5. 2013-14 (2312, 10-8 Pac-12; No. 5 seed Pac-12 tournament)

The disappointing finish for this squad was more about circumstance than performance.

A midseason knee injury robbed the Buffs of their best player in Dinwiddie, and twin blowouts to close the campaign — 63-43 against Arizona in the Pac-12 semifinals, then 77-48 against Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament — exposed a Buffs team that put up a good fight down the stretch but was unable to stop the momentum from slowly fizzling without Dinwiddie.

the people, everyone’s just so nice and welcoming.”

It certainly helps that the entire family is going through the same transition.

“We’re all leaning on each other,” she said. “We’ve got each other’s backs.”

Of course, playing for the Buffs adds another element of family. Sanders might be the newcomer, but the Buffs are happy to have her.

“We talked to her Jackson coaches before they came and they said, ‘Oh, you’ll love her. Great kid, works hard,’ and she is exactly that,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “She’s fun, she’s light hearted, she works hard, she listens, she’s respectful. She brings energy to the team, which is cool. … She’s a great addition to the team.”

On game days, Sanders plays a cheerleader role and is enjoying the ride as the Buffs, a near lock for the NCAA Tournament, compete for a Pac-12 title.

“I’m impressed. I’m excited. I’m on my toes (during games),” she said. “All the emotions, for real.”

And, while it was weird initially to switch teams abruptly, she said she’s 100% a Buff.

“Oh yeah, for sure,” she said. “This is a really special team and I’m blessed to be part of it.”