CU Buffs still have a chance to make the dance

This is going to be short and quick, considering I have to run to class in 10 minutes.

With four games left, and two of them at home, the CU Buffs basketball team has a shot to do something that almost no one thought they would be able to do, and that is making it to the NCAA basketball tourny. After losing almost 50% of their scoring in Alec Burks and Corey Higgins, the buffs start 2 freshmen, 1 sophomore, and 2 seniors. The first three guys off the bench are also two freshmen and a junior power forward. Predicted to finish last in the PAC-12 the buffs have put together an impressive 10-4 conference record, and still have yet to lose at home in the PAC-12 play. Looking to go undefeated at home, the buffs host Stanford tonight, and Cal on Saturday for a NIT quarterfinals rematch which the buffs won by a margin of 8 points. If the buffs win these last two games at home, they should secure a first round bye in the PAC-12 tourny at the Staples Center, which will be huge in their success. Since the buffs have struggled greatly on the road, any game that they do not need to play away from the Coors Event Center will be a blessing in disguise.

SInce the PAC-12 conference is one of the weakest in the nation right now, I predict that maybe two teams will make it to the dance. Even though Arizona was in the top 25 at the beginning of the NCAA polls, they have since fallen off the mark. The buffs do have the talent however to beat every team in the PAC-12, and they have proved it time and time again with wins at the CEC. In order to make it to the NCAA tourny, the buffs need to win these last two games at home, and at least split the road trip at Oregon and Oregon State. If they can win out, then their resume should be good enough to make it to the NCAAs without winning the PAC-12. The buff players still have a chip on their shoulder from being skanked out of NCAAs last year, despite beating Kansas State 3 times, #3 Texas, #11 Missouri, and coming within 2 points of beating #2 Kansas plus making it to the semi-finals of the Big 12 tourny.

Hopefully this year will be different or at least another NIT bid. Let's go Buffs!