What is Colorado Buffaloes March Madness record and all time stats? March Madness and the NCAA tournament create drama in sports like no other.
The first round is one of the most watched in sports. The Pac-12 has its share of great teams, and the Colorado Buffaloes are looking to leave their mark this year. They played in the first round against Florida, winning 102-100 and they will now face Marquette on the second round. Check out how to bet on March Madness below.
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Ahead of the tournament, let’s take a look at some of the most notable players, coaches, and moments in CU history.
2024 First Round
The NCAA tournament has already begun, and it has been madness in March for the Buffs for some time. They were part of the First Four play-in games, drawing the Boise State Broncos for the right to the No. 10 seed in the South. They were triumphant, having won 60-53 on Wednesday night.
Then, the Buffs got the Florida Gators in the first round. The Gators played a tough SEC schedule and have come out with a No. 7 seed as a result. However, the Buffs took the best of them with a tight 102-100 result.
In the second round the Buffaloes will try to punch the ticket to the sweet 16, with the challenger being Marquette. The season would be an automatic success if the Buffs advance.
You can check the updated 2024 March Madness bracket here.
.@CUBuffsMBB head coach Tad Boyle joins @JonRothstein after the Buffaloes' victory over Boise State. pic.twitter.com/f1KI4QSPmN
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 21, 2024
Spotlight on the Colorado Buffalos: An Overview
While the focus has been on the regular season, the Pac-12 tournament, and the NCAA tournament, we need to go back further. Knowing more about the history of the university in March is a good place to start. Check how to bet on March Madness in Colorado here.
Let’s check out the tournament history for CU heading into Friday.
NCAA Tournament History
Colorado has been to the tournament 16 times in 121 seasons in Boulder. Though it does not have an NCAA championship, the team has been to the Final Four twice.
Let’s take a look at some of the most notable seasons and games in Buffs history.
1997 – The first tournament appearance in 28 years. Led by Chauncey Billups, the Buffs did more than just make it to March. In the first round, the No. 9 seed Buffs crushed traditional powerhouse Indiana by 18 to advance to the next round. Unfortunately, they lost to powerhouse North Carolina in the Round of 32.
2012 – The first tournament appearance for head coach Tad Boyle. The Buffs landed a No. 11 seed, matching up against No. 6 UNLV. The Buffs shocked the Rebels, moving on to the Round of 32, where they lost to No. 3 Baylor.
1955 – The tournament was a lot different back then, sporting a field of just 24. Colorado would make it all the way to their first Final Four, falling short to San Francisco (the eventual National Champion). They would, however, defeat Iowa in the third-place game that year.
Key Milestones and Memorable Moments
For a program like Colorado, milestones and moments don’t often come in the form of championships. There was, however, the Pac-12 tournament champion 2012 team, but those don’t happen very often for Colorado basketball.
Perhaps the most memorable team is the 1997 group. Making it to the tournament for the first time in 28 years and playing a powerhouse like Indiana can be daunting. But the Buffs rose to the occasion and made it out of the first round in dominant fashion. There is hope that the game on Friday against Florida can lead to similar moments.
Top Offensive Performers
Despite names like Billups on the list, the basketball program has had other prolific scorers. For instance, McKinley Wright is the all-time leader in assists (683). Cory Higgins and Richard Roby are tied with exactly 2,001 career points.
Cliff Meely, Shaun Vandiver, Donnie Boyce, and others have had historical runs with the program. Their play will live on as the Buffs attempt to grow the program and make a run deeper than they have in more than 70 years.
Top Defensive Performers
You would be hard-pressed to find a more dominant defensive player than David Harrison. He is the program’s all-time leader in blocks with 225. Andre Roberson, part of the 2012 conference winning team, has the most defensive rebounds in history with 736.
Jay Humphries leads the university with 309 career steals, but career steal percentage belongs to Roberson. Leading Colorado in defensive rebounds and steal percentage is incredibly impressive, especially given how little recognition some defenders get.
Noteworthy Seasons
With just 16 tournament appearances in their history, it is hard to find a ton of success for CU. That said, there are a few years that stand a cut above the rest.
1997
Easily the most memorable in modern history for CU. Led by Billups, the team made the tournament for the first time in 28 years. That would have been enough, but it didn’t stop there. They even beat Indiana in the first round before ultimately falling in the next round.
2012
Boyle’s second season in Boulder may be his most memorable. Though they were just a No. 11 seed, CU managed to secure its bid by winning the Pac-12 tournament. Even better, they managed to win their first round game, something that hadn’t been done since the aforementioned 1997 team.
2021
Though it ended with a loss in the Round of 64, the Buffs had a great year. They finished as a No. 5 seed, even being ranked 22nd by the Associated Press. It is flashes like this that have led many to feel that Boyle can be the man to lead CU over the hump.
Championships and Finals Appearances
Milestones and big moments have been rare, especially when March rolls around. The Buffs have had long stretches of missing out on the NCAA tournament. Likewise, conference tournament showings haven’t been great. For instance, CU last won the Pac-12 tournament in 2012, its only victory since joining the league.
The team hasn’t made a Final Four since 1955. They haven’t even made it back to the Sweet 16 since then. Tournament appearances have become few and far between, though it will be tough to forget major moments like beating Indiana in 1997.
Notable Players and Coaches
Each game is a chance for big moments. The Buffs have had a few big games, all of which have been propelled by great players. CU basketball has a few players who have scored, won, and propelled the program to tremendous heights.
Legends in Buffaloes’ Uniforms: Player Spotlights
How can you talk about the greatest Colorado basketball players and not mention Chauncey Billups? He is the king, leading the Buffs to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 28 years. Though he is remembered for his time in the NBA more, he is without a doubt the greatest player in CU history.
Recent players like McKinley Wright – the school’s all-time leader in assists – and Tom Chambers left their marks. Joe Barry Carroll, Chuck Williams, and Reggie Jackson are just a handful of the names that have come out of Colorado throughout the years.
Coaching Greats: Contributions to the Team’s Legacy
Coaches have had their fair share of success throughout the years. Each team and each head coach has its own story. Tad Boyle, Sox Walseth, and Bebe Lee remain among the most prolific coaches in the history of the university.
Sox led the team to a pair of Regional Final appearances. Frosty Cox led the team to its first Final Four appearance. Boyle has six NCAA tournament appearances (and counting) while also making a strong showing in the conference tournament of late. CU is not without its share of strong head coach options over the decades.
Comparisons and Analysis
Compared to other programs in the Pac-12 and beyond, the Buffs are fighting an uphill battle. They have been a solid team in recent years – hovering around 18-21 wins – but solid isn’t enough in a stacked conference like the Pac-12.
This year, the Buffs have been quite good. They were even ranked 18th according to the Associated Press at one point. The Buffs may be the underdog going into the Florida game, but it will be a close matchup. A win isn’t out of the realm of possibility and all CU is focusing on right now is making sure they go further in the Big Dance.
Colorado Buffaloes March Madness forward Tristan da Silva reacts from the bench during the second half of the team’s First Four game against Boise State in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Impact Beyond the Court
One of the most remarkable things about the University of Colorado is the support it receives from alumni. The university produces alumni who are considered to be better educated and who earn a higher income overall.
Because of that, alumni of the Buffs tend to also be some of the most enthusiastic. Whether helping with recruiting or providing support in regular season and tournament play, the Buffs have an alumni base that is consistently there.
Colorado Buffaloes March Madness: Challenges and Triumphs
The University of Colorado has had its ups and downs. The Buffs were a football program throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The basketball program became a solid team in the Pac-12 starting in the 2010s, but it hasn’t been easy.
a dub in Dayton 😄#GoBuffs | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BasOlo0LR0
— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) March 21, 2024
Read about Colorado Buffaloes state rivals the Colorado State Rams and their March Madness stats and records here.
