Colorado Buffaloes
Overall Rank: #43
Conference Rank: #7 Pac-12
Colorado has been hovering around .500 during Coach JR Payne’s five seasons leading the program. Last season was a little bit different though as the Buffaloes .500 record translated to a .500 record in Pac-12 play. After many years of 5-13 conference records, the team jumped up to 8-8. That was enough to earn them a trip to the WNIT and with their top nine scorers returning, Colorado should be ready to push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
2020-21 Record: 12-11, 8-8
2020-21 Postseason: WNIT
Coach: JR Payne
Coach Record: 72-75 at Colorado, 173-188 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Zuzanna Kulinska, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Mya Hollingshed, Senior, Forward, 15.4 ppg
Frida Formann, Sophomore, Guard, 12.4 ppg
Jaylyn Sherrod, Junior, Guard, 10.4 ppg
Peanut Tuitele, Senior, Forward, 7.8 ppg
Aubrey Knight, Senior, Guard, 5.5 ppg
Lesila Finau, Senior, Guard, 5.4 ppg
Charlotte Whittaker, Junior, Forward, 5.1 ppg
Tayanna Jones, Senior, Guard, 3.9 ppg
Kylee Blacksten, Sophomore, Guard, 2.1 ppg
Allysa Lafontaine, Sophomore, Guard, 1.9 ppg
Key New Players
Sophie Gerber, RS Freshman, Guard
Quay Miller, Junior, Center, Transfer from Washington
Tameiya Sadler, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Washington
Maura Singer, Sophomore, Center
Kennedy Taylor, Freshman, Forward
Kindyll Wetta, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Having Jaylyn Sherrod for an entire season will be very helpful. Sherrod dished out 5.1 assists per game as a freshman in 2019-2020, but was limited to just 12 games last season. Leslia Finau stepped up during Sherrod’s absence and dished out a team high 60 assists in 23 games. Frida Formann had a great freshman campaign, averaging 12.4 points per game and knocking down 62 three-pointers at a 40.8 percent clip. With experienced seniors like Aubrey Knight and Tayanna Jones returning, Colorado does not lack in depth on the perimeter. The frontcourt is equally impressive. Mya Hollingshed led the Buffaloes in points, rebounds and blocks. The 6-3 senior does great work in the paint, but can also step outside and hit some long balls. Peanut Tuitele is a three-year starter and has proven that she can score when Colorado needs her to score. New Zealand native Charlotte Whittaker will again provide much of the frontcourt depth, but Colorado has brought in a couple transfers from Washington to add even more depth to an already deep team. Quay Miller will add another option to the frontcourt and guard Tameiya Sadler had a very promising freshman campaign with the Huskies.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 64.7 (167th in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.2 (86, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.8 (100, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.7 (144, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (196, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.7 (98, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 65.4 (274, 12)
Rebound Margin: 2.4 (95, 4)
Assists Per Game: 12.5 (188, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.7 (165, 8)
Madness 2022 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#18 Mya Hollingshed
Madness 2021 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#105 Kindyli Wetta
