Colorado basketball fans did not have to wait long to find out where and who they would be playing in the Big Dance. Right after it was announced that the Florida Gators were overall #1 seed in the tournament and #1 in the South bracket, the CU Buffs were announced as a #8 seed, and the potential next victim to the mighty Gators.
Florida must first face the stronger of two sacrificial lambs -- the winner between Albany and Mt. St. Mary's. In case anyone thinks an upset might be in the making, history is certainly not on their side. A #16 seed has NEVER beaten a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
For Colorado to get a crack at the Gators (who will be playing a mere 112 miles from home), the Buffs must first defeat the Pitt Panthers. CU and Pitt will face off Thursday (March 20th) at the Amway Center at 11:40 AM Mountain Time (1:40 PM Eastern Time) on TBS.
Fortunately for the fans of both CU and Pitt, the games will be played in Orlando, Florida, which has the widest array of densely packed tourist attractions in the world.
Fans can look forward to Disney World, EPCOT Center, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Wet 'n Wild, Gatorland, Aquatica, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, and Ripley's Believe it Not. If Florida DOES manage to lose their first game, they will most likely become a permanent addition at Ripley's.
Tad Boyle has done an amazing job of turning Colorado into a bonafide basketball school. Indeed, if Spencer Dinwiddie had not had his season ended by injury, Colorado might very well be entering the tournament with a #3 or #4 seed instead of a #8. This will be the third straight trip to the tournament for Colorado, who was snubbed in 2011 and relegated to the NIT.
The Pac-12 has now moved into the upper echelon of basketball conferences. Their 6 selections were only bettered by the 7 of the Big 12. Two years ago, the Pac-12 had only two teams named to the tournament.
The Buffs will be led into the tournament by All Pac-12 center Josh Scott and playmaking fireball Askia Booker. With Dinwiddie out, Booker is the ONLY upperclassman on the team who gets significant playing time.
The youth of the Buff team bodes well for the future of the program. For this year, many fans would be happy with one win in Orlando. The Buffs, however, are looking for more. Playing top-10 teams is nothing new to them, and their RPI going into the tournament is among the top 10% in the country. They may go down, but they will go down swinging. Now that they have become a team that is expected to make the tournament, they know it is time to move past the point where they are just happy to be there. They are there to compete and to win.
I am a little bummed at this draw as I won't get to see the Pitt game and not sure I want to see the Florida game if they get by Panthers.
ReplyDeleteCheck out who posted a comment on my last blog. He must read me because he has commented a few times, including once berating me for saying his son was doin much (he contends it was all because of double and triple teams).
I was trying to go to football practice Friday but I don't see that happening. My best bet at this point in Friday, April 11, which should be a low-key day before the scrimmage. Maybe the scrimmage on the 4th is a possibility. I really want to get up and see JB Hall, grad assistant to the defensive line is a former student from one of my first years of teaching. I will for sure be there for Spring game.
I hope that Uzo does indeed find a place in the NFL. But he and his dad should know that making it at the next level is not a piece of cake. He should call David Bakhtiari and get some advice before he going to camp, either as a draftee or a free agent. I will let you know about what I see Friday.
Delete