Colorado basketball fans were treated to a rare inside view of the Buffaloes’ program on game day during the broadcast of Saturday’s win at Oregon State. That insight revealed once again how the chemistry of the 2019-20 Buffs clicks on a number of levels.
For Saturday’s 69-47 win, head coach Tad Boyle agreed to take part in Fox Sports 1’s All Access series. Boyle and his Oregon State counterpart, Wayne Tinkle, not only wore live microphones throughout the contest, but their in-game chatter was highlighted ahead of broadcasters Aaron Goldsmith and Casey Jacobsen.
Additionally, viewers were taken inside the timeout huddles of both teams and into the locker rooms. For the Buffs, it was clear that Boyle’s rule over program hardly is an authoritarian one. His assistants and even the players often were the ones talking about adjustments and offering encouragement before the Buffs returned to the floor.
“It’s definitely (Boyle’s) style, without a doubt,” said associate head coach Mike Rohn, who has been at CU for all of Boyle’s 10 seasons and also coached alongside him at Wichita State. “And always has been as long as we’ve known each other and worked together. It’s definitely how he wants it to be. Compared to other people, it’s ultimately what you’d like to have, in my opinion. But there are different styles, without a doubt. There might be some games where his voice may be more dominant. It works really well for him.
“He always talks about the fact it’s not his team. It’s the players’ team, it’s everyone’s program. The more you have ownership, the more you feel like you have a voice and that your voice matters. Some teams may have a little more voice than others. This team I think really does because they’re a little older. They kind of know how to coach themselves a little bit.”
One timeout saw point guard McKinley Wright IV, then taking one of his few breathers from the action, reminding teammates of a particular defensive adjustment. The assistant coaches piped in during almost every timeout, and even little-used but very cerebral backup forward Alex Strating spoke up at halftime.
“I think that’s a good thing, when they’re coaching each other, so to speak, and holding each other accountable,” assistant coach Bill Grier said. “McKinley certainly does it because he’s got a strong voice. Evan (Battey) does it a lot. Evan will do it when coach is out, or the staff is out, Evan sometimes will sit down with them and talk to them and just remind them about things that they’re supposed to be doing. That’s the great thing I think about this group.”
Schwartz recovering
Junior D’Shawn Schwartz was not available after the Buffs’ light workout on Monday, as he was getting another evaluation on his injured nose. “He’s actually seeing a doctor this afternoon,” Boyle said. “I’ll have a little bit better feel for it (Tuesday).” Schwartz is expected to play Thursday against USC (7 p.m., ESPN2), but he may be fitted with a protective mask.
