Colorado Buffaloes
Pac-12 (25-6, 13-5)
After a decade of trips to the NIT, Colorado has finally made it back to the NCAA Tournament. It has been nine years since the Buffaloes reached the big dance and ten years since they have won a game. Coach Linda Lappe has ended one of those streaks and hopes to make it two during the 2013 NCAA Tournament. CU started off the year on an 11 game winning streak, knocking off teams like Louisville and Illinois along the way. Stanford and California have been the only teams to beat the Buffaloes twice during the regular season and that has been the case for most of the Pac-12.
Big Wins: 11/24 San Diego State (67-53), 12/1 at Illinois (69-62), 12/14 Louisville (70-66)
Bad Losses: 1/4 Stanford (40-57), 1/6 California (49-53), 2/1 at UCLA (46-62)
Coach: Linda Lappe
Why They Can Surprise:
Colorado’s defense generally holds Pac-12 teams to under 55 points per game. In their two losses to California, the Buffaloes allowed just 53 points and 59 points. They held Stanford to 57 points at home. With a defense like that, Colorado can stay in just about any game. The team defense is a bit of mix between stuffing the lane with 6-4 center Rachel Hargis, nabbing steals with Chucky Jeffery and just playing solid, straight up defense. They will create turnovers, but they do not do it by risking too much and allowing the opposition to get open looks. The superb team depth allows Coach Lappe to keep her team fresh. If the defensive effort is not there, Colorado has plenty of options to give the starters a break. The Buffaloes take the team approach to rebounding as well and are among the best in the nation in rebounding margin. Jeffery, a do-it-all guard, is not just a great passer, defender and scorer, but she also is the team’s leading rebounder. Freshman forward Arielle Roberson has also worked very hard on the glass. Jeffery and Roberson are also the two most consistent scorers on the team.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The problem the Colorado offense often runs into is finding a third scorer behind Jeffery and Roberson. The lack of three-point shooting allows the opposition to key in on Jeffery and Roberson and that is usually enough to stop the Buffaloes offense. Jen Reese has emerged as a decent interior scorer at times, but the sophomore is not all that consistent. Guards Brittany Reese and Lexy Kresl are the two most dangerous outside shooters on the squad. If one of those two is having a good day and stretching out the opposing defense, Jeffery and Roberson will have more space to attack the basket and suddenly the Buffaloes offense could be somewhat dynamic and far less stagnant.
Probable Starters:
Chucky Jeffery, Senior, Guard, 13.9 ppg, 3.9 apg, 8.3 rpg, 2.2 spg
Brittany Wilson, Junior, Guard, 8.2 ppg, 2.2 apg
Lexy Kresl, Sophomore, Guard, 6.0 ppg, 1.0 apg
Arielle Roberson, Freshman, Forward, 12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Rachel Hargis, Junior, Center, 4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Jen Reese, Sophomore, Forward, 8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Jasmine Sborov, Sophomore, Guard, 2.8 ppg, 1.3 apg
Jamee Swan, Freshman, Forward, 5.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Ashley Wilson, Junior, Guard, 2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 65.9 (96th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 53.7 (30, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 40.4 (102, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 34.8 (22, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.1 (247, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.4 (149, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.5 (182, 5)
Rebound Margin: 9.2 (10, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.4 (126, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.4 (76, 5)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2012 NIT First Round win over Northern Colorado
2012 NIT Second Round win over South Dakota
2012 NIT Third Round win over Villanova
2012 NIT Quarterfinal loss to Oklahoma State
2011 NIT Round of 64 win over UC Riverside
2011 NIT Round of 32 win over California
2011 NIT Regional Semifinal win over Wyoming
2011 NIT Regional Final loss to USC
2008 NIT Second Round win over Gonzaga
2008 NIT Third Round win over Villanova
2008 NIT Fourth Round win over TCU
2008 NIT Semifinal loss to Marquette
2004 NCAA Round of 64 loss to UC-Santa Barbara
2003 NCAA Round of 64 win over BYU
2003 NCAA Round of 32 win over North Carolina
2003 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Villanova
*all team stats through 3/7
See All Women’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
