Fifth-seeded Colorado has drawn Baylor as its first-round opponent Thursday in the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball tournament at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Baylor was seeded No. 12 after Missouri defeated Nebraska 64-63 on Sunday. Baylor, which did not play a nonconference schedule because of NCAA sanctions, finished alone in last place at 4-12. Tipoff for the CU-Baylor game is 1 p.m. MST.
Most basketball observers would contend that Baylor is a more difficult draw than Missouri. Baylor is improving and figures to bring more fans to Dallas. The Bears had won two consecutive games before losing 79-76 at Oklahoma State on Saturday. Baylor led the Cowboys 40-31 at halftime.
CU coach Ricardo Patton said Sunday he wasn’t concerned whether the Buffs drew Baylor or Missouri because “there are no easy games in this league. In the first round you have to come prepared to play and play hard.”
In the only meeting this season, Colorado (19-8, 9-7 Big 12) crushed Baylor 81-48 on Jan. 18 in Boulder. That was the Bears’ third game of the season.
CU sophomore guard Richard Roby called Baylor “a sleeper team” to make a run in the Big 12 Tournament if the Buffs aren’t prepared.
“They’re just getting around (to playing well),” Roby said. “They still probably have fresh legs because they haven’t played too many games.”
A victory over Baylor would send the Buffs into a quarterfinal game at 1 p.m. Friday against fourth-seeded Texas A&M (20-7, 10-6). Texas A&M, which earned a first-round bye, began its current seven-game conference winning streak Feb. 8 with a 61-58 home victory over Colorado.
Colorado needed two blocked shots in the final seconds to hold off Iowa State 84-82 on Saturday in Boulder. The Buffs, 5-5 in their past 10 games, may need at least two victories in the Big 12 Tournament to catch the eye of the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
