Colorado Buffs Women’s Basketball Strengthens NCAA Tournament Bid

The Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball team bolstered its chances for NCAA Tournament inclusion with a solid performance at the Big 12 Conference tournament. Coach JR Payne entered the tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, with uncertainty about her team’s postseason prospects. After two consecutive losses to finish the regular season, projections from ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme indicated the Buffaloes were teetering on the edge of tournament eligibility.

Despite a narrow defeat on Saturday night in the Big 12 semifinals, Payne departed Kansas City with renewed confidence in her team’s resume. The Buffaloes, now holding a record of 22-11, achieved a 2-1 record during the tournament at T-Mobile Center. They secured victories against Kansas, a fellow bubble team, and against the third-seeded, 20th-ranked Baylor, before falling to the second-seeded, 15th-ranked West Virginia by a score of 48-47. West Virginia later clinched the Big 12 title by defeating top-seeded TCU.

Creme’s updated projections now list the Buffaloes among the “last four byes,” a significant improvement from the previous week, suggesting they could enter the tournament as a No. 10 seed. “Oh yeah, of course,” Payne expressed when asked about her optimism for the NCAA selection. “I mean, I don’t think there’s any question that we have earned the right to dance, so to speak.”

Historically, teams from the Power Four conferences that have won at least 11 regular-season conference games have a near-perfect record of 98.9% in securing NCAA Tournament bids since the 1999-2000 season. While some teams struggle late in the season, CU’s strong performance throughout the Big 12 tournament has solidified its case.

The Buffaloes finished the regular season with an 11-7 record in Big 12 play and have gone 10-4 in their last 14 games. Notably, they have defeated four teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this season, including a crucial win against Baylor in the quarterfinals.

Following the semifinal loss, West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg praised the Buffaloes, stating, “That team is deserving. JR is one of the best coaches in the country. She does a phenomenal job. She’s been in that situation before. So much respect to that group, and certainly would hope to see their name called for the tournament.”

The Big 12 Conference is projected to have seven teams participating in the NCAA Tournament, including Colorado, with Arizona State as a potential eighth team among the “last four in.” In contrast, BYU and Utah are currently listed as the first two teams out, while Kansas State, despite an 18-17 record, is on the bubble after an impressive run to the conference semifinals. Kansas, which was also in contention for a spot, recently fell to CU in the tournament.

Coaches across the conference expressed that several teams strengthened their NCAA Tournament bids in Kansas City. Kellogg emphasized the parity in the league, noting, “Our league has earned the right to probably have more teams in than some of the projections.”

The Big 12 rosters include seven players who attended high school in Colorado, a testament to the state’s influence on the conference. Players such as Jana Van Gytenbeek, a graduate of Cherry Creek and starting point guard at Baylor, and Marya Hudgins of BYU, who has made significant contributions to her team, highlight this connection. Hudgins, although sidelined by injury during the tournament, expressed pride in her Colorado roots. “It’s so awesome,” she remarked about the representation of Colorado players in the Big 12. “There are so many girls who look up to us.”

As the NCAA selection date approaches on March 15, 2024, the Buffaloes await confirmation of their tournament standing. With a stronger tournament resume and solid performances throughout the season, the team is hopeful for a place in the coveted NCAA Tournament.