Colorado Buffaloes Await NCAA Tournament Seed

Buffs look to make a March Madness run after strong Big 12 Tournament showing

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team had a solid performance in the Big 12 Tournament, reaching the semifinals before falling to No. 15 West Virginia. At 22-11 on the season and sixth in the Big 12 standings, the Buffaloes have put themselves in position for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Projections have Colorado as a 10 or 11 seed, which could significantly impact their potential tournament matchups and path.

Why it matters

Colorado's NCAA Tournament seeding will be crucial in determining how far the team can advance in March Madness. A higher seed means an easier path to the later rounds, while a lower seed could mean facing tougher opponents early on. The Buffaloes have proven they can compete with top teams in the Big 12, but their tournament success will depend on the draw they receive.

The details

According to bracketology projections, the Colorado Buffaloes are expected to receive either a 10 or 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament. A 10 seed would likely mean a matchup with the second-seeded team in the Round of 32, while an 11 seed would pit them against the third-seeded team. Colorado's performance in the Big 12 Tournament has boosted their resume, but their seeding will ultimately determine the difficulty of their path to the later rounds.

  • The Buffaloes ended the regular season with a 22-11 record and finished sixth in the Big 12 standings.
  • Colorado reached the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament before losing to No. 15 West Virginia on March 5, 2026.

The players

JR Payne

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team, who has led the team to a successful season and potential NCAA Tournament berth.

Desiree Wooten

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes, averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game during the 2025 season.

Zyanna Walker

A guard for the Colorado Buffaloes, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game during the 2025 season.

Jade Masogayo

A forward for the Colorado Buffaloes, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game during the 2025 season.

Anaelle Dutat

A forward for the Colorado Buffaloes, the team's leading rebounder with 8.1 rebounds per game, and also averaging 8.6 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game during the 2025 season.

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What’s next

The Colorado Buffaloes will await their NCAA Tournament seeding and matchup, which will be announced on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

The Colorado Buffaloes have put themselves in a strong position to make the NCAA Tournament after a successful Big 12 Tournament run. However, their seeding will be crucial in determining the difficulty of their path to the later rounds of March Madness, as a higher seed could mean an easier route to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.