Oregon spoils Tad Boyle’s ‘homecoming’

EUGENE, Ore. — This wasn’t the homecoming Tad Boyle was hoping for.

Colorado missed a chance for its 20th win and Boyle still needs one more victory to get to 100 for his career as a head coach after the Buffs 90-81 loss to Oregon on Thursday night at Matthew Knight Arena.

This is where Boyle’s family life and college basketball career began.

Boyle gave up a well-paying job as an investor in Boulder to pursue his collegiate coaching dreams as low-paid Oregon assistant for Jerry Green from 1994-97.

During that period, Boyle and his new bride Ann had their wedding reception at Autzen Stadium.

“When you’re making $16,000 a year and you’re working for the athletic department, you’re looking for any deal you can get,” Boyle said with a laugh before CU fell to 19-10 overall and 11-6 in the pac-12. “That was really what it came down to. … That seems like another lifetime ago.”

Back in those days, the Ducks played at legendary McArthur Court, which was considered one of the most intimidating arenas in the country.

Boyle returned to “Mac Court” as the head coach of Northern Colorado and the Bears nearly escaped with an upset On Nov. 14, 2008, losing 66-64.

“I thought Mac Court was one of the greatest college basketball facilities, and I’ve seen a lot of them,” Boyle said. “But it’s not about me. It’s about our team.”

When asked about Mac Court, one longtime Oregon fan told the Camera the old venue was worth “at least seven points” a game.

And the shiny new, 12,369 seat, $227 million Matthew Knight Arena?

“Maybe five points.”

The lower bowl at the new arena is actually closer to the floor and the seats are steeper than at Mac Court.

The unique court design, which is decorated with a Nike-looking forest, is an ode to Oregon’s 1939 NCAA championship team, which was nicknamed the “Tall Firs.”

And there are four times as many bathrooms and better amenities in the new digs.

“McArthur Court was there for a long time, but our fans seem to have made the adjustment pretty quick,” Altman said during an interview with the Camera at the Pac-12 media day in October. “They like the arena. It has some similarities to the old arena, but it’s much more fan friendly.

“There were some people that were dragging their heels a little bit, but I think once they got in the new building it’s very fan friendly.”

CU athletic director Mike Bohn was at Matt Knight Arena, checking out Oregon’s facilities and supporting the Buffs. Ann Boyle also made the trip.

Dufault milestone

Austin Dufault scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds to give him 1,001 points and 501 boards for his career.

The senior forward is the 19th player in CU history to rack up 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

Andre Roberson grabbed eight more rebounds to give him 327 on the season. The sophomore forward is 20 boards away from breaking the single-season CU record set by Burdette Haldorson (346, 1954-55).

Notable

The Ducks improved to 14-3 at home with Utah visiting on Saturday. … All of the games not televised at the Pac-12 Tournament next week in Los Angeles will be streamed live at YouTube.com/pac12conf. … The Buffs will bus to Corvallis for a practice today ahead of Saturday’s regular-season game at Oregon State.