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In a perfect world, Jose Winston never would have left the University of Colorado.
But life beckoned back home, and in the end the move worked out well for both sides.
Winston, one of the all-time assist leaders for the CU men\u2019s basketball team, returns to the CU Events Center Tuesday night as an assistant coach with Milwaukee, which takes on the 25th-ranked Buffaloes in a solid nonconference test for CU (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Despite his impressive CU career, and being part of a core group that eventually reached the NCAA Tournament in 2003, Winston spent his senior year with the program he now works for. A Milwaukee native, said this week he agonized over a decision to transfer but ultimately felt he was needed back home due to family circumstances.
\u201cI had some things going on with family that kind of sparked that,\u201d Winston said. \u201cIt was probably the most difficult decision I\u2019ve ever made. I was embedded here in Colorado. I loved Boulder. I loved the school. I love coach (Ricardo) Patton. He is still to me a father figure. I loved all my teammates. But my family needed me.\u201d
Winston played in 95 games with the Buffs (65 starts) and despite playing just three seasons at CU, he remains fourth on the program\u2019s career assists list with 440, trailing three four-year players in McKinley Wright IV (683), Jay Humphries (562) and Mike Reid (446). Winston also holds the program records for assists in a game (15 against Coppin State on Jan. 2, 2001), assists in a season (194 in 2000-01) and single-season assist average (6.5, also in 200-01).
Winston won three state titles as a prep star in Milwaukee and, after sitting out a season per the defunct NCAA transfer rules, he once again helped bring hoops glory to his hometown, as Milwaukee (then known as Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and coached by current Auburn coach Bruce Pearl) earned the program\u2019s first ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2003.
Winston returned to campus a few years ago when the CU program honored the Patton-era Buffs during an alumni weekend, and he is in his second season as an assistant at Milwaukee.
\u201cI\u2019ve been back to Colorado multiple times. I really love the university,\u201d Winston said. \u201cThe university did so much for me and my growth and my development. The mentorship from coach Patton and the other coaches and the professors. And just Boulder in general, it\u2019s just awesome.\u201d
Milwaukee is coming off a 79-69 defeat at Providence, making a second-half run despite finishing just 3-for-17 on 3-pointers.
Former CU assistant Kim English is in his first season as the head coach at Providence, with former Buffs guard\/staff member Nate Tomlinson serving as an assistant coach. CU head coach Tad Boyle said he picked the brains of English and Tomlinson heading into the Tuesday night matchup in Boulder.
\u201cCoach (Bill) Grier has talked to Nate. I\u2019ve talked to Kim,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cWe knew they were playing Providence before us back earlier in the fall, so we\u2019ve been preparing for that. Milwaukee, they\u2019ve got a lot of different weapons. They\u2019re better shooters than they\u2019ve shown in the first two games, and we know that.\u201d
Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy is starting his second season in charge of the program, and he helped author an impressive turnaround for the Panthers last year.
Milwaukee was the 10th-most improved team in Division I basketball last year, jumping from 10 wins in 2021 to 22 wins. The Panther set program records for total points (2,659), blocked shots (186), field goals (944) field goals attempted (2,062), rebound average (39.1) and total rebounds (1,330). Milwaukee also led the Horizon League in defensive field goal percentage at .408, which ranked second in program history. Milwaukee returns four starters from that squad.
The game against Milwaukee is considered part of the Sunshine Slam, which continues for both teams next week in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Buffs play Richmond on Monday and face either Florida State or UNLV the following day. \u2026 The Buffs are ranked for the 56th time overall in program history. \u2026 KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva, Luke O\u2019Brien and Julian Hammond III are the only current Buffs who played in CU\u2019s home win against Milwaukee two years ago. O\u2019Brien enjoyed the best game of the bunch, going 4-for-5 with nine points and two rebounds in just 10 minutes off the bench.
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