After losing in the quarter-final round of the Big 12 Tournament on Nov. 2, the chances of Colorado being selected for the NCAA Tournament looked slim. On Monday however, the selection committee granted Colorado an at-large bid for the tournament.
After upsetting Utah in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, the team carried momentum into a tight game against TCU, which they ultimately lost. Luckily for the Buffs, the impressive two-game stretch left an impression on the voters, extending their season.
Colorado ended their season with an 11-4-5, 4-2-5 Big 12 record. Although a winless streak in October hurt their initial chances, losses to strong opponents increased CU’s rating percentage index (RPI), helping their rating in the process. RPI is a system used to rank teams based on their performance against their strength of schedule. The more difficult teams you play, the better your RPI.
The bracket for the 64-team field was also revealed at the Selection Show. Colorado will play an elimination first-round match on the road with the seventh-seeded Georgia Bulldogs (8-6-6, 3-3-4 SEC) on Friday. The Bulldogs will host Colorado at 2:30 p.m. MT on home turf.
Colorado has continued to practice since their loss to TCU in hopes of gaining this opportunity. The Buffaloes are prepared to travel and begin their new season in hopes of rekindling their early flame.
This is the eighth overall selection for head coach Danny Sanchez, who is in his 13th season at the position. This is the second straight year the team has qualified, with last year's team losing in the first round to the Texas A&M Aggies.
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