For the Colorado women’s basketball team, the disappointment of lost opportunities has been replaced by the excitement of a new opportunity.
On Thursday night in Kansas City, Missouri, the Buffaloes will begin play in the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 6 seed in the 16-team field.
While it’s not the No. 4 seed the Buffs could have had with a win in either of their two games last week, they’re still playing, with a chance at having a successful March. CU will face either Kansas or Central Florida on Thursday.
“We’re just trying really hard not to dwell on the past,” senior Jade Masogayo said. “These last two games, they’ve been rough, but we have a great opportunity in front of us. This is the Big 12 tournament and so we’re really just trying to chip away at that.”
CU (20-10) coughed up a 10-point lead in losing at home to Utah, 67-64, on Feb. 24, and then gave up an eight-point fourth quarter lead in a 75-62 loss at BYU on Saturday. Win either one and the Buffs would have likely already punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, while waiting for Friday’s Big 12 quarterfinals.
After leading by eight at BYU, the Buffs were outscored 25-2 in about an eight-minute span, playing one of the ugliest stretches of basketball of their season.
“(The film) revealed that our attention to detail is not where it needs to be to win in March,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “And that we’re fully capable of doing our job, executing game plan, executing sets and things like that, but that we were not doing that at a high level. And everyone that we play moving forward is too good to not be dialed in on those details.”
Guard Zyanna Walker said the film session after BYU was “bad,” as it showed a plethora of mistakes. In each of their 10 losses this season, the Buffs can point to bad stretches that led to defeat.
“We haven’t really had any losses this year where the team just beat us; where we played our best basketball and they were just better,” Walker said. “No, we’re better than every team we play. We just beat ourselves, and that’s what we saw on the film.”
The trip to Kansas City offers the Buffs an opportunity to prove themselves once again. And, whether the opponent is Kansas or UCF, they’re eager to get rolling.
“It’s not even necessarily the why (last week’s results happened); it’s more like what are you going to do about it?” Payne said. “I feel very good about our team’s response. They were very disappointed in themselves and in us, let’s say. (Monday) was probably one of the best practices of the year as far as those things that we struggle with: execution, details, communication, all the things that are controllable.”
Part of that is that the postseason is now here. Walker will be playing in the Big 12 tournament for the third time, having gone 2-2 there with Kansas State the past two years.
“Yeah, it’s fun,” she said of this event. “I’m excited to get back. I want to win it all, man. I want to go to the championship game. I’ve never been there. I’ve experienced the tournament, but not that last game. So, I’m excited. I’m excited to play in it and be back in Kansas City because it’s a great atmosphere and this is a great conference to play in.”
Masogayo helped the Buffs go 2-1 at T-Mobile Center last year, reaching the quarterfinals.
“Second and last (time there),” the senior said. “So, really just trying to make the most of it and have a big run in there. We’re all super stoked to go to K.C.”
The tournament will be played on a new high-tech, LED glass court. The Buffs got to experience that surface during a practice on their trip to Orlando to play at UCF in January.
Walker said it doesn’t really feel different to players, but added, “I feel like the fans will be excited to see that.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball at Big 12 Tournament
TIPOFF: Thursday, 7 p.m. MT, T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 20-10, 11-7 Big 12; Kansas 18-12, 8-10 Big 12; UCF 11-18, 3-15 Big 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (184-126; 285-239 career). Kansas — Brandon Schneider, 11th season (161-175; 562-313 career). UCF — Sytia Messer, 4th season (50-68; 104-109 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, So. (5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .333 3pt%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, .523 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, .494 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.2 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (13.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg). Kansas — G Laia Conesa, 5-11, Jr. (3.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg); F Jaliya Davis, 6-2, Fr. (20.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .637 fg%); G Elle Evans, 6-3, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .489 3pt%); F Lilly Meister, 6-3, Sr. (8.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, .540 fg%); G S’Mya Nichols, 6-0, Jr. (17.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.8 apg, .411 3pt%); F Regan Williams, 6-3, So. (8.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg). UCF — G Jacorriah Bracey, 5-9, Sr. (6.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg); F Mahogany Chandler-Roberts, 6-2, So. (7.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Leah Harmon, 5-6, So. (15.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, .368 3pt%); C Khyala Ngodu, 6-3, Jr. (11.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 spg); C Savannah Scott, 6-4, So. (5.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .570 fg%); G/F Summer Yancy, 5-11, So. (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg).
NOTES: This game will be the second round of the Big 12 tournament. Sixth-seeded CU will face the winner of Wednesday night’s matchup between No. 11 seed Kansas and No. 14 UCF. … The Buffs are 41-38 in conference tournament games in program history, including 2-1 in their return to the Big 12 last year. … CU is 35-36 all-time against Kansas, including a 69-66 overtime win in Lawrence, Kansas, on Feb. 1. … KU is 5-2 since its loss to the Buffs. … CU’s 71 games against Kansas are tied for the most-ever against one opponent. CU has also played Kansas State and Missouri 71 times. … In their Big Eight/12 history together, CU and Kansas have met seven times in the conference tournament, with Kansas holding a 4-3 edge. … On Tuesday, Davis and Nichols both made the All-Big 12 first team, while Davis was a unanimous choice by league coaches for freshman of the year honors. UCF’s Ngodu was named All-Big 12 honorable mention. … CU is 2-1 all-time against UCF, including a 74-68 loss in Orlando on Jan. 18. Yancy had a career-high 25 points for the Knights that day. … After defeating the Buffs, the Knights lost 10 games in a row. They snapped that skid with a 72-62 win at last-place Houston on Sunday. … UCF is likely to be without Harmon, who hasn’t played since Jan. 24.