It has been two years since Colorado last played Kansas in women's basketball, but senior point guard Chucky Jeffery still remembers the struggles CU had in those games.

Jeffery and the 19th-ranked Buffaloes (25-6) will take on Kansas (18-13) on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Boulder. It will be the first meeting between the teams since CU left the Big 12 Conference to join the Pac-12 after the 2010-11 season.

During her career, Jeffery is 0-5 against the Jayhawks, including 0-3 during her sophomore year in 2010-11. Kansas' five-game win streak is its longest in the history of the series, which dates back to 1979.

A lot has changed since then, however.

"I don't think we were as sound defensively as we are now and that gave us some problems," Jeffery said. "We didn't really know how to match up to some of their players."

Two years ago, CU had a serious problem with depth and that often led to smaller Buffs trying to guard bigger Jayhawks.

"We had some bad match-ups and we just weren't as good as we are defensively now," Jeffery said. "We think we have a good shot now to match up to them."

In addition to more depth, the Buffs have a lot more talent than they did two years ago. That's why Jeffery isn't too worried about the past results.

"Now we're in the present and that's all in the past," she said. "Now we get another shot at them and we're going to try to seize the opportunity."

Don't count out the 'Rabbits

Three of the four teams in Boulder this weekend come from so-called "power" conferences -- Colorado (No. 5 seed) from the Pac-12, 17th-ranked South Carolina (No. 4 seed, 24-7) from the Southeastern Conference, and the Big 12's Kansas Jayhawks (No. 12 seed).

It is the other team in town, however, that has the most NCAA Tournament appearances in recent years. Summit League champion South Dakota State (25-7), the 13th seed in the Norfolk Region, is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The other three schools have just five appearances between them in the last five years, including this season.

With the recent experience of South Dakota State, South Carolina and Kansas both making Sweet 16 runs a year ago, and CU's success this year, Buffs head coach Linda Lappe is expecting a competitive weekend.

"It'll be a good weekend for basketball for sure," Lappe said. "I would encourage everybody to come to both games on Saturday and get your money's worth. I think you'll see a good game between South Dakota State and South Carolina, as well."

Overall, CU (13 appearances) and Kansas (13) have the most NCAA experience among the four, while South Carolina has been there 10 times and SDSU five times.

SDSU didn't become a Division I school until the 2004-05 season. The Jackrabbits were the 2003 Division II national champs. This marks their seventh consecutive postseason appearance in Division I, including the Women's NIT in 2007 and 2008.

Memories

CU assistant LaTonya Watson has been impressed with the number of former Buffs that have reached out to her this week.

"We have people far and wide, overseas, Tweeting and what-not," Watson said. "That goes to show you that Buff nation is really, really excited about what we've done this year.

"Our kids are hungry. And that's the type of hunger that the teams of old had. For this group to recapture that and have it, I think that's pretty cool."

Watson said the former players she has talked to have all reminisced about NCAA Tournaments from the past. Watson had previously been an assistant at CU from 1996-2005, going to the NCAA Tournament five times.

"It brings back fond memories and it makes you feel good inside," said Watson, who returned to CU's staff in 2011. "It really, really is rewarding for those alums to get as excited about this group as they were about their own teams."

Notable

On Thursday, Lappe said the Buffs had another very good practice and the Buffs appear ready to go. "We had a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm," she said. "I feel like we're ready. We've got one more day to prepare and then we'll be ready to hit the floor on Saturday."

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