If you asked an average CU fan to name the golden age of Colorado men’s basketball, the most common answer would likely be “since Tad Boyle was hired.”
On the surface, it would be hard to argue with them. Whenever Tad’s accomplishments as CU head coach are rattled off by a broadcaster, sportswriter, or twitter user, the impression we get is that Boulder was a basketball wasteland before he arrived. After all, he owns twice as many 20-win seasons (eight) in 11 years as head coach as all his predecessors combined. He’s now led the Buffs to five NCAA tournaments (and it would be six if last year’s edition had taken place) when the program had participated in just two in the four decades before his arrival.