BOULDER — Now that Tad Boyle's Colorado Buffaloes know when their season will begin, they can get down to the business of preparing to pursue the goal that was yanked from their hands last March.
That, of course, is an NCAA Tournament bid, something CU was in line to receive before the Covid-19 shutdown ended college basketball's postseason before it ever began.
It has no doubt created a sense of unfinished business for the Buffs, who got the news last week from the Pac-12 that the conference will allow its basketball programs — men's and women's — to begin play Nov. 25.
Now the serious work begins.
"The veterans, the guys that were here last year, they know how it ended," said Boyle, who is entering his 11th year in Boulder. "They know what we weren't allowed to do at the NCAA Tournament and I think it's going to be a fire in their belly — at least I hope it is between now and the next time we get back there, which should be this year. We have an NCAA Tournament team."
Boyle isn't afraid to put that expectation on his team's shoulders this early because he truly believes this could be a special bunch, despite the loss of some key pieces from last year's squad.
He knows his squad will have to replace the rebounding and athleticism of Tyler Bey, who opted to leave CU after his junior season and is being projected as a possible first round NBA pick. He knows he will have to replace the scoring and leadership of departed seniors Lucas Siewert and Shane Gatling.
But Boyle also knows he has a very, very key ingredient returning in senior point guard McKinley Wright. A two-time All-Pac-12 performer who has been the Buffs' floor leader the last three seasons, Wright has been called one of the top 10 returning players in the nation and will almost certainly be on every national award watch list when the season begins.
Wright tested the NBA waters over the summer before deciding to return for his senior year. The chance to play in an NCAA Tournament — something he has yet to do — proved to be a factor in his decision to stay in Boulder.
"I'm looking forward to coming back and competing for a Pac-12 championship," Wright said in August after announcing his decision to play one more year with the Buffs. "Last year we were first in the Pac-12 for a while, then went on that five-game losing streak. That didn't define us. But once that season was washed away we were really looking forward to getting back to ourselves and making a run to the NCAA Tournament."
Indeed, the Buffs didn't have the kind of stretch run they wanted to end their regular season last spring. They finished with four straight conference losses, then lost their Pac-12 tourney opener.
Still, it was still a season that produced 21 regular season wins (tied for the most in program history), a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12 and 13 weeks in the AP top 25.
But Boyle's optimism for a repeat performance — or better — doesn't hinge on just Wright. Other key returnees include senior forward D'Shawn Schwartz and junior forward Evan Battey, both regulars in the starting lineup last year. Also back are seniors Dallas Walton, Maddox Daniels and Alexander Strating, and junior Eli Parquet, each of whom were solid contributors last year.
Yet one more reason for Boyle's positive outlook?
An incoming recruiting class that he believes has several players who could become regular contributors in a hurry.
"I really like our freshman class," Boyle said. "Jabari Walker and Tristan da Silva (both 6-foot-8 forwards) are long and athletic. Luke O'Brien (a 6-7 guard) is shooting the ball extremely well. Nique Clifford (6-5 guard) is long and athletic. And Jeriah Horne (a 6-7 grad transfer from Tulsa) is big."
But the new faces — at least new to game day — don't stop with the newcomers. Boyle and Wright are also particularly high on 6-2 guard Keeshawn Barthelemy, a late signee last year who redshirted and is expected to give Colorado one of the best one-two backcourt punches in the Pac-12.
"I expect a lot from Keeshawn and he knows that," Wright said. "He's going to show off this year and show everybody what he can do. He's an athletic point guard/combo guard. It will be fun being in the backcourt with him, be off the ball some, creating stuff for him and him creating stuff for me. He's a really good passer. I have to get my assist numbers up because he'll be coming for my records."
"We've got some pieces," Boyle said. "Now we're going to need some of those freshmen to step up as the year goes on. And with Covid, the other thing that is unknown, is if we have some setbacks along the way with some positive tests, the depth of this team will be tested."
Indeed, the looming possibility of players missing time because of a positive test is a new obstacle every coach in the nation will have to negotiate. Boyle is hopeful that the NCAA will see fit to provide some "help" in that area by allowing basketball to follow the steps of football and give freshmen an opportunity to play a predetermined number of games and still redshirt.
Football started the practice two years ago. Players can participate in up to four games per season and still maintain their redshirt status for that season.
Such a rule in basketball would be a huge help in a season in which the coronavirus could sideline players for two weeks at a time and create depth problems for even the deepest of teams.
"We have a couple freshmen that it may be in their best interest to redshirt this year," Boyle said. "But if they're allowed to play in a few games here or there, it could help us through the Covid situation and also help in their development. I'm hopeful that happens."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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With Season Now On Horizon, Boyle's Buffs Have Plenty Of Reason For Optimism - University of Colorado Athletics - CUBuffs.com
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