As a lock to make the NCAA Event, there mustn’t have been many nerves from the Colorado ladies’s basketball staff on Sunday.
Being one of many final groups revealed for the sector of 68 throughout ESPN’s choice present did create a bit of hysteria, nonetheless.
“I simply was excited to see our identify pop up,” CU head coach JR Payne mentioned. “We waited so lengthy that a few our gamers mentioned, ‘Are you positive we’re in?’ I’m like, ‘Sure we’re in, don’t fear.’”
The Twentieth-ranked Buffaloes are in, touchdown the No. 6 seed within the Seattle 4 area. CU (23-8) will face Eleventh-seeded Center Tennessee (28-4) on Saturday in Durham, N.C. The time of the sport can be introduced on Monday.
The winner will face the winner of No. 3 seed Duke and No. 14 seed Iona on March 20. Duke is internet hosting the subregional.
Center Tennessee is ranked No. 25 within the AP ballot, gained the Convention USA common season and event titles and brings a 10-game successful streak into the matchup with CU.
The Buffs have by no means confronted the Blue Raiders, and this can be one among solely two first-round matchups between AP Prime 25 groups. Each are additionally high 30 within the NET rankings, with CU at No. 23 and Center Tennessee at No. 28.
“I used to be born in Tennessee, I’ve a number of household in Tennessee, grew up listening to about Center and have a number of members of the family that went to highschool there,” Payne mentioned. “So I do know they’re actually good. I haven’t watched them this 12 months, however I do know they’re good, so we’re excited.”
After ending a nine-year NCAA Event drought a 12 months in the past, the Buffs will make consecutive appearances for the primary time since a four-year run from 2001-04.
“I’m very excited,” senior level guard Jaylyn Sherrod mentioned. “Simply to be a top-68 staff out of 300-something is a blessing in itself. We labored for it, we performed for it and I feel we deserve it.”
There was by no means a query in regards to the Buffs moving into this 12 months’s event. The one drama – except for the wait in the course of the choice present – got here from realizing the place they’d be positioned.
Previous to the Pac-12 event in Las Vegas two weeks in the past, the Buffs have been projected as a No. 4 seed, which might have positioned the Buffs in Boulder for the opening weekend. Even after shedding within the semifinals, CU had not been projected as decrease than a No. 5 seed in latest weeks by ESPN or different retailers.
“Form of wasn’t anticipating that six-seed, however on the finish of the day it simply provides us one thing else to place a chip on our shoulder,” Sherrod mentioned. “A pissed off Colorado staff will not be what anyone needs to see. I’m simply excited. I feel nonetheless being emotional off the Washington State loss (within the semifinals), as nicely, simply has put us able the place we’re simply hungry to get after it and be on the court docket once more.”
CU constructed a robust resume all through the season, together with three wins towards groups that have been ranked within the high 15 nationally on the time. The Buffs additionally had two common season wins towards Pac-12 event champion Washington State and defeated WAC champion Southern Utah. The Buffs went 7-7 towards groups within the NCAA discipline.
After ending third within the Pac-12 in the course of the common season – this system’s finest convention end since 2004 – the Buffs reached the convention event semifinals. Now, they carry a measure of confidence into their second straight NCAA Event.
“It’s actually thrilling as a result of it’s all the pieces I’ve wished from the school expertise,” mentioned junior guard Frida Formann, who got here to CU from Denmark practically three years in the past. “I actually wished to be a part of March Insanity. Once I go dwelling I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m actually doing all the pieces that I actually wish to do,’ and I’m simply so comfortable that it’s with this staff that I actually do love and luxuriate in enjoying with.”
In its historical past, CU is 17-14 within the NCAA Event, however has misplaced 4 straight since reaching the Candy 16 in 2003. Regardless of being the upper seed in every of its final three NCAA Event appearances (2004, 2013 and 2022), CU has been knocked out within the first spherical every time.
Senior Quay Miller mentioned the Buffs can be able to go on Saturday, nonetheless.
“It’s form of surreal within the second,” she mentioned of seeing the Colorado identify on the display. “You’re similar to, ‘OK, our season will not be over. We now have much more basketball to play.’ And I feel that’s simply what actually went by my thoughts, simply with the ability to put together myself for an additional sport towards a staff I do know nothing about.
“(Going for a second straight 12 months), I feel that it reveals that we have now the potential to be nice and we’re simply attempting to try for that each sport and each follow.”
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