As hard as everybody connected with the Colorado men’s basketball team took the snub of CU by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said he felt just about as much pain.
Turgeon played alongside CU coach Tad Boyle in the Kansas backcourt under Larry Brown in the 1980s and later hired Boyle to his staffs at Jacksonville (Ala.) State and Wichita State.
Turgeon called Boyle on Sunday night to lend support as a friend. Texas A&M is a No. 7 seed in the Southwest Regional and Turgeon said he still can’t believe Colorado isn’t also among the 37 at-large teams among the 68-team field.
“I was probably more upset for Tad than I was happy for us,” Turgeon said Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “When the selection show was done, I got up and talked to the team. I was down. I was just stunned that Colorado wasn’t in.”
Turgeon said he got a sinking feeling that Colorado might be in trouble when, earlier in the selection show, Texas came up as only a No. 4 seed. The Longhorns had been projected earlier in the year as a potential No. 1 seed, and had been slotted no worse than a No. 2 by some “bracketologists.”
“When I saw Texas was a 4, I knew we were all in trouble,” Turgeon said. “I turned around to my wife and I said, ‘Tad’s not going to get in.’
“But Tad is not a guy that sits around and cries and feels sorry for himself. He’s a guy that moves on. He’s a tough guy. He’s disappointed for his seniors. And I’m disappointed for him, personally. I thought he did a tremendous job with his team.”
Several other coaches expressed empathy to Boyle on the teleconference.
“I’m hurting for Tad,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “When you’re talking about Colorado … you could make a case that they had the best wins in our league this year. Texas beat us, but other than that (including beating Kansas State three times and Texas once), those were some of the best wins in our league.”
Said Texas coach Rick Barnes: “My thoughts were for (Colorado’s players). I don’t think anybody would want to play them in the NCAA Tournament, or anywhere, really.
“You have to give Tad and his staff credit for a year when they’ve really made great strides. I’ve been there, when (when his team at Providence wasn’t selected). It’s even worse today, with all the stuff leading to the NCAA Tournament this week.
“I’m sure they thought they were in (the NCAA Tournament). I think everyone in our league thought they were in. When it doesn’t happen, honestly one of the toughest things I had to tell my team that we didn’t make it. So I know they’re devastated. But they’ll handle it right, and they’ll prepare for the NIT.”
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler on the Buffs missing out: “I would think the Big 12 office is shaking its head. I know the coaches are.”
Footnote.
CU guard Alec Burks has been named one of 20 finalists for the Wooden Award, given annualy to college basketball’s top player.
The sophomore is one of four Big 12 players on the list. He averaged 25.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game during the Big 12 tournament.
The winner will be announced April 8.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
