Wind the clock back a year, and the CU Men’s Basketball Team was sputtering. A 5-1 start slipped to a 10-9 record by the middle of January and star forward Josh Scott was battling injury. Twelve months later, the Buffs are winning and Scott has been crowned Pac-12 Player of the Week. What a difference a year can make.

Scott, a 6-foot-10 native of Monument, Colo., averaged a double-double in two key victories this past week. The Buffs took care of Oregon State 71-54 behind Scott’s season-high 25 points before outlasting Oregon 91-87. Scott averaged a double-double, shot a combined 61 percent from the field, and converted 13 of 21 free throws in the two victories.

While Scott’s individual achievements are remarkable, it is more important that his performance has his team winning again. Last year, Scott nursed a back injury for much of the season; not coincidentally, the Buffs struggled. They finished 16-18, and a 7-11 record in the Pac-12 tied them for eighth in the conference. The Buffs missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.

With Scott back in the fold, the Buffs (14-4, 3-2 Pac-12) may be dancing come March. The Pac-12 has sent at least four teams to the tournament in the past three years, so strong conference play from the Buffs may be enough to guarantee a spot in the bracket. Heading into road games at Washington (Wed.) and Washington State Sat.), the Buffs hold that fourth place spot in the conference.

Scott’s play is producing wins for the Buffs, but it is also catching the eye of the NCAA’s awards brass. A candidate for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, given to the nation’s top big man, Scott has delivered impressive numbers all season. He currently sits in the top five for scoring (17.8 ppg), rebounds (9.8 rpg) and field goal percentage (.575) in the Pac-12.

Head coach Tad Boyle, who is also gunning for votes for The Infinity Coaches’ Challenge, was quick to praise even a “normal” performance from Scott, like the 17 points and 11 rebounds he contributed against Oregon.

“Its almost like you take the guy for granted,” said Boyle, speaking to the CU Buffs website following the victory against Oregon.

The Buffs will play a pivotal game Wednesday when the take on conference leading Washington (12-5, 4-1 Pac-12) in Seattle, before taking on Washington St. (9-8, 1-4 Pac-12) this Saturday.