California was not kind to the Colorado Buffaloes this past week, included in their 0-2 trip was a blown 15-point lead which they held more than 30 minutes into their matchup with USC. A win in either of those games would have effectively punched the Buffaloes ticket to the “Big Dance,” instead, the Buffs come home with more to prove.

The good news, they have an opportunity to do just that on Wednesday night.

“We’ve put ourself in a good position but we’re also in a position where we need some quality wins down the stretch,” explained head coach Tad Boyle on Monday. “You can’t ask for a more quality win than Arizona.”

Senior guard Xavier Talton explained the team’s mindset as the prepare to bounce back.

“We just have to take care of the next game,” he told. “We have to be better defensively and that’s what coach was talking about today, we watched film, we have to learn from it and move on.”

Talton also admitted this game gives them a little extra juice due to the way Arizona has beaten them in their last four matchups, Arizona winning those bouts by an average of 20 points per contest (27.5 points in Boulder).

“Oh yeah, I mean, the way that they’ve beat us in the past couple years definitely has us out for a little bit of revenge,” he said.

Getting revenge would come with the added bonus of likely putting the finishing touch on a tournament resume. Although Tad Boyle won’t go that far, asked what he thinks his team needs to do to be dancing he answered quickly and clearly.

“I have no idea,” he said straight-faced. “You’re asking the wrong dude, that (question) should go to the selection committee.”

Seniors’ last shot

If revenge and tourney hopes weren’t enough motivation the Buffaloes, this weekend also happens to mark the final homestand for four Colorado seniors, in Brett Brady, Eli Stalzer, Xavier Talton and Josh Scott. While the official Senior Day ceremony will take place on Sunday, the game against Arizona has a different feel to it, the last marquee matchup, the last game in which Coors will have that different level of loud, a chance to get that big-time victory that has seemingly evaded them for over a year.

Because of this, the finality seems to be hitting a little soon.

“Yeah it’s hit me,” admitted Scott. “I won’t even lie, it’s been really sad just thinking about it, knowing that after this week I won’t ever get to put on the uniform and come play in the Coors Events Center, it’s hit me that it’s winding down.”

Talton says he and Scott have finally started to talk about their careers at the Coors Events Center coming to an end.

“He said I’m going to cry but I don’t think I’m going to,” said the guard with a laugh. “I said he’d be the one to shed the tears. . . On the court. Oh, they’ll be on the court.”

“I won’t even lie, I’ve had some sentimental moments the last couple days but it still hasn’t happened,” Scott said of the water works. “I’ll go on record, though, Xavier Talton is going to cry.”

The only person it hasn’t hit may be Boyle.

“I’m trying not to think about Josh Scott’s departure, quite frankly,” he admitted. “I’m in a little bit of a denial so I don’t really want to even think about it.”

Obviously, the real emotion won’t pour out until the final game of the homestand but the seniors are still dealing with the feelings of finality all week, an odd feeling knowing they have a lot more basketball to play.

“I got some advice from former players and they just said, ‘Take it in, enjoy it,'” Scott told. “Obviously, there are a lot of emotions that go into this week but at the same time you have to realize that it’s not the end, you still have a lot of basketball to play. It’s just more sentimentality about Boulder, CU, playing here than anything else but I’m really happy that it’s not the end-end, that’d be awful.”

Scott and his fellow seniors still have, at least, four more games to play in the Black & Gold but Wednesday night, that may just be their last chance for some Coors Magic, for that last truly special moment on Sox Walseth court. A win over a top ten team that has given them fits for the last two years, a win over a the closest thing this team has to a conference rival, a win that the team very much needs on their resume, there would be no better way to kick off their final weekend at The Keg.