in practice, he's been our best offensive rebounder – something we've challenged him to do. He's finishing around the basket, his body is good, he looks good, he feels good. Hopefully this can be a breakout year for not only Tory, but also Dom (Collier) as well. But Tory has really rebounded the ball well."

WRIGHT SQUARED: It's quite possible the Buffs will have two Wrights in the starting lineup — freshman point guard McKinley Wright IV and junior transfer Namon Wright.

Namon Wright transferred from Missouri and sat out last season, but it was a less than ideal situation, even for a redshirt transfer. Wright suffered a foot injury and missed much of last year.

Now, however, he is healthy and could be a big part of CU's lineup at the shooting guard spot. At Mizzou, Wright averaged 9.6 points and a team-best 5.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, starting in 25 of 31 games.

"Hopefully I can be a good catch-and-shooter, a good driver, solid defender, a great rebounder, and a great teammate," Wright said. "I look at myself as a big guard. Wherever I am at on the floor, even if it is the 10th man, I will go in and play as hard as I can for my team."

SCHEDULE: Buffs fan will be able to get their first glimpse of the Buffs on Oct. 30, when CU hosts Colorado Mines in a 7 p.m. game at the Coors Events Center.

CU officially opens the season Nov. 10 (Friday) with a 6 p.m. home game against Northern Colorado, followed by a November 14 home game against Denver. The game with the Pioneers will mark the return of former CU assistant Rodney Billups, now the Pioneers' head coach, and former CU head coach Ricardo Patton, now a DU assistant coach.

CU will also play in the Paradise Jam in Lynchburg, Va., a tournament that was originally scheduled to be played in the Virgin Islands but was moved because of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Other teams in the tournament include Quinnipiac, Wake Forest and Drake.

CU's non-conference home schedule also includes tilts with Air Force, New Mexico, San Diego and South Dakota State; with road games at Colorado State and Xavier and a neutral-site game in Sioux Falls, S.D., vs. Iowa.

The Buffs open Pac-12 play Dec. 29 at Oregon State. Colorado's first home conference game will be a Jan. 18 game against Washington State.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu