KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Everything can change with just a little boost of momentum.
The Colorado Buffaloes (18-11, 9-9 Big 12) may have blown any shot at a conventional NCAA Tournament bid in their final regular season game, but a first-round matchup in the Big 12 Championship against the Houston Cougars (5-24, 1-17) on Wednesday provides an intriguing opportunity.
While it would be unfair to describe a conference tournament game as a “tune-up” for the No. 9-seeded Buffs, especially when considering their road woes, the No. 16-seeded Cougars have not won since Jan. 14 and are one of the nation’s bleakest bottom-feeders.
UH shoots 35.8% on field goals, dead last among Power Five programs, with a -9.9 point differential that ranks fourth-worst.
In the sides’ only meeting this season on Feb. 15, Colorado boat raced Houston 83-60 in an injury-riddled affair that saw just 14 total healthy players. Four underclassmen stepped up to score double digits, led by sophomore Ayianna Johnson with 20.
CU is now mostly healthy, albeit still missing star guard Frida Formann, who has a stress fracture in her foot. Houston, meanwhile, is running on fumes with a mere seven-player rotation.
Jade Masogayo led the charge for the Buffaloes this regular season, averaging 12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. She and Formann were All-Big 12 honorable mentions.
The Cougars are captained by fifth-year guard Laila Blair, who played all 40 minutes against Colorado and is second all-time in program history in points (1,960). Houston also boasts two of the Big 12’s top five leaders in steals, Kierra Merchant (2.4) and Eylia Love (2.1).
If the Buffs can avoid beating themselves through turnovers and fouls that held them back from a first-round bye in the tourney, they should have no issue moving on to face the No. 8-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the second round on Thursday.
Wednesday’s tip-off from the T-Mobile Center is set for 12:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+).
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