After the Buffaloes defeated Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Colorado’s celebration continued in the locker room, with head coach Tad Boyle at the center of it, dancing among his players.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Boyle exclaimed, raising his arms after entering the Gainbridge Fieldhouse locker room.
Then, for the next eight or nine seconds, the 61-year-old Boyle moved and swayed as the Buffaloes formed a circle around him, clapping and clapping at the end of the video posted on Friday’s 102-100 win. Added a fist pump. Victory over the Gators.
It was Colorado State’s second NCAA Tournament win since 2012, and it also defeated Georgetown in 2021, and will play No. 2 seed Marquette on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. The Buffaloes will make their first appearance on the second weekend of 2012. The tournament has been around since 1985, when the postseason event expanded to 64 teams.
University of Colorado wins NCAA tournament. Screen capture via X/@CUBuffsMBB
“Well, you can’t ask for more from a game in March than what we just saw,” Boyle began his press conference. “March was a really bad game. What else can I say?”
The Buffaloes earned the No. 3 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, defeating No. 2 seed Washington State, but lost to No. 4 seed Oregon State in the title game.
But even after Colorado State won the at-large bid, it still had to start in Dayton in the First Four, where it won by seven points over Boise State and set up a matchup with the Gators.
Colorado State’s locker room after the game. Screen capture via X/@CUBuffsMBB
“It’s definitely fun to play fast,” Boyle said Thursday before the Buffaloes game, and he echoed that on Sunday, when he scored over 100 points for the second time this season.
KJ Simpson led the Buffaloes with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Eddie Lumpkin Jr. added 21 points, with all five of Colorado’s starting pitchers scoring in double figures.
In Sunday’s SEC Championship Game, Walter Creighton paced the Gators with 33 points as University of Florida center Micah Handrogten was forced to start after suffering a lower leg fracture (a tragic injury scene). .
“It’s disappointing because this group had the ability to advance a little bit,” University of Florida head coach Todd Golden told reporters after the game. “It was a tough draw to get Colorado in this game. No. 21 overall on KenPom. No other 10 seed is higher than No. 33.
“That happens sometimes.”
