Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
Unless Tad Boyle intends to keep coaching until 2041, he’s closer to the finish line of his career than the starting block. That’s all but certain to be true. But Boyle says he isn’t ready for the stretch run just yet. The Colorado men’s basketball team opens its 16th season under Boyle against Montana State on Monday night, with the Buffaloes set to hit the floor with 10 players that have never played a minute at CU. Boyle already has coached more games (516) and won more (312) than any coach in program history. Asked on the eve of his 16th season if milestones like season-openers are moments to be savored a little more than during his early coaching days, Boyle reiterated those finish line-like thoughts haven’t entered his mind. “I don’t even think in those terms. I really don’t,” said Boyle, who turns 63 in January. “I love what I’m doing. I’ve got great energy. Knock on wood, my health is good. I’ve got gas in the tank, there’s no doubt about it. I don’t even think about the end, to be honest with you. “I’ll know when it’s here. And when it’s here I’ve got to be honest enough with myself. But I’m not even close. I don’t even think about it.” Boyle said he in some ways is a more mellow coach than the one who took over the program ahead of the 2010-11 season. Asked how so, Boyle said to refer to assistants Evan Battey or Nate Tomlinson, both of whom played for Boyle’s Buffs. “I think with all guys, it’s just the wisdom,” said Tomlinson, who was a junior guard on Boyle’s first CU team. “I think when he first came in here, he was trying to change the culture and shift the identity of the team to how he likes it, and that’s defense and rebounding. We didn’t always have that identity early on in his career. We won a lot of games that first year, but it was because we were outscoring teams. There was a lot of games when we were winning and he wasn’t happy. We saw that fire and determination in his eyes to change this program into a tough, defensive-minded team. “I think that shifted over the years. At times it doesn’t happen, and he snaps. So he’s still got it. He’s still got that fire and intensity. It just doesn’t come out as much because he likes what he’s seeing. He’s still got the fire. Still got the competitiveness. And his values haven’t changed.” Notable Per a tally compiled by CU media relations, the Buffs have 17 former players playing professionally internationally (not counting the five with NBA contracts). … CU is 98-24 all-time in home openers, with wins in 17 in a row. … Montana State leads the all-time series 6-2. Three of those CU losses occurred on three consecutive days at Montana State to close the 1929-30 season, but the Bobcats also won early-season nonconference games at the Events Center in 1994 and 2008, with another home win against the Buffs in 1998. CU finally broke the spell with an overtime win against Montana State in the teams’ previous meeting in the opener of the 2021-22 season. … CU’s radio team of Mark Johnson and Scott Wilke will shift to the TV side to call the game on ESPN+. Jerry Schemmel will pinch-hit on the radio broadcast (KOA 850 and 94.1 FM).
