DURHAM, N.C. – Colorado and Middle Tennessee have never squared off in women’s basketball and, until Sunday, didn’t know anything about each other.
In the past few days, however, the Buffaloes and Blue Raiders have gained respect for each other as they prepare to battle in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
“They’re a good team,” CU point guard Jaylyn Sherrod during a press conference on Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. “They won their conference and teams don’t win their conference by accident.”
There are plenty of differences between the teams, including the fact that CU is from a Power 5 conference (the Pac-12) and MTSU is a mid-major (Conference USA).
Both teams come in, however, with fairly similar identities and something to prove on this stage.
“Two defensive-minded programs that thrive on playing great defense and being able to create opportunities in that way,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “Middle Tennessee is a really great team. I think they’re probably the best mid-major team in the country. They play hard, they’re tough, they’re fearless. They’re everything you want in a basketball team. So it’s definitely a challenging matchup, I think, for both teams, and it’ll be a great game.”
Seeded sixth in the regional, CU (23-8) prides itself on its defense, allowing only 58.6 points per game while holding 15 of 31 opponents under 60 points and 26 to under 70 points.
“They’re pretty good,” MTSU head coach Rick Insell said. “They’ve got a couple of good size young ladies inside that can put the pressure and push your posts up. They’ve got some lateral quickness on the outside. To get anywhere like this, you’ve got to have good guard play, and they’ve got good guard play. You look at us and we’ve got the same thing.”
No. 11 seed MTSU (28-4) ranks among the national leaders in 3-point attempts (24.9 per game) and free throw attempts (20.44), but also leans on defense. The Blue Raiders have allowed just 56.7 points per game and dominated their conference. They’ve held 20 opponents under 60 points and 26 to under 70.
“One of the things that we really play on is our toughness, from our training to our strength and conditioning coach all the way down,” Insell said. “I would say right on with that, and I would echo that with Colorado also.”
In the Pac-12, CU has gained a reputation for its physical style of play, particularly on defense, and the Blue Raiders have been gearing up to face that style.
“They’re a very physical basketball team,” MTSU’s Courtney Whitson said. “That’s one of the things we’ve been harping on in practice is really trying to prepare for their physicality. I think they’re a really good defensive team. We’ve been really honing in on the mental prep for them. All respect towards them. We know that they’re a good matchup for us, and we’re excited to play them.”
For both teams, Saturday’s game offers a chance to finally experience success in the NCAA Tournament.
CU is making its 15th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the program has a solid 17-14 record, but this is only the third appearance since 2004 and the Buffs haven’t won a game in the tournament since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2003.
Middle Tennessee is in the tournament for the 20th time, but has a 5-19 record and a current nine-game losing streak dating back to a first-round win in 2007.
Among pundits, MTSU has been a popular pick to pull the upset of the Buffs. ESPN’s Charlie Creme said, “The upset I feel strongest about in the entire tournament is 11th-seeded Middle Tennessee over No. 6 seed Colorado.”
Alexa Philippou of ESPN picks MTSU win both games in Durham and get to the Sweet 16, while M.A. Voepel picks the Buffs to win both games and move onto the second weekend.
For what it’s worth, President Joe Biden picked a CU victory over the Blue Raiders in his bracket.
Regardless of projections, Payne and the Buffs are expecting a tough battle and hope this is the year they can break through.
“Our goal every single time we take the floor is to play great basketball,” she said. “We feel that if we do play great, we give ourselves a great chance.”
No. 21 CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
TIPOFF: Saturday, 5 p.m. MT, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, N.C.
TV/RADIO: TV — ESPNews. Radio — KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Colorado 23-8; Middle Tennessee 28-4.
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 7th season (117-92; 218-205 career); Middle Tennessee — Rick Insell, 18th season (433-150).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 38.5% 3-point, 89.6% FT); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 spg); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.5 spg); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, So. (12.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 58.7% FG); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, So. (5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg). Middle Tennessee — G Courtney Blakely, 5-8, So. (7.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.6 apg); G Jalynn Gregory, 5-8, So. (13.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.7 spg, 88.4% FT); F Kseniya Malashka, 6-0, Sr. (15.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 1.4 spg, 48.1% FG); G Savannah Wheeler, 5-6, Jr. (15.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 87.4% FT); F Courtney Whitson, 6-0, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 90.0% FT).
NOTES: The winner of this game will face the winner of Saturday night’s matchup between third-seeded Duke and 14th-seeded Iona. The second round game will be on Monday. … CU and MTSU have never met in women’s basketball. … The Buffs and Blue Raiders have one common opponent, as both had narrow losses to Texas Tech. CU lost at TT, 86-85 in overtime on Nov. 16 in Lubbock, Texas, and MTSU lost to Tech, 72-67 on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. … Vonleh has averaged 19.3 points on 26-of-35 shooting (74.3%) over the past three games. … CU is 8-4 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including 2-1 as a No. 6 seed (2001, 2003, 2004). … Insell was the Conference USA co-coach of the year, while Malashka was the C-USA sixth player of the year for the second straight season.
