CU’s head coach Tad Boyle has taken the Buffs to a place that most would not have considered possible just six years ago. With the Buffaloes heading to their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, though, the question is: Do Boyle and the Buffs have what it takes to make it all the way this year?
CU earned a No. 8 seed in the South region, leaving coach Boyle a little frustrated.
“Not going to complain about it because nobody really cares, we just have to go out and earn some respect by winning and advancing,” Boyle said when he joined Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro on when he joined the Afternoon Drive on Mile High Sports Radio.
Despite Boyle’s frustrations, the team will need to conjure up a fierce effort in order to overcome the history of being one and done in their last few tournament efforts. While many question whether or not the Buffs have what it takes to make any noise in the Round of 64 against UConn, CU will be entering the Tournament with a chip on their shoulder, stemming from their 77-48 blowout loss they suffered at the hands of Pittsburgh in 2014.
“We have that taste in our mouth that we’d like to get out,“ Boyle said.
With revenge on their minds, CU will need to focus their efforts on stopping the Huskies’ respectable defense and intimidating center, Amida Brimah, who is the fifth player in program history to have at least 200 career blocks. With those daunting stats, CU will have to rely heavily on making shots and avoiding the intense shot blocker.
“I really believe that there’s not a team in this tournament that we can’t beat,” Boyle said. “But we also know that we were within an eyelash of losing to Washington State last week at home.”
Hopefully the chip on Colorado’s shoulders will provide the momentum they need to get past game one.
Catch Afternoon Drive every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports from Denver’s largest lineup.