Basketball

Remembering Larry Zimmer

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Remembering Larry Zimmer Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/04/2024 - 00:00

October 1998

“I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like that again.”

In an October 1998 Coloradan interview, iconic sports commentator Larry Zimmer shared his favorite CU Buffaloes play to date — the Sept. 24,1994 “Miracle in Michigan,” where quarterback Kordell Stewart (Comm ex’95; BA’16) threw a game-winning 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook (Comm ex’94) in Michigan Stadium.

Zimmer saw much more excitement from there. The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductee served as “The Voice of the Buffaloes” for 42 seasons, which included 486 CU football games and 525 men’s basketball games. He called his last game in 2015.

Zimmer died Jan. 20, 2024 at the age of 88.

“His voice was synonymous with our athletic program, and he was most beloved by our coaches, players and fans,” said athletic director Rick George. “He is truly a part of our overall athletic history.”

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Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Heritage Center, Coloradan Collection

Larry Zimmer served as “The Voice of the Buffaloes” for 42 seasons

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Spring 2024

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“I’m Excited to Face Them All”

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

“I’m Excited to Face Them All” Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/06/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Shooting guard for women’s basketball Frida Formann (EnvSt’24) talks about expectations after last season’s Sweet 16 run, growing up playing basketball in Denmark and developing a holistic perspective for her game.

When you think about last season’s success, what comes to mind?

Excitement. Pride. When you’ve worked for something for so long and then see the fruits of all the work you’ve put in. I was super happy about what we achieved last season and am super excited to have this team back with a good core group.

What was it like to beat Duke on their home court last postseason?

It was amazing. We were up and then down, and then we went to overtime. It was a showcase of our resilience, of the whole season, of being able to take a couple hits but still be strong enough to get back on our feet.

Fans see you, Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’22, MSOL’23) and Quay Miller (Soc’23) returning and have high expectations for this season. How do you stay motivated?

High expectations don’t change the fact that you need to put just as much work in or play with a mentality that anyone can beat you on any given night. But it’s nice to earn that respect of having expectations and pressure.

What was your offseason schedule?

At the end of the spring semester, I went home to Denmark for a month and a half, and I also traveled with the Danish national team. This year [we played] friendly games against Japan — going to Japan was cool. The national team reconnects me to my Danish basketball roots and people I’ve grown up playing with. I came back to Colorado at the end of June, and we’ve been practicing since.

How is Danish basketball different from the NCAA?

Not a lot of people play basketball in Denmark. You only play if your parents did or if you know someone who does. My parents played and met in a basketball gym, and my mom coached me. I dragged all my friends from school with me — that’s how you get a team when you’re young. With Danish basketball, everyone is a volunteer, all the coaches — no one gets paid. People do it because they love it. You have to create a good environment or no one’s going to play.

Is there something you must do when you’re back in Denmark?

See friends and family. And I go swimming because there’s lots of water. Our beach house is my sanctuary.

What was the recruiting process like? Why did you choose CU?

International students usually get recruited through the national team. That’s like our AAU [Amateur Athletic Union]. Some coaches look for Europeans, some don’t. I had a set of schools I liked, but then I asked a coach to send out my stuff one last time going into senior year of high school. Head coach JR Payne texted me that CU was interested. They came to Denmark to see me. I took my visits and loved Boulder. The coaching staff has created a culture of hard work, but also [emphasizes] having fun and being a whole person.

Can you share something you’ve learned from Coach Payne?

I’ve struggled with being a perfectionist. It’s hard to come over here [to the U.S.]. There are a thousand things to do: weight room, conditioning, basketball, school, friendships. Coach Payne has taught me to have confidence that I’ll figure it out along the way. Even when I’ve had games that weren’t very good or periods when I wasn’t shooting well, she helped me understand how I bring value in different aspects. She emphasizes the whole perspective, so I don’t get fixated on mistakes.

What do you love most about basketball?

I love how diverse the sport is. There are many ways to be a good player. Different skill sets and mindsets. I love that magic when you put the right pieces together — that combination of skills, craftsmanship and teamwork. You need that chemistry.

Is there a team you cannot wait to face this season?

I’m excited to face LSU in our first game. It’s the most well-known team — them or Iowa — and I love the growth and engagement in women’s basketball that they’ve helped make. And I wouldn’t mind running into Iowa again. We played some of the best defense on them that anyone did throughout the tournament. With the Pac-12, there are so many good teams. I’m excited to face them all.

What’s one thing Buffs fans would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a very emotional person. I never think I have it all together. Every time a fan comes up to me and tells me something positive, it means the world to me.

What do you want to do after you graduate?

I want to play professionally and help qualify Denmark for its first EuroBasket tournament. That’s been on our list since we got the Women’s National Team reestablished in 2018. We didn’t have a national team the whole time I was growing up. I know how big of a deal that is for girls in Denmark and Danish basketball.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Shooting guard for women’s basketball Frida Formann talks about expectations after last season’s Sweet 16 run, growing up playing basketball in Denmark and developing a holistic perspective for her game.

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Sports Briefs Spring 2023

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Sports Briefs Spring 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/06/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Sanders Named Football Coach

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was announced as Colorado’s 28th full-time head football coach on Dec. 3.

“Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character,” said athletic director Rick George.

Sanders comes to CU after three seasons as head coach at Jackson State University, where his teams went a combined 27-6 and earned consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships (2021 and 2022).

Before coaching, Sanders was a two-sport athlete. Twice named a first-team All-American defensive back at Florida State, he went on to play in the NFL (14 years) and MLB (9 years). In the NFL, he was the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Super Bowl champion and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee.

Sanders takes over a 1-11 football program that saw head coach Karl Dorrell dismissed in October. Sanders pledged: “This is my job and my occupation and my business and my dream to bring you back to where you know you should belong.”

Buffs Bits

Women’s cross-country won its second consecutive Pac-12 Championship on Oct. 28. Bailey Hertenstein (MIntPhys’24) won the individual championship. The women went on to place 11th at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19, with Hertenstein and Ella Baran (MEnvEng’24) racing to All-American finishes. … Men’s cross-country placed second overall at the Pac-12 Championship and then finished eighth overall at NCAAs. … For the first time since 2018, women’s volleyball reached the NCAA tournament. The Buffaloes (20-11, 12-8 Pac-12) were eliminated by No. 20 Rice in a first-round match on Dec. 1. Middle blocker Meegan Hart (Soc’21; MSOL’23) was named All-Pac-12 First Team. … Women’s soccer finished the 2022 season 8-7-5 (2-6-3 Pac-12) after a 5-0-2 start had the Buffaloes ranked No. 19 nationally. … Ambassador David Bolen (Mktg, MBA’50), CU’s first Olympian, died on Dec. 10, 2022. Bolen placed second in the 440 yards at the 1947 NCAA Championships and fourth in the 400 meters at the 1948 London Olympics. He went on to a distinguished career in the foreign service, including appointments as U.S. Ambassador.

Coach Talk

“Change is evident. It’s going to happen. … Whenever you dominate a space, there’s elevation.”

— Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders in the February 2023 issue of GQ.

Stats

77-67

Score after women’s basketball beat the previously undefeated and No. 8-ranked Utah Utes on Jan. 6 in Boulder.

19.56

Distance, in meters, of indoor track and field’s Gya’ni Sami’s (EthSt, Soc’23) weight throw, a new CU record by over a foot, at the Air Force Holiday Open on Dec. 2.

96%

CU student-athlete Graduation Success Rate announced by the NCAA in November, an all-time high for the university.

262nd

career win for men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle when the Buffs beat Southern Utah 86-78 at home on Dec. 21, making him the winningest head coach in program history.

1st

Offensive tackle Tommy Brown (MSOL’24) signed with Boulder-based Shinesty to become the first-ever college football NIL underwear model.

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Photo courtesy CU Athletics

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Evan Battey Is the New Mayor of Boulder

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Evan Battey Is the New Mayor of Boulder Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 11/05/2021 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

As men’s basketball’s longest tenured player this season, L.A. born-and-raised Evan Battey (Jour’21, MSOL’23) is ready to lead the team. The 6’8” senior shares how the support of his teammates fuels his infectious positivity and charismatic personality.

Head Coach Tad Boyle has said that you ‘connect people.’ Why do you think your coaches and teammates see you as an ‘emotional spark plug’?

I’m positive and think team-first. Negativity isn’t something to celebrate. Off the court, the team — they are my brothers and friends. I choose to spend time with my teammates. It creates more bonding, more love.

Could you share the challenges you faced after you had a stroke Dec. 26, 2017, during your freshman year?

It was tough for me. When my team was in L.A. to play USC and UCLA that January, I remember going to the hotel. The guys hadn’t seen me yet. When I first walked in, all of them came over, and it was so warming. But it was also hard because I had lost the ability to say, ‘Hey guys, what’s up?’ I could just smile and wave. I give my teammates a lot of credit for allowing me the time to mess up, make mistakes and be comfortable talking to them.

Now as a senior, what do you do differently to connect with younger players?

I haven’t had to do anything different. This group just came in, spends time with me, comes over to my house, plays video games...all that stuff that my past teammates would do. It’s the same family atmosphere.

You were a coach in high school?

My senior year, I was the associate head coach for JV and assistant coach for varsity. That opened my eyes to a lot of different angles and different perspectives. When I couldn’t play [academic redshirt] freshman year here, I had to be like a coach again.

Your minutes played and points-per-game were up the last three seasons. And personal fouls have gone down each year. What has led to your improvement?

The game has been slowing down for me. When you come in as a freshman, you are thinking about so many things. As you start establishing habits, you can build on those. Some things that I did when I was young aren’t a part of who I am anymore. Now, I’m just making the simple plays.

Sometimes in the huddle during a timeout and after Coach Boyle talks or draws up a play, you’ll speak to your teammates. What are you saying?

Usually, I’m saying what Coach says. It’s kind of a lieutenant thing. It’s positive. Unless things are going really bad, and I have to get into my teammates. I bring that passion. It’s, ‘We gotta rebound’ or, ‘We gotta be on the glass.’ ‘We gotta make one more pass.’ My teammates need to hear it from me because Coach doesn’t want to always be the one to say it.

How would you describe your relationship with Coach Boyle?

I’m sure gonna miss him when I leave. He’s on you to be better. It might be tough love, but it’s love, and all our guys see that. He simplifies everything. He doesn’t make things too complex. Defend and rebound; offense will come.

As a broadcast journalism graduate, what type of media are you most interested in?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. One thing that helped me when I was recovering from my stroke: I had the power of pen and paper. I can talk sports with the best of them, but that depends on my progress on my speech.

You’ve been affectionately called the ‘Mayor of Boulder.’ What has being a student-athlete at ��񱦵� meant to you?

Well, the true mayor of Boulder is Spencer Dinwiddie (Comm ex’15), but I’ll be honored to be the second mayor. As soon as I took my visit here, I fell in love. The family atmosphere, the fit, the team and the community. The people here are so nice. The student athletes support each other. I’ve been to a tennis match. I’ve been to track-and-field meets. New things. That’s what college is about.

Can you tell us more about your work with the Pac-12’s Mental Health Task Force?

It’s a group of students and mental health professionals. That’s been eye-opening, seeing how much people care about the mental health of Pac-12 athletes. I know people who were affected by mental health. That’s why I joined Boulder Buffs. It’s a group that works on destigmatizing talking about mental health. We make it okay to not be okay.

What’s one thing readers might be surprised to learn about you?

I play a lot of dominoes. I picked it up over quarantine. I play day and night, even on my phone. It’s a good way to keep my mind stimulated and have fun.

Interview condensed and edited.

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Photo by Matt Tyrie

As the men’s basketball’s longest tenured player this season, L.A. born and raised Evan Battey is ready to lead the team.

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Sports News Fall 2021

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Sports News Fall 2021 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 11/05/2021 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

New Alliance
The Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten — three of the nation’s Power Five athletic conferences — announced a handshake partnership Aug. 24.

“There’s a lot going on in our industry,” CU Athletic Director Rick George said. “This alliance allows us to collaborate on these issues and bring stability to college athletics and the collegiate model.”

Such issues include evolving NCAA legislation on name, image and likeness (NIL); the expected expansion of the College Football Playoff; and conference instability, notably Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 for the SEC (effective 2025). To start, the alliance will encourage more interconference scheduling, multi-team, single-site events featuring teams from all three conferences and increased national television exposure.

With its 41 institutions united, the alliance could determine the future of the College Football Playoff, while also combining the resources of its research universities to improve student-athlete health and wellness.

Buffs Bits
Ralphie VI debuted Sept. 3, leading the Buffs football team onto Folsom Field to face Northern Colorado. The Ralphie Live Mascot Program is funded entirely by private support from donors. … Anthony Pham, tennis associate head coach, was promoted to head coach on July 26. Pham is the seventh head coach in program history. … Men’s basketball went undefeated on its four-game exhibition tour of Costa Rica in August. The on-court highlight came against Selección de Baloncesto when Jabari Walker (ExSt’24) shattered the backboard on a dunk attempt in the third quarter. Without a replacement backboard, the game was called with CU ahead 68-54. … On Sept. 18 Buffs volleyball extended its school-record undefeated start to the season to nine matches, taking down rival Colorado State twice in a row. … Women’s golf’s Ellie Gower (A&S’23) finished runner-up at the English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship Aug. 17-19 in Wallasey, United Kingdom.

Coach Talk
“The crowd was absolutely fantastic. This has been the best environment since I’ve been here in my 10 years. This needs to be the standard for CU soccer, not the exception.”

— Soccer head coach Danny Sanchez after 2,536 fans attended the Buffs’ home game against No. 1 Florida State Aug. 29.

Stats

$1
Bonus Spencer Dinwiddie (Comm ex'15) will receive, per his three-year, $62-million contract with the Washington Wizards, if the team wins the NBA championship

5th
Melissa Stockwell's (Comm’02) place in the triathlon (PTS2) at the Tokyo Paralympics

6
Total CU women’s cross-country runners who placed in the top 10 at the season-opening Wyoming Invitational in Cheyenne

30
CU club sports teams will resume competition in 2021-2022

281
Buffs rushing yards in football’s season-opening 35-7 victory over Northern Colorado on Sept. 3.

15th
Stage of the Tour de France won by Sepp Kuss (Advert’17) in July, the first American to win a stage of the race since 2011

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa (Ralphie); Courtesy CU Athletics (Ellie Gower)

New Pac-12 Alliance, Ralphie VI and more.

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Science of the WHOLE Athlete

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Science of the WHOLE Athlete Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 11/05/2021 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

When CU volleyball’s Rachael Fara (MChemEngr’21) arrived at CU in July 2020, quarantine and a shoulder surgery had left her body weak and atrophied.

Enter Adam Ringler, CU’s assistant director of strength and conditioning and head of sport science research. His specialized recovery program for Fara included jumping on force plates to measure lower body power and symmetry, limited jumps in practice and a daily questionnaire about mood, soreness and hydration. Six months later, Fara started 2021 as the Pac-12’s most statistically effective hitter.

“The culture Coach Ringler has in the weight room helped me find joy in a sport that had physically beaten me down,” said Fara.

Sport science helps student-athletes understand the competing stressors on their bodies. Force plate measurements, for instance, can indicate whether to push intensity or go lighter to support recovery.

Ringler’s sport science initiatives integrate state-of-the-art technologies that identify performance deviations and help staff intervene before student-athletes suffer unnecessary stress or injury. In addition to muscle group activation measurements, he employs a system to track acceleration and distance run, and another to assess joint range of motion. Heart rate monitors record cardiovascular strain.

“These data sources are independent silos of information, and they’re all incredibly valuable,” Ringler said.

Sport science is one aspect of CU’s Crawford Family WHOLE (Wellness, Health and Optimal Life Experience) Student-Athlete Program, named in August 2021 after the Crawford family donated $5.5 million — the largest one-time gift in CU Athletics history — with much of it designated to address student athletes’ physical and psychological health while providing academic and career support.

To support the WHOLE program, Athletics partnered with management system Kitman Labs last July to organize student-athlete inputs.

“[Sport science] supplemented the X’s and O’s of basketball and weightlifting,” said women’s basketball’s Annika Jank (Comm’21). “My body composition completely changed.”

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Photo courtesy CU Athletics

By collecting data on student-athletes’ workouts, nutrition and even classwork, CU Sport Science Research transforms information into results.

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Sports News Summer 2021

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Sports News Summer 2021 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 07/02/2021 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Stats

1st

Time a goalkeeper won lacrosse Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year when Julia Lisella (SLHSci’21) took home the award May 5.

1,2,3,4,5,6

Singles positions played and won during the 2021 season by tennis’ Maria Campos (IntlAf’23), the first Buff to win at every singles position in one season.

Third

Men’s golf overall finish at April’s Wyoming Cowboy Classic, the team’s best performance of the season.

3:38.09

Eduardo Herrera’s (Soc’21) time when he broke the school record in the 1,500-meter run at the April 30 West Coast Relays in Fresno, CA.

9/3

Football opens the 2021 season against Northern Colorado at Folsom Field.

197th

Overall pick used by the New England Patriots to select Buffs offensive tackle William Sherman (Comm’21) in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Baker Named Associate Athletic Director

DaWon Baker began work as Colorado’s first associate athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion in May 2021. A past participant in CU’s Inclusive Sports Summit, Baker is charged with aligning CU Athletics with ongoing inclusivity efforts. Athletic Director Rick George said Baker will be “present at our practices, games and in our facilities” as an accessible and welcoming leader.

A St. Louis native, Baker believes the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson was a turning point in his career.

“I saw how the tragic event of Michael’s death affected the world and my own campus,” he said.“For the first time, I saw that there was a strategy to creating inclusive cultures, and that drove me to learn about diversity and inclusion in sport.”

Buffs Bits

Two-time Olympian and long-distance runner Kara Goucher (Psych’01) [pictured above] was named to the NBC Olympics broadcasting team in May for the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Skiing’s Cassidy Gray (IntPhys’24) won the 2021 individual NCAA Championship in the women’s giant slalom. Gray was joined on the podium by Stef Fleckenstein (Comm’22), who finished second at March’s championships in New Hampshire.

Mya Hollingshed (Comm’22) was selected honorable mention All America by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association April 3. Hollingshed will return for a fifth season in 2021–22.

Buffs soccer (9-6-2) reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season before being eliminated 1-0 by South Alabama in an April 27 first-round match.

Despite a career-high six goals from Sadie Grozier (Mktg’21), CU lacrosse (8-7) lost to No.13 Stanford 17-10 in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game May 8.

Skier Magnus Boee (CivEngr’23), football’s Jerek Broussard (Ethn’23) and basketball’s McKinley Wright IV (Ethn’21) tied for male athlete of the year, while track and field’s Sage Hurta (ChemBioEngr’21) unanimously won female athlete of the year at the 21st annual CU Sports Performers of the Year (CUSPY) Awards in May.

Coach Talk

I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and to raise the level of college ski racing to heights never seen before.”

— Head ski coach Andy LeRoy (Fin’03), who previously led the University of Denver to six NCAA championships over 15 seasons.

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A spring recap of all things Buffaloes.

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Summer 2021

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Sports Q&A: Will Over Skill

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Sports Q&A: Will Over Skill Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/18/2021 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Sophomore Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’23) is CU women’s basketball’s first–ever player from Alabama. Named CU’s Most Improved player and selected for the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, the 5'7" Birmingham native reflects on leading as a point guard, choosing the Buffs and communicating on and off the court.

You became the Buffs’ starting point guard after six games last year. What was it like directing the offense as a first-year player?

It was tough having to learn so much. But at the same time, it was an experience that I needed, and it helped me grow as a player and as a person more than anything.

What were the biggest takeaways from your first year?

Learning how to lead, be more vocal and communicate with my teammates and coaches to get us all on the same page. We all have different personalities. It was figuring out how to get the best out of each person on the team.

How did offseason training go for you?

When I got home, I worked out with my trainer. I met him when I was in ninth grade. I went to Florida with him a couple of times and worked with [Saints quarterback] Jameis Winston. With the [CU] team, it was Zoom. We did a lot of calls, a lot of film sessions, trying to find ways to learn, even though we couldn’t be training in person.

Did you ever play basketball with Jameis?

We did play. It was me and a couple of my old teammates and a couple of guys who we worked out with. There’s video out there. If you lost, you had to run. We won, so that was good.

What’s something you make sure to do when you’re in Birmingham?

I eat at places that I don’t get the chance to eat at up here. A place called Granny’s, a food truck. They do shrimp and grits, and it’s really, really good. There’s a line down the street.

You’re the first player in program history from Alabama. Why did you choose CU?

Because they were really invested. They showed the most interest in getting to know me and not just me, but also my family and the people around me. I'm not a fan of the snow, but I love the people. I love the atmosphere. I love the energy.

Can you share something you’ve learned from Coach JR Payne?

I told Coach, ‘I don’t know how you do it.’ It seems so stressful to be a second mom to 16 girls on the team and have her own children. It’s the mental toughness of all the coaches really, because they have their own lives and families, too.

Why did you change your number from 1to00overthe offseason?

In high school, I did the same thing. I really grew asaleaderandasa communicator on my high school team. And I saw myself doing that as a sophomore here. I thought: why not remind myself what I went through and how I came up out of it?

Junior Lesila Finau (Psych’22) began last season as the starting point guard. This season, you’re both starters in the same backcourt. How does that work?

It has made it a lot easier for our offense because it puts in another ball handler. You have basically two point guards out on the floor. Sila brings a lot to this team.

How do you stay in control?

That’s what I bring to the table. My job is to bring energy and just do what I do because I'm not 6'4." I’ve gotten a lot better at how to change speeds at times.

You’re known to say, “It’s will over skill.” What motivates you?

My will is what got me here, the intangibles. I don’t need to score 30 points. I don't need to have a great three-point percentage. Honestly, so many people now get lost in having more skill instead of that fight, that toughness and that grit.

What’s one thing Buffs fans would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a nerd. I like Greek mythology and Shakespeare. I have a tattoo from Shakespeare on me. When I have free time, I’m normally reading a book. It’s crazy because I really do not like school.

INTERVIEW BY ANDREW DAIGLE. CONDENSED AND EDITED.

Sophomore Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’23) is CU women’s basketball’s first–ever player from Alabama. Named CU’s Most Improved player and selected for the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, the 5'7" Birmingham native reflects on leading as a point guard, choosing the Buffs and communicating on and off the court.

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Sports Briefs Spring 2021

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Sports Briefs Spring 2021 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/18/2021 - 00:00

Stats

First

College victory for alpine skier Filip Forejtek (CompSci’22) Jan. 13 at the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational

3.153

Fall 2020 GPA of student-athletes, the highest semester GPA on record

James Stafanou’s (Jour’21) age when he retired Nov. 9 as college football’s oldest player

36^th

Tyler Bey (Ethn ex’21) selected overall (by 76ers before trade to Mavs) in November’s NBA draft

77–72

Women’s basketball’s overtime win over the then-No. 1 Stanford Cardinals on January 17

3,846

Points scored by pentathlon winner Avery McMullen (IntPhys’23) in the women’s track’s opener at the Air Force Invitational

$73,000,000

Derrick White’s (Mgmt’17) four-year contract extension with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs

Buffaloes Return to the Alamo Bowl

Colorado football (4-2) earned a trip to the Valero Alamo Bowl for the second time in five years. The Buffaloes rode a strong ground game to a 4-0 record and No. 21 AP National Ranking. However, CU dropped its final two games: 38-21 to Utah and 55-23 to Texas in the Alamo Bowl. After missing his first two seasons to injury, tailback Jarek Broussard (Ethn’23) garnered Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year honors. His 301-yard rushing effort Dec. 5 at Arizona was the fourth 300-yard game in CU history. Linebacker Nate Landman (Mgmt, Mktg’21) made All Pac-12 First Team Defense, despite rupturing his Achilles tendon against Utah. Head coach Karl Dorrell was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year and the Football Writers Association of America’s “First Year” Coach of the Year. He was hired on Feb. 23, but was unable to hold his first practice until Oct. 9 due to the pandemic. Dorrell described his abbreviated first season: “We have our ground floor established now, and we can work our way forward.”

Buffalo Bits

CU Athletics signed a five-year corporate sponsorship agreement with gaming operator PointsBet in September. The partnership is one of few in existence between a sports betting operator and a Division-1 Athletics Program.

McKinley Wright IV (Ethn’21) became men’s basketball’s all-time assists leader when he delivered his 563rd assist in the Buffaloes’ win over Cal State on Jan. 14.

Frida Formann (EnvSt’24) was named U.S. Basketball Writers Association and Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after leading women’s basketball to victories over Cal State and Stanford in mid-January.

Soccer’s Stephanie Zuniga (Comm’19) signed her first pro contract, joining Cruzeiro Sports Club in Brazil for the 2021 season.

Nordic skier Magnus Boee (IntlAf’23) won three of his first four spring races. After gold medaling once and winning Skier of the Meet for the RMISA Invitational at Utah, Boee earned two more victories Jan. 22-23 at the Denver Invitational.

��񱦵�’s Center for Leadership honored golfer Alisha Lau (StComm’22) as a 2020-21 Student Leader of the Year.

Coach Talk

We're just going to maximize the chance we get with our players...We're not going to use any excuses."

— Women’s basketball head coach JR Payne after the Buffs upset #1 Stanford on Jan. 17.

Photo courtesy ��񱦵�

Take a look at a few major highlights from CU athletics — from skiing to soccer to football.

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Spring 2021

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10 Times the CU Men’s Basketball Team Made It to the NCAA Tournament

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:32:01 +0000

10 Times the CU Men’s Basketball Team Made It to the NCAA Tournament Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/17/2021 - 11:32

Grace Dearnley

A CU men’s basketball player shoots a free throw on the court at the CU Events Center. (Photo by Zach Ornitz/University of Colorado)

On March 20 at 10:15 a.m., the Buffs will begin their descent into madness. March Madness, that is.

This year, the CU men’s basketball team will play Georgetown in the East Region’s first-round game of the NCAA tournament, also known as March Madness. The team, coached by Tad Boyle, was named a No. 5 seed and will play No. 12 seed Georgetown in the first round of the tournament.

This year, Colorado’s seed is the highest it’s been since the NCAA started seeding the entire field in 1979. The Buffs have never won the tournament, but they have gained entry 15 times, including in 2021. As you cheer on the Buffs to what will hopefully be their best performance in March Madness yet, here’s a look at 10 years the CU men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA tournament.

1940

1940 was the first year the CU men’s basketball team was invited to play in the NCAA tournament. CU, coached by Frosty Cox, was the regular season champion of the Mountain State Athletic Conference. USC toppled the Buffs with a score of 38-32 in the Western semifinal, and CU lost to Rice in the West Region’s third-place game.

1942

Two years after the Buffs’ first time playing in the NCAA tournament, they returned, still under the leadership of coach Frosty Cox. This time, the team was more successful, making it to the national semifinal. Although this was only an eight-team tournament, it is boasted as the first time CU made it to the Final Four. The Buffs were knocked out by Stanford with a score of 46-34.

1955

In 1955, CU had its first 19-win season, culminating in a bid for the NCAA tournament. The team opened with a 69-59 win over Tulsa, then beat Bradley to move on to the national semifinals. The Buffs played hard but lost to San Francisco by a score of 62-50.

1962

After winning 14 of their final 15 regular season games, the Buffs knocked out Texas Tech in the Midwest Region semifinals. CU then faced off with Cincinnati in the elite eight but lost by a score of 73-46.

1963

Coached by Sox Walseth, the Buffs of 1963 toppled Oklahoma City in the Midwest Region semifinals. They then followed a path similar to the year before, losing to Cincinnati in the national semifinals with a score of 67-60.

1969

In 1969, CU returned to the top-25 ranked teams with a 21-win season. The Buffs faced off with their iconic rival, Colorado State, in the Sweet 16 but suffered a crushing loss with a score of 64-56.

1997

After 28 years without receiving a bid for the tournament, the Buffs rebounded with a bid in 1997. Led by Colorado native Chauncy Billups, who was tapped for the NBA after the tournament, the team toppled Indiana in the first round with a score of 80-62. The Buffs headed home in the next round after a loss to North Carolina.

2012

In CU’s first year in the PAC-12 and Tad Boyle’s second year as coach, CU stunned its opponents by winning the conference tournament. After winning four games in four days, CU entered the NCAA tournament with a second-round win over the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Their winning streak came to an end in the third round, when Baylor knocked out CU with a score of 80-63.

2014

After making the tournament in 2012 and 2013, the Buffs’ entry in 2014 marked CU’s first-ever third consecutive bid to the NCAA tournament. This stint in the tournament was short-lived, as CU lost to Pittsburgh in their first game.

2016

In 2016, CU’s most recent year of entry into the NCAA tournament before 2021, the Buffs were named a No. 8 seed. The Buffs were knocked out in the first round when they lost to UConn with a score of 74-67.

As you cheer on the Buffs to what will hopefully be their best performance in March Madness yet, here’s a look at 10 years the CU men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA tournament.

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