Nothing is guaranteed until the bracket is released, but Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne isn’t too stressed about Selection Sunday.
With a strong performance at the Big 12 tournament last week, the Buffaloes seem to be in great shape for hearing their name called for the 68-team NCAA Tournament field when itap announced Sunday.
Itap certainly a more relaxed feeling than the past few years.
“Oh, yeah, totally,” Payne said. “And I’m just so proud. The way that we performed in Kansas City (at the conference tournament) with our backs against the wall, itap great for this year and we earned our way in.”
Two years ago, the Buffs were a lock to get into the NCAA Tournament, with a 22-9 record and No. 17 national ranking through the conference tournament. But the nerves came from their seeding, as the Buffs were in line for a No. 4 seed, which would have allowed them to host the opening weekend of the tournament. They wound up as a No. 5 and traveled to Kansas State University.
Last year, the Buffs had a 20-12 record through the conference tournament and felt they had done enough to get in. Instead, they were the first team out, landing the top seed for the WBIT.
Not as strong as 2024, but better than last year, the Buffs carry a solid resume into this weekend. They are 22-11, including 11-7 in Big 12 play. Since the 1999-2000 season, Power Four conference teams with 11 conference wins have made the NCAA Tournament field 98.9% of the time (372 of 376).
“Right now, itap just like playing with house money,” Payne said. “I love our team. We are playing really well. We know who we are. We know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Itap just so fun.”
CU, which is 10-4 in its last 14 games, also has four wins vs. Top 25 teams – including an upset of No. 20 Baylor in the Big 12 quarterfinals. The Buffs nearly got another upset, falling to No. 15 West Virginia in the semifinals, 48-47.
ESPN projects the Buffs as a No. 10 seed, firmly ahead of several other bubble teams. They got there by shaking off a rough final week of the regular season to play exceptional basketball in Kansas City, going 2-1. Had they lost the opener at the conference tournament, the Buffs would likely be on the outside of the tournament field.
“Honestly, our resilience is something that these guys can use five, 10, 20 years from now,” Payne said. “They’re going to have a struggle that happens, and how do you respond? So, that is what I’m most proud of. All the wins are great and all the top 25 (wins), all thatap awesome. But our resilience is by far the thing I’m the most proud of.”
ESPN’s Selection Sunday show will start at 6 p.m. For the Buffs, the only question is where they’ll be headed next weekend. ESPN projects them for a trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but several other locations – Durham, North Carolina; Nashville; Iowa City, Iowa, etc. – could be options, too.
“I don’t even care where we go,” freshman Logyn Greer said. “I’m just excited to play.
Junior Desiree Wooten agreed, saying, “For me, I’m really excited. Itap my first time, so, I mean, who wouldn’t be excited?”
Much-needed rest
CU lost to West Virginia last Saturday, came home and took several days off, enjoying some rest. They returned to the practice court Thursday and Friday.
“The break was needed,” Wooten said.
Without knowing their next opponent, the Buffs have taken advantage of the off week built into the schedule.
“This is such a long season for our players,” Payne said. “They haven’t really stopped since the first week of July. So (this week) is really great. I thought they definitely earned some time off. I told them, ‘Take naps, play video games, catch up on homework, do whatever you want to do.’”
There was excitement in returning to the court Thursday, though. And, Payne always likes this week in the schedule to focus on fine-tuning the Buffs’ game.
“There’s really nothing to do other than try to get us better,” she said. “I don’t think anybody’s skill set is going to change in five days of practice, but maybe our cohesiveness, our confidence, our communication, like things that, actually you can impact in a short amount of time.”
Notable
CU is aiming for its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years. … Of the 363 teams in Division I, CU is one of just 20 that has won at least 21 games in each of the last five seasons. The Buffs are one of just two Big 12 teams on that list, along with Iowa State.
