Buffs Now Await Possible NIT Bid
March 09, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — With an NCAA Tournament bid now off the table, the Colorado Buffaloes will wait until Sunday night to see if the NIT comes calling.
But that didn't stop CU head coach Tad Boyle from expressing what kind of team he thinks the Buffs could have been this season. After an 0-7 Pac-12 start, the Buffs finished strong by winning eight of their last 11 regular season games, then went 1-1 in the conference tournament.
"I believe we're an NCAA Tournament team," Boyle said. "We know we're not going to get in, but I think we've got NCAA Tournament-caliber talent."
Boyle even used that as a source of motivation before CU's Thursday night game against Arizona, one which saw the Buffs come up on the short end of a 92-78 decision.
"The challenge I gave our guys tonight: Look, you want to play in the NCAA Tournament? This game is an NCAA Tournament game against an NCAA Tournament team in an NCAA Tournament venue. And we came up short, so our season is most likely over."
But after the game, Boyle did not sound too confident about receiving an NIT bid, although most projections have the Buffs in the 32-team field.
Boyle is familiar with the NIT. In his first season in Boulder, the Buffs finished strong but were snubbed by the NCAA, then ended up earning a No. 1 seed in the NIT and making a run to the NIT Final Four.
"If we get the invite, we'll take it," Boyle said. "I'd love to keep coaching these guys. … I'm not planning on it, but I'm sure hoping for it. I think we have enough talent to be playing in that thing."
Most of CU's players all seemed anxious to keep their season going with an NIT appearance.
"To be able to play another game with my teammates would be awesome," said CU's Derrick White, who scored 31 points in his final Pac-12 game. "You make the Final Four in the NIT, you get to play in Madison Square Garden. That's a lot of motivation right there."
CU senior Wesley Gordon expressed the same sentiment.
"Most definitely I'd like to play some more," Gordon said. "Just to play another game with my teammates would be something to look forward to."
The NIT bracket will be released Sunday at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
