INDIANAPOLIS — The Big Dance is over for the Colorado men’s basketball team.
Despite a valiant second-half comeback by the Buffaloes, CU’s Sweet 16 dreams fell short of the elusive Sweet 16 berth, as second-seeded Marquette held off the Buffs for an 81-77 victory in an NCAA Tournament second-round battle at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
CU rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to set up a third thrilling tournament-game finish in the past five days, but this time the Buffs fell short.
Colorado opened the second half with a 10-2 run to get back in the game, and took a brief lead at 55-54 on a KJ Simpson 3-pointer midway through the second half. The Golden Eagles answered with an 8-2 run but CU tied it again at 74-74 on a Tristan da Silva 3-pointer with about 3 minutes left.
Marquette outscored the Buffs 7-3 the rest of the way to end CU’s season.
Simpson finished with 20 points and seven assists, while da Silva scored 17.
Why the Buffs won: They kept their composure late, played solid defense throughout the night and hit some big shots when needed.
Three stars:
1. CU’s Maddie Nolan: Had a season-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers.
2. CU’s Aaronette Vonleh: Finished with only 10 points offensively, but had seven rebounds and a steal.
3. Washington’s Lauren Schwartz: Scored 18 points and hit all four 3-point attempts.
Up next: CU will host Washington State on Saturday at 1 p.m. (Pac-12 Network).
Colorado didn’t dominate in its return home, but the No. 13 Buffaloes found something it had been sorely missing: a victory.
Maddie Nolan got hot from 3-point range early and the Buffs had just enough in the tank late to hold off Washington 68-62 on Thursday night at the CU Events Center.
CU (21-7, 11-6 Pac-12) snapped a four-game losing streak and kept slim hopes alive for a top-four seed – and first-round bye – for next week’s Pac-12 Tournament.
“I was just really excited to win again,” said Nolan, who went 6-of-7 from beyond the arc and had a season-high 20 points. “After the game, I was jumping around and I was like, ‘Guys, we won!’ The season is so long and you get so caught up in different things and then the losses, it can be hard, but just remembering to celebrate every win, whether it’s against a top-five team or whoever. So just excited to be back in the win column, for sure.”
CU head coach JR Payne often expresses the idea that being great on a given day is the main goal more so than getting a win. The Buffs weren’t great against the Huskies (15-13, 5-12), but she was more than happy to celebrate the much-needed win.
“Absolutely,” she said. “We definitely needed to be in the win column again, because even though we played really well at times – we played really well offensively at USC and really, really well defensively at UCLA – it still didn’t translate into a win. Certainly we are all going to feel better with getting that sort of out of the way and now we just want to really dial in and continue to get better.”
In addition to Nolan’s big game, Frida Formann had 12 points and Aaronette Vonleh finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Buffs, however, had to thwart a late Washington rally.
CU never trailed in the final 36 minutes and led by as many as 15 in the third quarter. The lead was still 12 midway through the fourth when the Buffs went cold, failing to score a single point for 5 minutes, 23 seconds while Washington pulled within five, at 64-59.
Buffs point guard Jaylyn Sherrod, who went down with a face injury early in the third, then returned to the game with 36.1 seconds left to boost the Buffs. She was able to hit 2-of-4 free throws and help with CU’s ball control down the stretch to hold off the Huskies.
Colorado guard Frida Bormann drives against Washington guard Hannah Stines in Pac-12 basketball on Feb. 29, 2024 in Boulder.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
The close-game experience of Sherrod and other veterans played a role in holding off the Huskies.
“I don’t know how well we executed down the stretch but I mean, yeah, just trying to get the ball in out of bounds, know who to get it to, stuff like that, you kind of learn along the way and knowing how many timeouts you have,” Formann said. “We’ve been practicing some late game situations. So just being aware of clock and score and all that is super important. So it’s always good to get practice with that in a live game.”
Ultimately, it wasn’t the prettiest of games for the Buffs, who had just two days of rest before this one (Washington had three), but they got the job done after a three-game road trip.
“Just really happy to be back at home,” Payne said, “and I’m really happy with how we played in spurts; certainly not 40 minutes but we played really, really well in some spurts on both sides of the floor. Just pushing through fatigue and some injury and things like that. I knew we’d be tired. We had the longest trip, we played a day later than they did and all of that, so I was really happy with how we responded.
“A lot of people came in and really contributed at different times. Even played through frustration, maybe missing some shots we normally make, but kept their head in the game so that when the game was on the line, we were able to execute and do some good things.”
Notable
In the NCAA committee’s second Top 16 reveal on Thursday evening, the Buffs were tabbed as a No. 4 seed, and No. 13 overall. In the previous reveal, on Feb. 15, the Buffs were a No. 1 seed, and No. 4 overall. The nine-spot drop matches the largest in the eight-year history of the Top 16 reveals. In 2022, Tennessee went from No. 4 to No. 13. However, it keeps CU in line to host during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Why the Buffs won: They were incredibly unselfish, posting 32 assists on 36 buckets and were stellar on defense, holding the Ducks to 32.8% shooting.
Three stars:
1. Maddie Nolan: She scored a season-high 19 points, hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range, while also having a season-high six assists and adding four rebounds.
2. Quay Miller: Posted yet another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Jaylyn Sherrod: Finished with six points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Up next: Colorado will host No. 17 Oregon State on Sunday at noon at the CU Events Center.
Maddie Nolan yelled and pumped her fist after another bucket by the Colorado Buffaloes, but while she was the leading scorer on Friday night, this celebration came after one of her passes resulted in points for someone else.
The unselfish nature of the No. 4-ranked CU women’s basketball team was on full display Friday as it raced past Oregon, 90-57, at the CU Events Center.
“I think everyone is buying into that idea of sharing the ball until we find the best team shot,” CU head coach JR Payne said.
It happened a lot on Friday. Nolan had a season-high 19 points but also a season-high six assists. That was part of an eye-popping 32 assists on 36 baskets for the Buffs (20-3, 10-2 Pac-12), who continue to sit atop the conference standings after sweeping the regular season set from the Ducks (11-13, 2-9) for the first time in 11 years.
“Really proud of our preparation all week long,” Payne said. “I thought our team, we’re striking a great balance of focus, keeping things light, making sure we’re prepared. We were in a really good place tonight.
“It thought we played like we’re feeling really good.”
The Buffs posted just the 15th 30-assist game in program history, but only the second since the mid-1990s. Their 32 assists were the most in a game since recording 35 against St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 28, 1994.
CU had 19 of those in the first half, setting a school record for assists in a half. By the time the final buzzer sounded, eight different Buffs had assists, led by Kindyll Wetta’s seven. Jaylyn Sherrod matched Nolan’s six, while Frida Formann had five.
True to the Buffs’ nature, they genuinely seemed to enjoy each of those 32 dimes.
“Because we know we’re going to make the shots,” forward Quay Miller said when asked why the Buffs get so much joy out of assists. “And if we’re not going to make it, we know we’re going to get the rebound.”
That was certainly the case on Friday. Miller, who had three assists, posted yet another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Buffs outrebounded the Ducks 46-31 and outscored them in the paint 40-14.
Formann and Vonleh also had 12 points, while Tameiya Sadler had 11.
Among all of the stellar numbers, Nolan’s might have been the most impressive. The Michigan transfer began to cook midway through the second quarter.
CU led just 31-24 and Nolan had yet to hit a field goal before she drained her first of five 3-pointers with 5:25 to play in the first half. In the last 65 seconds of the half, she hit three 3s in a row, turning a nine-point lead into an 18-point advantage, 49-31, at intermission.
The Buffs never looked back from there.
Colorado Jaylyn Sherrod passes off against Oregon in Pac-12 basketball in Boulder on Feb. 9, 2024.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
“I was just joking with JR, her son comes out and contests me during warmups. He needs to do that every game,” Nolan said.
“I thought my teammates did a really good job of finding me.”
Of course they did. It’s because the Buffs are at their best – and have their most fun – when they’re sharing the ball. And Friday was a fun game for the Buffs, who have their best 23-game start to a season since the 1994-95 team was 21-2 at this stage.
“I know what this team is capable of, so I expect this of us,” Miller said. “We’re having a lot of fun. Obviously winning is fun always. Because we’re playing such good basketball, everyone is good.”
There have been times this season when players for the Colorado women’s basketball team have been unable to hear play calls from the coaches during a game at the CU Events Center.
“Yeah, that was something we’ve been talking about,” guard Maddie Nolan said. “(Head coach JR Payne) is like, ‘All right, if you can’t hear us, you just kind of gotta look and tell us because you don’t want to run the play wrong’ and stuff like that.”
It’s certainly a new “problem” the fourth-ranked Buffaloes are dealing with, but Nolan laughed and said, “Definitely happy to deal with it.”
They’re dealing with it because fans are flocking to the Events Center to see the Buffs, who can’t wait to get in front of the home crowd again on Friday when Oregon comes to Boulder. After two straight road trips, it’ll be CU’s first home game in 19 days.
“Very excited to play at home this week,” said Payne, whose team will also host No. 17 Oregon State on Sunday. “We need big crowds, great energy. These will be two big ones this weekend.”
Through 10 home games, the Buffs are getting 5,374 fans per game, ranking third in the Pac-12 and 19th nationally in average attendance. The average is on pace to be the second-best in program history, behind the 1994-95 season (5,538). The only other season with at least 4,000 on average was 1993-94 (5,167).
This season, CU has already had four of the 15 largest crowds in program history, including a program-record 11,338 for the Jan. 19 matchup with UCLA.
A year ago, despite having a team that went to the Sweet 16 and spent the second half of the year in the national rankings, the Buffs averaged just 1,660 fans per game.
“This year it’s just nice that we’re starting to get the actual recognition that we need,” guard Tameiya Sadler said. “This is how much we built, this is what we’ve done. It’s nice to see that everybody’s starting to recognize that we’re a really good program and we can really make some noise this year.”
On the court, the Buffs are making a lot of noise. With seven games to play in the regular season, they are tied for first in the Pac-12 with Stanford (while holding the tie-breaker over the Cardinal) and they’re projected as a top two seed for the NCAA Tournament.
The Buffs have been stellar on the road (10-2 away from Boulder), but Sadler believes they’re a different team at home. They’re 9-1 at the Events Center, with the only loss coming to then-No. 5 UCLA.
“Our camaraderie is great at home. We just play really well together,” Sadler said. “On the road, you have no energy besides your own and maybe like five fans behind your bench. Here, it’s just everyone’s really just feeding into us. We just thrive on that.”
Nolan agrees. Although she’s a first-year Buff after four seasons at Michigan, she can already see the impact of the crowd. The fans have helped fuel game-changing runs and get the Buffs out of ruts.
“It’s a huge difference,” Nolan said. “You can feel that energy and you can hear everyone screaming. In the UCLA game, to have a sellout crowd and have that student section behind us and even when things weren’t going our way, to hear encouraging words is just super helpful.”
Nationally, Iowa and star Caitlin Clark have been a main attraction, playing to sold-out crowds in Iowa City and on the road. Top-ranked South Carolina, defending champion LSU and perennial power Connecticut join Iowa in averaging over 11,000 fans per game.
Overall, 23 women’s basketball teams are averaging at least 5,000 fans – up from 18 last year (and Baylor is just shy, at 4,994). In the 10 years before that, there was never more than 17 teams averaging at least 5,000.
Nolan said the Buffs are pleased to be a part of the growing interest in the sport.
“It’s been awesome,” she said of playing at the Events Center. “I think it’s a really cool trend to see all across women’s college basketball recently; just constant sellouts from really big-time programs, which is cool. … That energy (from the home crowd) makes it so much fun to play and then it gives us momentum. When you go on a run and you can feel that energy building, it’s really rewarding.”
Colorado guard Maddie Nolan heads to the basket against Stanford during the Jan. 14, 2024 game in Boulder.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
No. 4 CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Oregon Ducks
TIPOFF: Friday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center in Boulder
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 8th season (138-96; 239-209 career). Oregon — Kelly Graves, 10th season (223-102; 605-265 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (13.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg, .457 FG%, .423 3PT%, .918 FT%); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (9.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .338 3PT%); G Maddie Nolan, 5-11, Sr. (5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .379 3PT%); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.1 spg, .461 FG%); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, Jr. (14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .595 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Jr. (5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 spg, .485 FG%). Oregon — G Sofia Bell, 6-1, Fr. (7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 spg); G Chance Gray, 5-9, So. (14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, .383 3PT%); C Phillipina Kyei, 6-8, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 bpg, .558 FG%); F Grace VanSlooten, 6-3, So. (15.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 apg).
NOTES: CU returns home after a four-game road swing. The Buffs are 9-1 at home this season. … Oregon leads the all-time series 19-11, but the Buffs have won the last three meetings. … CU beat the Ducks, 61-48, on Jan. 28 in Eugene. Vonleh had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Buffs. … Oregon is making its first trip to Boulder since Feb. 23, 2022. … CU is 15-0 against unranked opponents this season, while the Ducks are 0-7 against ranked opponents. … Oregon is 2-8 on the road, losing its last eight. The Ducks have lost five games in a row overall. … In conference play, CU has had the best 3-point percentage defense (.289), while Oregon is tied for second (.300). Offensively, the Buffs are fourth in scoring (70.5) and the Ducks are last (55.5) in conference games. … Miller has averaged 10.0 rebounds over the last 10 games. … Miller needs 10 points to become the 35th player in CU history to reach 1,000 points as a Buff. Formann needs three points to become the 25th Buff to reach 1,200 points. … Kyei has had four consecutive double-doubles for the Ducks, averaging 16.0 points and 16.3 rebounds in that stretch. She leads the Pac-12 with 15 double-doubles this season.
