The Colorado Buffaloes had the fight agains the Fighting Illini, but I guess they didn’t have the Illini (this is so tortured I’m sorry) to win. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the 10th-seed Buffs just couldn’t get it done against the 7 seed University of Illinois.
In the first half, this was a defensive battle. Both teams stuck to their guns. The Buffs were swarming the point of attack, with plenty of turnovers forced, while the Illini packed the paint and dared CU to shoot it over their length. For the most part, both strategies worked. The Buffs ended up scoring through offensive rebounds and extra chance efforts, with Desiree Wooten and Jade Masogayo playing familiar roles of offensive engines. Illinois was almost entirely driven by freshman Cearah Parchment. The 6’3 center was physically overwhelming for CU and showed so much quickness and skill around the basket. A Logyn Greer three got the Buffs within two and then CU ended up taking the lead by one, 28-27, before Illinois banked in a three before halftime.
The second showed a flipped script. J.R. Payne obviously focused on stopping Parchment in the second half, which led to a much slower offensive start for Illinois. However, CU went *ice* cold and could not find offense anywhere. In the end, CU visibly ran out of gas and could not find any room on the inside. The Buffs lost, 66-57, and their season ends there.
However, let it be known that Payne is providing the best program experience on campus. CU has won 20 games in five straight seasons. They have been to the tourney 4 times in that time. Give her money and get out the way.
