Tag: Tad Boyle

Tad Boyle quietly owns one of college basketball’s top 2024 recruiting classes

Tad Boyle’s 2024 recruiting class has quietly become one of college basketball’s top-ranked groups

Ever so quietly, Colorado men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle has put together one of the nation’s top 2024 recruiting classes.

Following the commitment of four-star shooting guard Felix Kossaras on Tuesday, the Buffs’ four-deep class now ranks No. 9 overall, according to 247Sports. In-state combo guard Andrew Crawford, Slovakian forward Sebastian Rancik and Texas center Doryan Onwuchekwa represent Colorado’s other three pledges.

Kossaras, Boyle’s latest and likely final 2024 addition, is a taller guard at 6-foot-5 (some list him as 6-foot-6) who hails from Fort Erie International in Ontario, Canada. His other college offers include Ole Miss, Temple, Missouri, Santa Clara and Wichita State.

The 247Sports Composite ranks Kossaras as the No. 101 overall prospect in his class and the No. 19 shooting guard.

With KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva and Cody Williams highlighting this season’s squad, Boyle has the Buffs set up for long-term success as well.

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Quotes: Tad Boyle previews Colorado’s 2023-24 squad at winter sports media day

With the season opener looming, Tad Boyle gave his thoughts on Colorado’s highly-talented 2023-24 squad

The expectations for this season’s Colorado men’s basketball team are about as high as I can remember in my five-plus years covering the Buffs.

Coming off back-to-back NIT appearances, the Buffs, at least on paper, appear primed to finally crack the NCAA Tournament field. Colorado’s first focus, though, is on winning the Pac-12 in its final year as a member.

On Tuesday, head coach Tad Boyle and his players gave their thoughts on the upcoming season during CU’s annual winter sports media day. Everyone who spoke shared a similar level of optimism and a recognition that their goals won’t be met without hard work.

Below are some of Boyle’s best quotes from Tuesday:

CU men’s basketball below full strength early in preseason camp

Tad Boyle’s squad began preseason camp on Monday with a few key players looking to get healthy

With as much attention as the Colorado football team is currently drawing, the Buffs men’s basketball team should draw plenty of eyeballs as well in their upcoming 2023-2024 season.

Top prospect and projected NBA lottery pick Cody Williams is a huge reason why, and head coach Tad Boyle is trying to do whatever it takes to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Buffs, however, held their first preseason practice on Monday without a few prominent names, per Nikki Edwards of CU Sports Report.

J’Vonne Hadley is dealing with an illness but should be back later in the week. KJ Simpson, who should be one of the Pac-12’s top point guards this season, has an ankle injury and Eddie Lampkin Jr., a center who transferred in from TCU, has a back injury that is going to keep him out for some time.

None of that is good news, although the situations with Hadley and Simpson are temporary and Lampkin is expected to be ready when the season begins.

As training camp continues, it will be interesting to see if the Buffs can stay healthy heading into the season, especially with high expectations.

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Tad Boyle speaks on returning to Big 12 basketball

Tad Boyle on Colorado moving to the Big 12: “The basketball job at Colorado got harder, but it got better”

Like the University of Colorado itself, Tad Boyle has his own roots in the Big 12, which is set to welcome the Buffs back next summer.

Colorado’s longtime men’s basketball head coach spent his college years playing in the Big 8 at Kansas and his first season leading the Buffs coincided with the school’s final year as a Big 12 member — until now.

Boyle gave BuffZone’s Pat Rooney some of his thoughts on moving back to the Big 12:

“I remember thinking 12 years ago that we’re leaving a really good league and we’re going into a really good league. I would probably say the same thing now,” Boyle told BuffZone. “It’s a great basketball league, the Big 12 is. So it’s exciting. The basketball job at Colorado got harder, but it got better.

“There’s a lot of things I miss about the Big 12, and that’s where our roots are. But I’m going to miss the Pac-12. I certainly enjoyed playing in that league and competing in that league. And I’m looking forward to doing it for one more year for sure. It’s a unique situation with us now and UCLA and USC being our last year.”

Additionally, Boyle speculated on how things will change for his program in regard to recruiting. He said that while Colorado prospects remain the Buffs’ top priority, the “secondary priority” will likely shift back from California to Texas.

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College coaches taking notice of Colorado’s recruiting abilities

Other men’s basketball coaches across the country are taking notice of Colorado’s ability to recruit

The Colorado men’s basketball team missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons. However, head coach Tad Boyle has done an overall solid job in a tough Pac-12 Conference.

Heading into next season, the Buffs have incoming freshman Cody Williams, a top recruit in his class with some legitimate 2024 NBA draft hype.

With that, Colorado has become a well-known program in the recruiting world, and its ability to evaluate talent is a big reason why. Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports revealed which college men’s basketball programs are catching the attention of coaches when it comes to recruiting, and the Buffs made the list:

An SEC Coach: “Colorado is one that, if I hear they have offered someone, it gets my attention.”

The Buffs have had plenty of big names come in and out of the program recently, although the addition of Williams, who is already projected as a lottery pick by some, is surely going to attract the eyes of people across the country.

With Deion Sanders rejuvenating the football program, CU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are also starting to gain some attention, and the future looks bright for athletic director Rick George in Boulder.

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Tad Boyle, Cody Williams help USA U19 team to first FIBA Men’s World Cup win

Cody Williams had a well-rounded performance in Team USA’s first FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup win

With head coach Tad Boyle on the sidelines and Cody Williams on the court, the USA Basketball U19 men’s national team secured its first 2023 FIBA World Cup win, defeating Madagascar, 136-69, on Saturday.

The 136 points scored marked a new single-game high for a USA U19 team.

Williams, who was in Boulder earlier this month for Colorado men’s basketball summer workouts, scored nine points with seven rebounds, one block and a steal in his FIBA World Cup debut.

Class of 2024 prospect Tre Johnson and Villanova’s Mark Armstrong led the Americans with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Last summer’s Boyle-led USA U19 team cruised to a gold medal and it appears that this 2023 group has the potential to repeat.

USA takes the court again on Sunday against Slovenia at noon MT. You can watch Boyle’s USA team live here.

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Tad Boyle remains confident in Buffs’ backcourt depth following loss of Javon Ruffin

Losing Javon Ruffin stings, but Tad Boyle remains confident in the Buffs’ backcourt depth

While losing Javon Ruffin to a season-ending injury certainly stings for the Colorado men’s basketball team, head coach Tad Boyle remains confident in the Buffs’ backcourt depth.

When All-Pac-12 point guard KJ Simpson is on the court, Julian Hammond III is Colorado’s best option at the two-spot, but Boyle said he’s comfortable allowing Tristan da Silva, Luke O’Brien and incoming five-star freshman Cody Williams to play more of an off-guard role (h/t BuffZone):

“I’m comfortable because of the guys we have,” Boyle told BuffZone. “Luke, Cody, Tristan, who’s really shooting the ball well. Julian Hammond, I gained a lot of confidence in him. You’ve got to put five on the floor, but basketball now is more position-less. We can play four out and one in. Sometimes we’ll play five out if Eddie (Lampkin) isn’t on the floor. We’ve got a lot of guys that can shoot threes, spread the floor.

Freshman RJ Smith, who redshirted last season, and the now-healthy J’Vonne Hadley are other options for Boyle at guard.

Boyle, however, added that the Buffs will likely rely more on walk-ons during practices next season.

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Cody Williams earns roster spot on Tad Boyle’s USA U19 Men’s National Team

Cody Williams is officially joining Tad Boyle in Hungary for the FIBA U19 World Cup

The Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team will be even more fun to watch this upcoming season with top-ranked recruit Cody Williams coming to town.

Williams is a 2024 NBA draft choice in the making, who is now set to play for the USA U19 Men’s National Team this summer under his new head coach Tad Boyle. USA Basketball revealed its U19 roster on Friday and Williams made the cut. Here is the entire roster that was announced:

  • Mark Armstrong
  • Tobe Awaka
  • Myles Colvin
  • Eric Dailey Jr.
  • Omaha Biliew
  • Dylan Harper
  • Kylan Boswell
  • Ian Jackson
  • Tre Johnson
  • Ven-Allen Lubin
  • Asa Newell
  • Cody Williams

This team will compete at the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup Championship in Hungary from June 24-July 2, so Buffs fans will get another live look at their five-star freshman from afar.

There were 35 players fighting for 12 spots, but it’s not surprising to see Williams make the team, and he should see a lot of minutes for Team USA this summer.

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Tad Boyle unsure whether he’ll fill Colorado’s open scholarship spot

Tad Boyle remains unsure whether he’ll fill Colorado’s open scholarship spot

With summer workouts now underway, Colorado men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle is unsure whether or not he’ll fill his program’s last open scholarship spot.

In April, the Buffs added former TCU post Eddie Lampkin Jr. and later hosted Grand Canyon transfer Chance McMillian, who ultimately committed to Texas Tech. But without much reported action since then, Boyle may just be content leaving his open scholarship available entering the 2023-24 season.

“We may fill it, we may not fill it,” Boyle told BuffZone’s Pat Rooney. “I don’t know the answer to that.”

Rooney added that the Buffaloes would likely benefit from either a strong 3-point shooter or a two-guard with Nique Clifford gone and Javon Ruffin recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Colorado remains in solid shape, though, and is projected to reach the NCAA Tournament.

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Tad Boyle, Cody Williams gearing up for USA Basketball

Cody Williams could play for Tad Boyle this summer on the USA Basketball U19 Men’s National Team

Although summer workouts just recently began for the Colorado men’s basketball team, the Buffs will have a full team and coaching staff for only a short time as both head coach Tad Boyle and freshman small forward Cody Williams will be leaving for the USA U19 Men’s National Team Training Camp on June 11.

Boyle is back with USA Basketball and is leading the U19 team after winning the gold medal with the U18 team last summer. This year marks the fifth time that Boyle has either led or assisted with a USA Basketball team.

Williams was one of 35 players invited to the U19 camp hoping to secure one of the 12 roster spots. This will be his first experience with USA Basketball.

The U19 team will compete at the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup Championship, which runs from June 24-July 2 in Debrecen, Hungary.

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