History on the line for Buffs
CU faces Marquette in Round of 32, on brink of Sweet 16 berth
INDIANAPOLIS >> There have been plenty of emotional lows for the Colorado men’s basketball team this season. Friday featured a unique and lofty high.
Once KJ Simpson’s soon-to-beiconic baseline jumper finally rattled through, dispatching Florida and sending the 10th-seeded Buffaloes into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a joyous celebration ensued. Raise your hand if you had Tad Boyle getting air time dancing on “Sportscenter” on your bingo card for the 2023-24 season.
Yet in the NCAA Tournament, such joys are short-lived. On Saturday, the Buffs got back to work, going through a media session at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before a workout light on physical exertion but intense in scouting report details as CU gets set to battle second-seeded Marquette in the second round on Sunday.
History will be on the line for the Buffs. CU is seeking its first Sweet 16 berth in six trips to the NCAA Tournament under Boyle. The Buffs, who began their tourney run with a win in the First Four round on Wednesday against Boise State, have never won three consecutive games in any NCAA Tournament, although CU did win three total 69 years ago, in the 1955 tournament, thanks to a win in the defunct third-place game.
“Today is when you really turn the page and get up and get after it,” Boyle said during his Saturday media session. “I watched some film (Friday) night, read some reports and took a lot of information in. But today’s the day of prep. We’ll get on the practice floor. Not that we’ll do a lot, but we’ll talk a lot about what we have to do against Marquette both offensively and defensively.
“And then (Sunday) morning, it’s an early game, we’ll show them a little more film and prep a little bit more and let the guys go out and do their thing. We’re used to these quick turnarounds.”
There will be plenty of weapons on both sides, but this matchup is shaping up to be a battle between two of the premier point guards in the nation in Simpson and Marquette’s Tyler Kolek.
Kolek returned to the Golden Eagles’ lineup for their firstround win against Western Kentucky after missing the previous six games, including all three of Marquette’s games in the Big
East tournament, due to an oblique injury. He showed exactly zero signs of rust in his return, going 7-for-13 with 18 points and 11 assists in Marquette’s tournament opener. Those 11 assists tied Dwyane Wade’s program tournament record.
A second-team All-american selection, Kolek leads the nation in assists per game (7.8). In Big East Conference games, Marquette led the league in field goal percentage (.482), average turnover margin (plus4.45) and steals per game (8.7) while also ranking second in 3-point percentage (.366).
“He’s a great guard. He’s excellent in every category,” Simpson said of Kolek. “There’s a reason he was All-american. I have nothing but respect for him and the rest of the team. They have great players. Obviously they’ve shown that all year.
“I just look forward to those matchups. You look forward to those guys that you hear about. You want to play against the best, and he’s definitely one of the
best in the nation at his position. I’m just blessed to be here and definitely just going to go out there and make the most of my opportunity.”
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