Fast starts have never been a problem for the Colorado women’s basketball team under the direction of head coach JR Payne.
The third-year coach of the Buffaloes has her team at 10-1 with Pac-12 play on the horizon. The Buffs host Utah (11-0) in the conference opener Sunday at CU Events Center.
For Payne, this is nothing new. The Buffs went 10-1 in nonconference play her first season and then 9-2 a year ago.
The next step for Payne and the Buffs is to win the games that matter. They are 10-26 in Pac-12 games during her tenure (5-13 each season).
This team might be more prepared for conference play than Payne’s first two, however.
“We’re coming in playing good basketball,” she said after a rout of Samford on Dec. 20. “I would hate to have a 10-1 record and come in limping into conference play and not feel really good about how we’re playing.”
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